Formatting playing card images into one pdf in indesign

[annetteb67819359]

I am new to Indesign.  I have 216 files (I could use either pdf or jpg files) which I need to put into one pdf document.  We have designed a deck of cards for a game we are creating. Any advice on how to do this? I am not having any luck with YouTube.

[Steve Werner]

Place the 216 PDF or JPG files (File > Place) into a new InDesign document. Resize and organize then as you need. Create a PDF in InDesign with File > Export > PDF (Print).

If you're totally new to InDesign, you'll need to get a little instruction. I'd recommend either (1) Sandee Cohen, InDesign CC QuickStart Guide (available on Amazon, etc.) which you could purchase as a Kindle document or an inexpensive book, or (2) Get a free 30 day trial on Lynda.com, and watch David Blatner's InDesign CC 2017 Essential Training videos.

InDesign needs a little explanation. You can't expect to use it by just jumping in or you'll spend a lot of time flailing around.

[winterm]

If you already have a bunch of pdf files, and all you need is to merge them to one pdf, you don't need InDesign.

You can do it in Acrobat easily, or, if you don't have it installed, google for a lot of other options, including free online services.

I would recommend Acrobat, though.

Here's how to combine and merge files into one PDF, using Acrobat DC:

    Within Acrobat, click on the Tools menu and select Combine Files.

    Click Combine Files, and then click Add Files to select the files you want to include in your PDF.

    Click, drag, and drop to reorder the files and pages.

    When finished arranging files, click Combine Files.

If you have earlier version, just google combine files in Acrobat 9, or X, or XI, etc. It's a bit different from DC.

[Steve Werner]

The poster was unclear about whether all these images were the same size, and just had to be arranged and combined (which winterm assumed), or the images have to be placed at different sizes, resized and placed on different pages (which I assumed). He needs to provide more information about the project.

[winterm]

Gaming cards ought to be all of the same size... but yes, I agree, a lot of assuming here.

OT: I dream about restriction to post a question without specifying at least OS and ID version, heh...

[annetteb67819359]

I'm sorry about not being clear.  The cards are all the same size and need to be placed in a certain order in the pdf. The printer is offering to do this at about $0.50 per image.  If I can learn to do this I will save myself a good chunk of change as I have four large but different similar projects.

[annetteb67819359]

The printer told me to use Indesign.

[vinny38]

Still quite unclear to me...

Do you want a single occurence of your cards per page (which ultimately would end with a 216 pages PDF). In this case, I would go for Winterm's solution.

or... multiple occurences on one page (i.e. 8 cards per page -> 27 pages PDF)

In this case, I have the deep feeling that datamerge could be useful here and faster than placing 216 files.

I can help you with an Excel macro that would list your files in order to create a nice CSV or TXT file ^^

Edit: I thought this could be helpful for future projects, so I wrote this VBA script that lists and returns paths of all files in the chosen folder:

Sub GetFile4DataMerging()
Dim sFolder As String
    ' Open the select folder prompt
    With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
        If .Show = -1 Then ' if OK is pressed
            sFolder = .SelectedItems(1)
        End If
    End With
    If sFolder <> "" Then ' if a file was chosen
        Dim objFSO As Object
        Dim objFolder As Object
        Dim objFile As Object
        Dim i As Integer
        'Clear column A and add @image to cell A1
        Columns("A:A").Select
        Selection.ClearContents
        Range("A1").Select
        ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "'@image"
        'Create an instance of the FileSystemObject
        Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
        'Get the folder object
        Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder(sFolder)
        i = 1
        'loops through each file in the directory and prints their names and path
        For Each objFile In objFolder.Files
        'print file name
        Cells(i + 1, 1) = objFile.Path
        i = i + 1
        Next objFile
    End If
End Sub

[Migintosh]

My guess is that the printer is going to print sheets of cards, with each sheet being a different card in each possible location. They will then cut them and end up with stacks of cards, with each stack being all of the same card. This is the way that (for example) many people print business cards (here's a visual):

If that's what they want, you would need to either know a little about InDesign or let the printer do it. If you do it wrong, it might cost you in time and money to let the printer fix it for you. Maybe a local freelance designer who knows InDesign can help you for less than the printer is asking.

[annetteb67819359]

I think I am in over my head here. I was hoping there would just be a simple procedure for copying and pasting these cards into an indesign format. I can see there is not. Thank you for all of your help.

[Steve Werner]

Sorry, InDesign has a higher learning curve than that because it's primarily used for professional work.

You might look around and see if a student, or a designer getting started could beat your printer's price.