Repagination in InDesign
sdimbert (68 points) | Tue, 2005-03-01 13:33I know there is a technical term for this, but I don't know what it is.
I'm building a booklet in InDesign, and I want to be able to design in it spreads that look like it will look when it's being read... but the printer spreads are different. If it's a 12-page book, for example, then one spread will have to include pages 12 and 1 facing each other, so that when it's all printed, put together and folded, the booklet works.
Is there a way to design the book then have In Design "repaginate" for me?
First of all, your terms are correct. Building the book with page 12 and page 1 on one spread are called "Printer Spreads" while building it so it reads in the proper order are called "Reader Spreads."
What you should know is that it is NOT necessary to build pages in Printer Spreads if you are sending the document to a commercial printer. Nearly every printer outside of some tiny little mom & pop print shop has a RIP and software that will "Impose" the pages on the fly when it is printing.
In fact, you will be doing yourself, and the printer a big favor if you design your booklet in readers spreads, with each page being an individual page in the document. Unfortunately, many new designers make the huge mistake of building two pages on one page in the document (they build two 8.5 x 11 pages on a single 17 x 11 document page). This creates a huge mess for the printer, as they have to physically rebuild your document to split those pages up.
That being said, the only time you *may* have to build in printers spreads is if you are printing the booklet yourself on an inkjet printer. For this, Adobe provides a script (which is located on the InDesign install CD to do it automatically. The script requires you to build your pages properly, and is quite picky about how it's done. See the CD and the help files for more information.
Hope that helps.
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Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.
Thanks for the information; it helps a lot.
I am designing and printing the booklet myself, in InDesign, for output to a color laser printer, so I will check that documentation out.
And "imposition" was the technical term I knew but didn't know. ;)
MG,
Can you be any more specific about where to find the script?
I've got the Educational Version of CS and I can't find the script anywhere.
HELP!
I don't recall where on the disk, but it's probably in the "Extras" or "Goodies" folder.
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Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.
what i do when designing documents like that is first do the readers spreads then when finished dublicate the document and impose it. that way you have both if you need to. anyway it doesn't take too long to impose if you know what you're doing.. good luck :)
Here are several solutions: link link link link
You should be able to find something to suit your needs. Also a good place to check is Adobe's User Forum: http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?14@@.ee6b330
Do a search for "Imposition" or "Printer Spread" and if you still need more help/ clarification, post a question, and people will come to your rescue.
Gloria,
Thanks for the links... those should work out fine.