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Hello,
I tried to find an answer using Google and the FAQ here but I'm still no closer to finding a solution.
I am designing printable inserts for Travelers Notebooks. One very popular size is pocket size (3.5x5.5inch). I have designed them in InDesign - no problem there. I can print them as booklet but then most of my A4 sized printer paper is wasted as it is centered on the page.
I have tried designing one spread per page but then I have a problem with page creep and I'm not able to use booklet printing.
Is there a possibility to print 4 pocket pages (2 spreads) on 1 A4 paper sheet and still be able to use the booklet printing option?
Does anyone know a good tutorial or blog or something which can help me? I'm grateful for every tip one might have in this matter!
Thanks,
Karin
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Are you printing for proofing purposes or for a larger quantity.
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Hello,
Ideally I want to print into a PDF file that I later can share online. People should be able to open this PDF and then print at their printer at home double sided to create a booklet / travelers notebook insert themselves.
Karin
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Hello,
Ideally I want to print into a PDF file that I later can share online. People should be able to open this PDF and then print at their printer at home double sided to create a booklet / travelers notebook insert themselves.
Karin
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I think you're being rather ambitious. Most people don't have duplex desk-top printers and wont want to trim a left themselves.
Best to modify your ambition and supply a PDF that people can print out on one side of one sheet(s) if they want.
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Derek,
I don't share your opinion, I know for a fact that many home printers are able to print double sided and people do trim the pages down (join the planner community and you will see what people are creating from printables). But this is not the topic of my question and should be discussed elsewhere.
I'd like to know if there is any possibility to print 4 pages sized 3.5x5.5.inch in booklet page order on one A4 sized page.
Karin
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Do you have access to InDesign, which would probably be a better application to produce this booklet in?
Keep your color mode in RGB.
By the way, you don't print to PDF you Save As in Photoshop and Export in InDesign. For desk to printers select the preset High Quality Print.
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I am using InDesign as written in my initial posting.
But I haven't found any option where I can arange 2 spreads (=4 pages) on one A4 paper sheet to print (f.e. at my own printer) or export it that way into a PDF.
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Actually, I'm with David on this issue.
You already express that you're having page creep problems producing homemade booklet proofs on your own system. Cranking out a PDF for others to print at their locations just pushes the problems you're having off of you and distributes them across your user base.
It's not uncommon for laser printers to have as much as a pica/sixth-of-an-inch page creep horizontally and/or vertically when "centering" a page to print on both sides with a duplex laser printer. If you're doing it yourself, with careful attention and experimentation, you can apply a little Kentucky windage and make adjustments to get reasonable results on your system.
But there's absolutely no way to predict how that will work on other people's systems. None.
Putting it simply, you're built to lose here.
But if you're determined to do this, and willing to deal with the vagaries and quality problems with the process, it is possible.
Understanding and Working with Print Signatures - Designers Insights
Planning a layout with dummies
All this is why folks are saying that you're built to lose here.
But if you're determined to take a shot, this is the best way I can think of for you to do it.
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I'm with Sandy on this one
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Hi Karin,
Did you check this help article/ tutorial: Create printer spreads for booklet printing in Adobe InDesign?
Regards,
Om
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Hi Ohmnath,
While the video beautifully explains how save a Postscript file with printers spreads, I caution Karin that you need to pay close attention to the Page Setup. Make sure to pick the correct size paper (which can be any size available on you desktop printer) AND make sure the orientation of your layout matches the page size. Check out the Preview section of the Print Booklet dialog window, before saving the PS files. Otherwise the results in your final PDF will have half your layout outside the PDF file pages.
Another thing, I've seen many times on this forum, that you should not save Postscript files out of InDesign, Export directly. But I guess if your desperate and really need printers spreads in a PDF, this is a great solution.
All my best,
Jeff
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Hi Jeff,
I agree with you on this. I believe in the video tutorial, the machine used is a Mac and he might not have Adobe PDF as one of the printers. This adds an extra step. If you can directly choose PDF, it's better.
Regards,
Om
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I have tried designing one spread per page but then I have a problem with page creep and I'm not able to use booklet printing.
Is there a possibility to print 4 pocket pages (2 spreads) on 1 A4 paper sheet and still be able to use the booklet printing option?
Creep? If the imposition is only 4 pages there would be no creep—it would be 4,1 on one side of a single sheet and 2,3 on the other side. Using the Adobe PDF 9.0 PPD you could Distill a PDF of the 2 spreads with this Print setup
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Hi Rob,
I understand that the Adobe PDF 9.0 PPD is no longer available for the Mac. If you know where it can be downloaded, please let me know.
All my best,
Jeff
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Here's a link you can check: Save as PDF errors and issues in InDesign, Illustrator (Mac OS) . It has the download link for the PPD.
Regards,
Om