Automating Large-Scale Lottery Ticket Layout in InDesign

I'm so sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I was busy at work. I mean, what I was looking for was, once I had the numbering done (if I knew how to do it), to be able to automatically layout it in InDesign without using an external program or doing it manually. I ended up using another program that allowed me to input both data and finalize it. Thanks so much for the advice, everyone. Best regards!

Another consideration is to use Illustrator instead.

If you want to automate the number insertion, you can check out Illustrator's Variables (https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/data-driven-graphics-templates-variables.html). 

Note: Excel can give you a list of random numbers to insert. 

You can use the crop mark effect or make your own. You can create one ticket, make a symbol, and step-and-repeat.

Terribly large files - where you only really need 1 page and 1 ticket - then print the file with sequential numbers

If we could see a dummy layout you could possibly do it without all the extra file size - possibly

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/sequential-numbering/m-p/12008393

I'm not promising anything, I'm a dreamer and hope to help by simplifying your process to add the sequential numbering per ticket per sheet on output - rather than generating a huge file. 

Maybe my idea might work - would need to see more to know more 😄

@a._1955

@James Gifford—NitroPress is right.

But if you really need a DIY solution - you need to know the number of different designs - and qty of each design. 

Then, you can use DataMerge - or a specially designed document - to add numbers. 

But in order to make cutting easy - you need to know required qty of each design. 

Let's assume, that you've 10 designs - and they'll fit nicely on one sheet - and you need equal qty of each.

Then, you would've to make numbering change from sheet to sheet - and the "technique" would depend on if you'll go for DataMerge or not.

In case of not equal final quantity of each design - things get more complicated - and the way you'll cut might have impact on the placement of the designs on the sheet(s).

This is one reason numbering is usually done as a separate step for things like tickets. You print using a single efficient process, then run them through a numbering machine or press. Check with your printer to see if that's an option.

Are you really going to print some 500 unique sheets to get individual numbering? That's terribly inefficient.

And laying out the tix so that they each have trim or crop marks? Not really how it's done — the cut-down should be done with precision shearing, not by following printed markers.

It sounds as if you have not talked to the actual printer/bindery shop. You should.

Feel free to add details about your project/needs and ask any further questions. I suspect the solution lies in a different direction overall from what you're envisioning.