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Participant
January 22, 2009
Question

How do I create A5 booklet?

  • January 22, 2009
  • 7 replies
  • 132950 views
Hi,

How can I create an A5 booklet in InDesign?

I simply would like to do one that has 8 pages and each page simply has a number (1-8).

I.e your answer may be:
1. Create new document.
2. Select page size A4.
3. Select option "Fold Paper To Create A5 booklet"

I don't need complicated graphics advice, just what I press to lay out the booklet. All I can get now is individual A4/A5 sheets.

Ideally it would then print 4 x A4 pages, I would fold, staple, and there it is.

When I have this, I can add the graphics myself - no problem.

7 replies

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 19, 2020

A5, 8 pages, facing pages, 3mm bleed, Print as the intent 

Participant
September 19, 2020

I keep seeing 'Select option 'Fold paer to Creat A5 booket'" but WHERE is this option?  No indication is given at all!

 

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 22, 2009
For online publication you generally don't try to figure out how the user will print the booklet, if at all. Simply export a regular consecutive pages PDF. If they want to print it, they'll probably just print 8 pages and forget about folding and stapling.

If you insist on giving them a printer's spreads version (and by the way, the "spreads" checkbox in the print and export dialogs is NOT a way to make printer's spreads -- it's a way to put your reader's spreads on a single sheet for proofing or viewing as it would appear after binding), use Print Booklet as before, but instead of choosing your printer, print to PDF.

You can then post the PDF and users can print the spreads and fold, but they'll have a heck of a time working with your information unless they do that since page 8 will be next to page 1, page 2 will be next to page 7 and page 6 will be next to page 3 on the same sheet of paper.

Peter
Known Participant
February 10, 2013

I am considering switching from CorelDraw to InDesign and am on the 30 day trial. So limited time to learn for myself. If I switch, then I'll learn properly!

I produce for the church the monthly parish magazine - an A4 booklet. I produce the copy and send it to the printer as a Corel document. I also put it on the web site I manage as a PDF - see http://www.stbees.org.uk/magazine/2013/pm_feb.pdf for an example. I create the PDF by simply using "Print to PDF".

I think that by following the above I can set up the same document using Peter's instructions. One thing I am not certain of is who allocates the page numbers 1 & 8 and 2 & 7 etc. Me (as I do in Corel) or InDesign?

Sorry to ask what I should work out for myself but I want to make sure quickly I can do the main thing I need with InDesign and then use the 28 days I have left to assess other things.

Ian

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 11, 2013

Do you print in house, or send it out to a commercial printer? The only reason to impose is if you are printing it yourself, and for that you would probably want to use Print Booklet. Your online PDF should be single pages, in consecutive order, to make it easier for your readers.

Participant
January 22, 2009
Excellent, I am there.

In fact I got it to work, but when you mentioned about "printer spreads" - that did it. It is ticked by default, so I unticked it.

I have a duplex printer and obviosuly I need it for your method.

However, I am looking to convert this to pdf and make available online to people without a duplex printer.

I can do everything (pdf / online) but how would I do it so it worked without duplex?

I imagine it would print once, then the user reloads the paper back in. How would I do this?

Thanks for all help - very much appreciated.
Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 22, 2009
Your page size should be the same as a single page in the booklet, i.e. on half or the size of the folded sheet, and the page count should be the total number of pages, in this case 8.

You'll set them up as portrait orientation, facing pages, and print on a landscape orientation sheet twice the size, with a total of 4 pages per sheet -- two on each side. Print Booklet does the arranging of the pages on the larger sheet for you.

If I have the relationship right (I'm in the US), that means you make an 8 page A5 book and print onto two A4 sheets.

Don't attempt to do an 8-page booklet in printer's spreads. It's too confusing to set up and prone to error.

Peter
Participant
January 22, 2009
I want to use 4x A4 pages to createan A5 booklet with 8 pages.

Do I select A4 or A5 page size?

What sizes do I select pages to?
SimonWarner
Participating Frequently
January 22, 2009
You read the previous post.
Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 22, 2009
1. Create new document.
2. In The dialog select the "Facing Pages" checkbox and set your A5 page size and margins and page count. This will allow you to design in "reader's spreads" the way the user will see your booklet.
3. If you are going to print this yourself use File > Print Booklet... to impose and print onto your A4 sheets, otherwise, export an appropriate PDF and deliver to the printer.

Peter