Trouble Exporting Spreads to Single Pages - PLEASE HELP

[ethans78139117]

Hi, 

I am currently creating a document within InDesign and I have the project set up as facing pages so I can create spreads to see what the book would look like. The printing company I am using need single pages. When I export the document to a PDF as spreads, there are no problems. However, when I export as pages (like the printing company needs me to) the images have a strange overlap where they have extended to the middle bleed (photo attatched). I have also attatched a picture of what the photobook outline looks like. Does anyone know how I can resolve this issue and get to print asap?! 

[Eugene Tyson]

Perfectly normal and the printer will appreaciate this extra information.

If you don't want to include it in the PDF Export Options

File>Export>PDF

Go to Marks and Bleeds

In the bleeds section - set the inner bleeds to 0.

[ethans78139117]

Hi Eugene, 

Thank you for your quick reply!

So from this I take it I can leave the inner bleed as it is and the printer will trim the overlapping parts so that the pages run smoothly? 

[Eugene Tyson]

Where the pages are bound the bleed for the inner edges will be hidden under the spine/folds.

Imagine

Page 1 is paired with page 28.

So if you unmangle a magazine it would be

28 | 1

2 | 27

26 | 3

So your page 1 inner bleed actually is related to page 28 outer bleed. 

But the printer manages all this with software called imposition.

Having a bit of wiggle room with 3 or 5mm bleed on the inner pages means they can maneuver the page depending on the paper stock.

It's a process known as Creep.

https://www.printivity.com/insights/2019/07/09/what-is-creep-in-a-saddle-stitch-booklet/

Just means if the printer needs to shift page 5 to the right for the imposition, they can as you've given them the image information for that side.

It's literally nothing to worry about. 

The printer will have an imposition template.

And each page will be centred in the correct position on the template.

https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/indesign/using/printing-booklets.html

It's fine - and if in doubt you can always check with your print vendor if they want the inner bleeds or not.

[ethans78139117]

Thank you so much for clarifying this!

[J E L]

@ethans78139117 Always ask your printer how to set your Bleed and Slug for export, and for all the specific settings for that matter. For nearly all the professional book printers I work with, these are the settings below. Don’t check “Use Document Bleed Settings” but set Top, Bottom, and Outside to 0.125 and Inside to 0. Try this and then look at your single-page PDF and you won’t see that inside margin overlap. But ask your printer!!

[ethans78139117]

Hi Jain, 

Thank you for your response. 

I'm using the Job Options provided by the printing company which I have attatched as a photo (first picture). The document was set up as single pages and the only change I have made is to make the document Facing pages to get an understanding of the spreads before exporting as pages rather than spreads. I have attatched the original document setup and page also. 

If I have kept marks/bleeds the same but just switched to spreads do you think this overlap issue is ok? 

[J E L]

It is hard to say but in the General tab, you should be selecting "Pages" and not "Spreads" if the printer wants single pages, which is a typical spec. The overlap you are seeing is because of the bleed settings they asked for, which are the document bleed settings. If your printer is okay with that setting, even though it doesn't look right to you when viewing the PDF, then that's fine. I'm a "what you see is what you get" kind of person so I don't like seeing that overlap in a PDF but every printer has their own tools and workflows. You should clarify with them just in case!

[ethans78139117]

Hi Jain, 

Yes so in the general tab I have clicked pages rather than spreads, but in the document setup I went for facing pages instead of single pages which is where the overlap issue has come from. I will clarify with them as I am still a little unsure but Eugene's responses suggested it will be ok. Thank you!

[J E L]

Understood! Yes, you have to set up the document for facing pages to design the book. The bleed settings are where the issue is coming from and the printer may prefer this! Basically, this overlap you see are bleeds that fall either into the gutter of the book, or to the top, side, and bottom edges which will be trimmed, right? Let us know what you find out.

[ethans78139117]

Hi Jain, 

Just to let you know (and anyone in future looking at this thread) the photobook came out great and there was no problem at all with the bleeds:)

[Eugene Tyson]

Thanks for letting us know. If you did include inner bleeds and have a spare copy - have a look by pulling the spine apart and see where your inner bleed was an advantage or if it was used at all.