A3 sized PDF from InDesign

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
September 11, 2021
2 replies
10408 views

Using a macbook pro, OS 11.5.2, Acrobat Pro DC 2021

I am designing a book in InDesign. The size of the book is 6" x 8.5" (12" x 8.5" for a spread). I want to print out some pages from the book at a local convenience store using their copy machine. The spreads with cut lines will fit nicely on a A3 size sheet.

If I simply export the ID file as a PDF when I use the copy machine, it expands and fills the A3 paper. There is no way on these machines to set the scale.

If I open the PDF with Mac Preview, choose Print, set the page size as A3, then choose Save as PDF, I get a PDF with the spreads and cut lines centered in the middle of an A3 sized sheet. Perfect.

Is it possible to do this same thing within InDesign? To export spreads from my book directly into a PDF that is formatted at A3 page size?

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Correct answer mpkadobe

Unfortunately, if I try to Print Booklet to PS, the print settings in which I should be able to choose the page size are greyed out and unusable. see attached. Marks and Bleeds are usuable but not Setup.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

"Is it possible to do this same thing within InDesign? To export spreads from my book directly into a PDF that is formatted at A3 page size?"

Yes.

People will jump all over this, but use the Print Booklet to PS and Distill route.

You can predfine a Print Preset to an A3 size, and use that in that workflow.

Considering this is not a high-quality printer you are dealing with, the "cons" of this route are not that critical.

I can send you more detailed instructions if you'd like.

-Brad

M

mpkadobeAuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

Unfortunately, if I try to Print Booklet to PS, the print settings in which I should be able to choose the page size are greyed out and unusable. see attached. Marks and Bleeds are usuable but not Setup.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

You need to select a PPD instead of Device Independent that supports an A3 size or a custom size . Better yet, find the Adobe 9 PPD here (search the forum and you'll find the link ... install that!)

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

OK. A couple of things:

When you print your PDFs to your multifunction copy machine, are you using Adobe Acrobat? Or is the multifunction device using some kind of direct printing function from the desktop/file manager? You have much more control over how you print your PDFs running through Adobe Acrobat.

When printing from Acrobat, the default setting for the Page Sizing & Handling radio buttons is set for Fit. That ensures you get the entire page printed on each sheet to its maximum dimension within the printing margins. Generally that's a good thing. But if you absolutely want to print it at its actual, 100% size, you want to change your setting to the Actual size radio button. That guarantees nothing will translate the size of your original layout and you should get the results you expect.

Hope this helps,

Randy

M

mpkadobeAuthor

Inspiring

Hi Randy,

As I wrote in my question, "I want to print out some pages from the book at a local convenience store using their copy machine." So I put the PDF I made from InDesign onto a USB media stick and take it to the store. There is no control of size and scale on the copy machine.

The PDF made from InDesign automatically fills up the A3 page. If I reformat that PDF with Preview, however, I get the spreads and crop lines properly sized in the center of an A3 sheet. (see attached) I can reformat the PDF with Preview because I can use the Print function to choose a paper size through page setup and then do a "Save to PDF." I cannot do this in Adobe Acrobat Pro. It does not allow the Print function to use Save as PDF.

My question was, is there a way, within Adobe Acrobat Pro to reformat a PDF so it is properly sized for an A3 sheet?

InDesign_Export.pdf

Preview_reformat.pdf