Centerfold Image - Spread not correct in PDF

[chonsp]

I probably need another 'master' to cover the middle spread of my magazine, but I could use help.
See what I see in Indesign versus what I see in the Exported PDF.
What do I do to make the Centerfold of the pdf match the spread in InDesign?

InDesign on top, Exported PDF below.

[Eugene Tyson · Accepted solution]

Do you have inner bleed added? And is bleed included in the PDF output?

Inner bleed is useful in production as it means the prepress imposition can be shifted and trimmed correctly in position so that the images marry up - without it it could be awkward to impose properly. 

If it's for production then you an change your Inner Bleed settings in the PDF output options.

If it's for digital online or not required to print professional you can make the PDF without bleed.

[chonsp]

It is for Production and your helpful query, got me to look closer at my Export settings.  I had two problems: I removed the inner bleed as you suggested and I now Export As Spreads versus Pages. 
I now get a 'centerfold' image in my PDF as it appears in InDesign.  Thank you.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@chonsp 

But if you want to print it in a printshop - with all the bells and whistles - you shouldn't be exporting as spreads - but as single pages - and people at the printing place will do imposition.

If your publication will be stitched - printed as a booklet - as you've 48 pages, your image will be prefectly fine after imposition.

In case of more pages and different finishing - it's more tricky or even impossible to have it "in one piece" in the printed publication.

[chonsp]

Understood and my printer suggested as much.  I think I will go back to the Export as Pages with the inner bleed gone and have the Printer do the imposition.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Understood and my printer suggested as much.  I think I will go back to the Export as Pages with the inner bleed gone and have the Printer do the imposition.

By @chonsp

Again - it depends on how your book will be made - how it will be printed and kind of finishing. 

Inside bleeds - and what you've shown - isn't always a problem - sometimes it's a necessity - but it's just a "bad preview" - imposition will either need it or ignore / remove it. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Depending on how the product is being bound, you need an inner bleed. 

If perfect bound, the inner bleed is used in the grind off area.

If saddlestitch, the inner bleed is used to adjust for shingling. It is usually adjusted/removed automatically my imposition software at the printer. The only pages that don't need the inner bleed (for saddlestitch) is the center spread, but the imposition software would remove it. 

No typical printing method would want all spreads, even for a saddlestitch center spread. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@chonsp

Please check this thread:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/facing-page-images-exceed-their-text-boxes/m-p/1... 

You can move pages away from each other and have "perfect" / correct bleeds around your pages. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Just a note: you don't need to separate spreads if your image/content crosses the spine gutter like your screen captures show. You only need to do that if your image/content is only on one page and stops at the spine gutter.

[Eugene Tyson]

I just read it's going to be centre spread - so there won't be any issue if it's bang in the middle of whatever it's for. 

As always - the OP should clarify with the person producing the piece to get the correct output PDF settings. 

We can only guess what is happening. 

But the core issue was in the fact that the Inner Bleeds was turned on in the PDF settings and that's why the image doubled. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

To my knowledge, most imposition software would want the pages all in one format--single pages. Sending all single pages except for the center spread could cause problems. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

@Eugene Tyson >>> I just read it's going to be centre spread - so there won't be any issue if it's bang in the middle of whatever it's for. 

It would be a issue if the product is perfect bound. Technically, there is no true center spread for perfect bound (or sprial bound), only saddlestitch.

[Eugene Tyson]

If it's centre of a perfect bound signature it will be fine. 

Let the OP come back - they know why they got the double image now - how to fix it - and how to restore if it needed. 

The OP is satisfied - until we know more then there's not much else to do.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

There is no center on a perfect bound product. Every page goes into the grind-off area.