Jeff McRitchie

Customized Index Tabs: What to Think About When Making Your Own

Index tabs are some of the handiest office supplies around. They can be used in three-ring binders to differentiate subjects and sections so you can flip right to the information you need. You can also use them in documents bound with a binding machine to make your books more user friendly. Index tabs can be bought online and in almost every office supply store.

Index tabs are some of the handiest office supplies around. They can be used in three-ring binders to differentiate subjects and sections so you can flip right to the information you need. You can also use them in documents bound with a binding machine to make your books more user-friendly. Index tabs can be bought online and in almost every office supply store. However, buying pre-made tabs means you might end up with a set that's not just right for your needs. That's why it can be a good idea to make your own. Here's some information on what to consider if you do so:

• Two things you need to consider are the color and weight of the paper. White is always a great choice (and it looks professional), but choosing different colors can help you be a bit more creative. Also, paper weight is very important. It's best to use paper that's thicker than the 20 lb. type that you're probably going to print your document on. For example, 90 lb. sheets would be ideal because they're more durable and will help separate the sections of your document.

• Naturally, you should give the size of the paper some thought. If your document is letter-sized, the paper should be slightly larger so you can cut out the tabs. (They're usually about 1/2" wide.) Also, you'll want to think about how many tabs you're going to need. Do you need five so you can divide up schoolwork? More than that for professional purposes? Or how about 26, so you can organize your work alphabetically? The number you choose is up to you.

• If you want to refer to the same document over and over again, it's a good idea to reinforce the edge of your sheets. This will reduce the risk of them being torn out of the document. You can laminate the dividers with your pouch laminator if you have one on-hand. This will also coat the tabs. You can also coat them with Mylar if you don't need to reinforce the edges. Mylar is available in different colors if you want your document to have a unique look.

• Another thing to think about is if you want to put any text on the tabs, such as subject type, name, date, etc. It's important to print them before applying Mylar or laminate. You'll get better results if you do.

• Finally, decide whether or not you want to make an extra set. Doing so will help you save time in the future if you need to replace the set in your document at any point in the future.

Making your own customized index tabs isn't very difficult, but you do need to consider some things before you start doing so. Paper color, size, and weight need to be considered from the get-go to make the process go smoothly. You should also consider reinforcing the edges for added durability along with if you want printed text and/or an extra set. If you do that, you'll be successful when it comes to making your own index tabs.

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