No access to printer setup (custom page size) when printing booklet

[Eliora Pazia30505848psyv]

Hi, I am printing a booklet in A6 size and am trying to save the .ps file through the print booklet function but I cannot access the setup section of printer settings. This makes the pdf cut off my spread, and I cannot adjust the scale because the setup section is greyed out. What do I do?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

There have been a number of discussions of this and very similar issues recently; you might search the InDesign forum for "booklet" to find some other answers and possible solutions.

One thing that is key to understand when using printer output from most apps is that they do not have much control over your printer; they have only what they can access through your printer driver. Some apps have very little control within their print menu and either don't allow access to some functions (such as double-sided or duplex printing) or do so only by dropping you into a specific part of the printer driver interface.

(Many of the discussions/complaints on this level involve InDesign's very distant, hands-off control of duplex printing; not every printer driver has the right hooks to let ID manage the task well.)

I don't do much booklet or imposed printing, but I know those who have experience usually recommend strongly against using InDesign's booklet function, and recommend instead export to a linear-order PDF, then using Acrobat Pro's booklet printing features, which are more comprehensive and just work better all around.

(Bottom line: for all its power in the front end, and in various forms of export, ID is pretty lousy at printing. 🙂 )

[rob day]

then using Acrobat Pro's booklet printing features, which are more comprehensive and just work better all around

Hi James, Acrobat’s Booklet feature is more limited than ID’s Print Booklet—no Creep, Perfect Binding, or space between pages options. You have to weigh that against the downsides of postscript output—flattened transparency, color management limitations, etc.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

...okay. I've seen many discussions saying to use Acrobat, not ID. I must have picked up on the wrong points.

That said, most users seeking to use booklet don't have much need for those pro/press features and are trying to print "books" on their desktop printer. 🙂 AFAIK — and maybe I don't 'K' enough — Acrobat has been superior for that purpose.

[AlanGilbertson]

Try printing directly to PDF. PostScript is an unnecessary step if you plan to create a PDF.

In the Print Booklet dialog, choose "Print settings" and select a PDF virtual printer from the dropdown:

[Peter Spier]

You need to instal the adpdf9.ppd printer description to print postcript that will be distilled to PDF. You can download it from me at https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/B9lnr1WtjF

I believe @rob day also has posted a link to it on his website in several threads here.

[rob day]

but I cannot access the setup section of printer settings.

Hi @Eliora Pazia30505848psyv , to print a .ps/PDF make sure you have installed the Adobe PDF 9.0 PPD, that will allow you to set a Custom Paper Size. Click Print Seettings... or Setup... at the bottom of the Print Booklet dialog in order to get at the Print setup:

The PPD download page:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/add-acrobat-ppd.html

Also, if you want to Export an imposed 2-up PDF, you are welcome to try this imposition script, which imitates the Print Booklet options:

https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/3bfdb004-f188-4f3d-5904-d82dd8f8e2d1