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shanniev
shanniev
New Participant
July 13, 2018
Question

How can I add a .5 gap in between two facing pages?

  • July 13, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 3591 views

i need to create a gap for a book cover, but the gap I've created only lets me go to 1in and nothing smaller. How can I create a .5in gap as the spine of my book?

    3 replies

    Steve Werner
    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    July 13, 2018

    You have the flexibility of easily changing the spine width if number of pages or paper weight changed. Of course, you would export as spreads. Result: One PDF.

    rob day
    rob day
    Community Expert
    July 13, 2018

    I can't think of any reason why you have to set up the cover mechanical as multiple pages. I've produced hundreds of book covers and the back + spine + front can be set up on a single page:

    Dov Isaacs
    Dov Isaacs
    Brainiac
    July 13, 2018

    I would agree that this is in theory the best way to do this, possibly with a new master page with a custom page size. The real problem tends to be on “back end” where the prepress folks don't know how to handle a PDF file with multiple page types and sizes.

              - Dov

    PS:     Look for better support for this type of workflow in the future with PDF/X-6 currently under development.

    - Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
    MW Design
    MW Design
    Inspiring
    July 14, 2018

    Anyhow you look at it, covers differ in paper type from the content. So yes, I design covers separately, using Steve Werner​‘s method since I can use different page sizes in a document. And as I also need a PDF version of my books (mostly annual reports), I place the front and back from the initial book design into a new document and just add the spine.

    I suppose Steve’s and rob day​‘s methods are equivalent, at at the end of the day it’s just a question of personal preference.


    Yes, I know how to both use different page sizes, export as spreads for obtaining a single page PDF, as well as the single page method Rob showed. I've done both methods for a long time. In separate files.

    I have recently ran into one service provider that hates the trim marks on the spine for the 3+ page method. I think I know why, but I cannot get a clear answer from him.

    I'm just curious about how PDF/X-6 resolves anything having to do with disparate page sizes in a single PDF is all.

    Mike

      Steve Werner
      Steve Werner
      Community Expert
      July 13, 2018

      You can't do it with Facing Pages. It's best to make the cover—back cover, spine and front cover—a new document. You should use the Page tool (third tool from the top of tools) to change the size of the spine to the actual spine width. That will give you the most flexibility.

      1. When you create the new document, make the page size the size of the cover (e.g., 6 x 9 inches), but create three pages. FACING PAGES MUST BE TURNED OFF.

      2. InDesign tries to create pairs of pages (it calls it shuffling). You want to UNCHECK both shuffling options on the Pages panel menu:

      3. To create a multi-page spread, you want to drag page 2 beside 1; then drag page 3 beside 2. You want to look for the ] (bracket) icon to create a spread:

      When finished looks like this:

      4. Use the Page tool to select page 2 (the spine) and change its width to the spine width in the Control panel (e.g., .5 in). Then move it beside page 2 (make sure Reference Point at left end of Control panel at upper left point):

      Good luck. I teach this method to my InDesign class at the Graphic Design program at Berkeley Extension.

        L
        Laubender
        Community Expert
        July 14, 2018

        https://forums.adobe.com/people/Steve+Werner  wrote

        You can't do it with Facing Pages.

        Hi Steve,

        hm. Why a gap at all? I ask myself.

        To be flexible if the spine changes its width?

        In this case one would be better off doing it with a facing pages document.

        Only in a facing pages document the pages next to the spine would move automatically, if you change the width of the spine. Or if you change the width of the cover or the back.

        Regards,
        Uwe

        rob day
        rob day
        Community Expert
        July 14, 2018

        In this case one would be better off doing it with a facing pages document.

        Yes, I think that is right. If the pages are not facing then I think you would always have to realign the front and back pages with the spine pages—it wouldn't happen automatically. For my clients the cover design always happens after the interior, so I've never considered 3 pages.

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