Imposing a document with InDesign

There is no imposition function within InDesign, but with a little creativity using the FILE > PRINT BOOKLET we can create a document that can made into a PDF and then printed and assembled into a saddle-stitched book.

This tutorial assumes you will be creating a saddle stitched booklet based on a size that is 8 1/2″ x 11 or smaller.

This tutorial will also be using 2 scenarios: you have the ability to print to PDF (Adobe PDF is listed as printer, or you have other software  – Cute PDF for PC is a good one – that provides that ability) OR you DO NOT have the ability to print to PDF – in most cases this will be the MAC OSX platform.

Scenario 1
1. Create the document using facing pages (starts on the right hand, followed by a left hand page facing a right hand page) your document MUST have pages that are multiples of 4.

Facing Pages

2. Go to FILE > PRINT BOOKLET. Select the pages you want to print, either ALL or a range and the type of booklet, this tutorial assumes we will be using 2-up saddle stitch.

3. Select PRINT SETTINGS. For the printer select Adobe PDF (or whatever your PDF printer is called) In the SETUP tab, select the 11×17 paper size and LANDSCAPE as the orientation. Keep the scale 100% for width and height, position the page CENTERED. Click OK

4. Select the PREVIEW button to ensure everything is OK. Scroll through the preview to check all pages.

CORRECT

INCORRECT - InDesign will provide a warning if the selected page size is too small

5. Click PRINT and InDesign will generate a PDF, this can be take to your printer.

The Imposed Document

Scenario 2 (most likely MAC OSX)
Follow steps 1 and 2 above
3. Select PRINT SETTINGS. For the printer select POSTSCRIPT FILE. For PPD select a COLOR printer connected to your system that supports TABLOID (11×17) paper

4. In the SETUP tab, select the 11×17 paper size and LANDSCAPE as the orientation. Keep the scale 100% for width and height, position the page CENTERED. Click OK
5. Select the PREVIEW button to ensure everything is OK. Scroll through the preview to check all pages.
6. Click PRINT and InDesign will prompt you to save the file with the extension of .ps – this is your postscript file.
7. Open Adobe Acrobat Professional and then open the .ps – use the All Files (*.*) option so that you can see the postscript file (*.ps)

8. Once the file is open, go to FILE > SAVE AS and save it as a PDF document, this can be taken to your printer.