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nahoyt
nahoyt
Participating Frequently
February 27, 2023
Answered

Exporting Paginated PDFs from InDesign 2023 (English)

  • February 27, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 3797 views

InDesign is a great tool for creating large documents (no doubt), but Adobe falls short when it comes to exporting them in a PAGINATED FORMAT! To me, this is beyond comprehension as paginating a document is an essential tool. We, users, spend a fortune on Adobe products and expect to receive top-notch programs that don't require us to jump thru hoops trying to find plug-ins or workarounds when a process should've been enabled within the program years ago.

 

If anyone has a solution for exporting a paginated PDF from InDesign, I'd love to hear from you!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Luke Jennings3

    Print Booklet feature has some basic imposition facilities which may or may not suit your needs.


    Additional work-arounds (of which you might already be aware) would be to create a new InDesign document and place the original pages into the desired page order, then export to a new pdf. To reduce the possibility of error, add large red page page numbers on a separate layer to your original document, then use object layer options to turn off the page numbers before export. Or, re-arrange the pages in Acrobat, and turn off the layer visibility of the FPO page numbers, or use a preflight profile to delete the unwanted layer.

    Imposition is typically the responsibility of the printer, as already stated, partly because creep (or pushout) needs to be calculated based on binding style, page count, and stock thickness, any one of which could change at the last minute.

    4 replies

    nahoyt
    nahoytAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 28, 2023

    My question has been answered. The function I was looking for is Imposition—not pagination. Thank you all for refreshing my memory and for your helpful advice.

    Jumpenjax
    Community Expert
    JumpenjaxCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 28, 2023

    pagination is setup in InDesign, in the parent section. If you take a moment when you begin the job. I do this every month for over 15 years.

    Also you can move they pages in Adobe acrobat under organize pages. 

    Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer
    nahoyt
    nahoytAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 28, 2023

    Thank you, and sorry about the confusion. It's been a long time since I had a request from a printer to lay out the pages (imposition) properly for a saddle-stitched booklet. I couldn't remember the proper terminology.

    jmlevy
    Community Expert
    jmlevyCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 28, 2023

    Can you precisely explain what you mean by “paginated PDF”? I am not sure to really understand if you are referring to imposition or to page numbering.

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    February 28, 2023

    I think the OP has moved on.

     

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 27, 2023

    What do you mean by paginated? If that refers to imposition, that is the job of a print service provider. It's been discussed to death and I don't perceive it ever changing.

      nahoyt
      nahoytAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      February 27, 2023

      Not true. As a designer, I need the capability of paginating a document prior to printing it. Do you know how I can do this? If so, please share. Thanks.

      Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
      Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
      Legend
      February 28, 2023

      This discussion has recommendations for imposition software: https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/best-imposition-software-for-offeset-printing-process/m-p/8320055

       

      In your search for a solution, you might want to search for the correct term.

      • Imposition = arranging 2 or more pages on one sheet of paper before they are printed.It's one step of the prepress phase of printing. The arrangement of the pages depends upon the size of the printing press and its press sheet.
      • Pagination = putting consecutive page numbers throughout a multi-page document.

       

      Here are some images, descriptions, and suggestions on imposition: https://www.prepressure.com/prepress/imposition

       

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