Facing Pages (PRINTING)

[HIcks@adobeforums.com]

I have to produce a 24 page A5 booklet which I have set up in Indesign with facing pages. I have page 2 of the booklet next to page 3 in my indesign document.

Can I print this document so the printout automatically changes the printout to the correct spread as if it was printed at the printers, so I can mock up a draft copy of the booklet. i.e so page 2 prints next to page 23 on the printout etc.

Any ideas, or am I setting this document out wrong?

Hicks

[Jens Schulze]

Is imposition is normally made by the printing company with special programs
that fit the needs of their printing equiment, imposition isn't implemented
in the basic InDesign. But there are some plugins available like InBooklet
from ALAP, a light edition of this tool is also included in the IDCS
Pagemaker Edition. If you can't pay for this, you have to export the
document as PDF, and then place the PDF pages in a new document, so you can
simulate the imposition. If you have any changes, reexport to ther same PDF
and then just update the links of the imposition document.

Jens

[HIcks@adobeforums.com]

Thanks Jens

It would seem a usefull tool for Indesign to have. I wonder why they dont.

Thanks again for the explination

Hicks

[Jens Schulze]

> It would seem a usefull tool for Indesign to have. I wonder why they dont.

I can only guess, but there is at least one good tool for semi-professional
use, so why should they invest time to implement this feature? For
professional use you don't need it, because professional imposition is done
by the printing company itself. To give an example: how should the designer
know how his 72 page brochure will be printed? So the printing company
creates the imposition plans according to maximum machine width, paper and
number of prints, and adds all the markers their printers need to know. Here
at our company (sheet offset up to 102 cm) we are working entirely with
single pages impositioned by our workflow, delivery of preimpositioned
sources isn't accepted.

Jens

[HIcks@adobeforums.com]

I kinda understood that Jen.

Its just that I have to produce a lot of mock-ups for our customers but this is the first time I have done a 24 page document, and it would useful for me to look at a hard copy of how it is intended to look.

I have now worked out the pages and set it up as an A4 landscape document with 12 pages. Will the printers except this type of layout? or do I need to make it facing pages for a booklet?

Thanks

Hicks

[Jens Schulze]

I can understand your need of mocks, only for this manual imposition is
fine. The best is always ask the printer how he like to get the files, maybe
it is a small printer and he just uses your landscape thingie. Here we
wouldn't accept the file or would charged you for the additional work we
would have (not to think of the possible source of errors when we
reconstruct the pages for you). Some of our layouters (but not the
typesetters) use this page scheme in their layout programm: [4|1] and [2|3],
each as a single page - with the help of pagination sections this works fine
for cover layout: they see what they have beside each other and can place
objects that span on two pages, but when they print the pages are in the
correct order as single pages.

Jens

[JohnO@adobeforums.com]

> I kinda understood that Jen.

Me too. That's why I let the printer deal with it. :-)

In your case, maybe one of the imposition add-ins or scripts is worth a
look.

-John O

[HIcks@adobeforums.com]

Jens,

I will be supplying the printer a facing pages Indesign file as requested, so I have put together the final 24page A5 document.

I have Page 1 (Front cover) by itself. Page 2 is next to page 3, page 4 is next to page 5 and so on. Then the Back page is also by itself.

Is this the correct way to lay the document out in indesign as facing pages?

Hicks

PS Thanks for your help, I am new at this. The most I have ever done is a 4 page document. A4 1 fold 4PP.

[Jens Schulze]

Yes, this is what we call facing pages, as the facing pages option is
checked in the page settings dialogue.

Jens

[Jens Schulze]

> PS Thanks for your help, I am new at this. The most I

> have ever done is a 4 page document. A4 1 fold 4PP.

You are welcome... imposition isn't a field of wisdom every typesetter in
our company has to solve, it's only the problem of our folks in the
prepress&conversion department, so just ask here when there are questions
about data interchange with your printing companies. Even when I'm unable to
answer, here you can find many folks that also try to make the prepress
world a little better providing hints to better prepare your files.

Jens

[John Mensinger]

"For professional use you don't need it, because professional imposition is done by the printing company itself."

Jens, please don't take this as an adversarial stance on my part. I've read many of your posts, and consider you to be one of the most knowledgeable regulars here, but I just want to point out that it may be unfair to disassociate the term "professional" with anything other than designing for hand-off to the printing industry.

Many of us are designing in environments where output is achieved via various channels, including in-house, high-speed laser-based equipment, in which case, we also become responsible for many facets of production, from imposition for sheet-fed output, to output color management, to bindery/finishing and even distribution...all this in addition to designing for hand-off to offset printers, flexographic printers, embroiderers, screen printers, etc.

It could be argued that this makes us even more "professional."

I'm sure it's possible I read more into your post than you intended so forgive me if this comes of as a rant of sorts.

John

[Jens Schulze]

Hi John,

> Many of us are designing in environments where output
> is achieved via various channels, [...]
> It could be argued that this makes us even more "professional."
> I'm sure it's possible I read more into your post than you
> intended so forgive me if this comes of as a rant of sorts.

Maybe I wrote something without thinking of the part of the industry you
described, so your point and my apologies, I'm really sorry to offend you
and others. I will try to find some better form to describe the situation
the next time when an imposition question will occur (and I bet it will
within the nect month...) and will try to sound less arrogant.

Jens

[HIcks@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for all yours help, especial you Jens.

I will be posting any help issues I have on here because it is great to get help here and at very short notice.

Thanks again.

Hicks

[John Mensinger]

No need to apologize, Jens, (but accepted nevertheless). It's just so easy for groups and individuals to be alienated in/by these forums, through implication or inference, that sometimes I can't help feeling that a little defensive action is in order.

Obviously, you helped the OP, which is what really matters.

Respectfully,

John