Best Practice for Starting Chapters with a Double-Page Spread in InDesign Book

Forum|Forum|28 days ago
March 8, 2026
1 reply
48 views

I’m using an .indb to create a guidebook that is both text and photo heavy, with separate .indd docs for the chapters. Each new chapter will start with a double page photo spread – what’s the best practice method to do this? Do I have to place half the photo at the end of the previous document? Thanks

Correct answer rob day

Hi @_e_s , You can start and end book sections with a spread.

When you set up the book documents make sure your General>Page Numbering>View Preferences are set to Section Numbering and not Absolute Numbering. Also set the Book’s Book Page Numbering Options to Continue from previous document and Automatically Update Page & Section Numbers is checked:

rob day

Correct answer

Community Expert

Hi @_e_s , You can start and end book sections with a spread.

When you set up the book documents make sure your General>Page Numbering>View Preferences are set to Section Numbering and not Absolute Numbering. Also set the Book’s Book Page Numbering Options to Continue from previous document and Automatically Update Page & Section Numbers is checked: