Creating booklets from PDF documents might seem daunting, especially when you need a quick solution without investing in specialized software. If you’re looking for a straightforward method to print your PDF as a booklet, particularly if it’s a one-off project, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through a manual process using readily available tools, perfect for users who prefer not to purchase additional software or find that existing software doesn’t quite meet their needs.
This method is particularly useful if you have a smaller document and need to print it as an A5 booklet from an A4 PDF, using a standard printer. Let’s break down the steps using a 16-page document as an example.
Step 1: Craft a Dummy Booklet
Before you start printing your actual PDF, create a small mock-up booklet. Using sticky notes or scrap paper, fold them in half to simulate booklet pages. Number these pages as if they were a booklet. This hands-on model is crucial for visualizing the page order required for booklet printing.
For a 16-page document, your dummy booklet will help you determine the page arrangement on each sheet. After numbering and separating the pages of your dummy booklet, you’ll see the sheet layout. In our 16-page example, the page order for each sheet would be:
- Sheet 1: [16, 1] [2, 15]
- Sheet 2: [14, 3] [4, 13]
- Sheet 3: [12, 5] [6, 11]
- Sheet 4: [10, 7] [8, 9]
This pre-planning step is essential to avoid printing errors and wasted paper.
Step 2: Prepare Your PDF and Select Pages in Preview
Open your PDF document using Preview on your Mac. Preview is a versatile tool that comes standard with macOS and is perfect for this manual booklet printing method.
To print the first sheet, which according to our dummy booklet needs pages 16 and 1, you’ll use Preview’s sidebar selection.
- Open Sidebar: If the sidebar isn’t visible, go to the “View” menu and select “Sidebar” > “Show Sidebar”.
- Select Pages: In the sidebar, select page 16 and page 1. To select non-contiguous pages, hold down the Command key while clicking on the page thumbnails.
- Open Print Dialog: Press Command + P to open the print dialog.
- Choose Selected Pages: In the print dialog, ensure that “Selected Pages in Sidebar” is chosen under the Pages option to print only the pages you’ve selected.
Step 3: Configure Layout for Two Pages Per Sheet
To create the booklet layout, you need to set up the page layout in the print dialog to print two pages on each side of the paper.
- Navigate to Layout Settings: In the print dialog, find the “Layout” settings. This is usually in a dropdown menu within the print dialog (often labeled “Layout” or “Paper Handling”).
- Select Pages per Sheet: Choose “2” pages per sheet. This will automatically arrange two document pages onto a single printed page.
- Adjust Layout Direction (If Necessary): For the first sheet, we need page 16 on the left and page 1 on the right. Check the preview in the print dialog. If page 1 is appearing on the left, change the “Layout direction”. Usually, there are arrows or a dropdown to control the direction. Experiment to ensure page 16 is on the left in the preview, as per our sheet 1 layout [16, 1] [2, 15].
- Print the First Side: Once the layout is correct, print this first sheet.
Step 4: Print the Reverse Side
Now, you need to print the reverse side of the sheet you just printed. According to our dummy booklet, the reverse of sheet 1 needs pages 2 and 15.
- Select Pages for Reverse Side: In Preview’s sidebar, select page 2 and page 15 (again, using the Command key for non-contiguous selection).
- Print Dialog Settings: Open the print dialog again (Command + P). “Selected Pages in Sidebar” should still be selected. “Layout” should still be set to “2 pages per sheet.” This time, you should not need to change the “Layout direction” as we want page 2 on the left and page 15 on the right, which should be the default direction.
- Paper Handling: This is crucial. You need to feed the sheet you just printed back into the printer to print on the reverse side. The correct way to feed paper for duplex printing (even manual duplex) depends on your printer model.
- HP Printer Example (HP1200-1300 type): For printers like HP1200 or HP1300, you typically feed the sheet with the top of the page to the left and facing downwards. However, always consult your printer manual to confirm the correct paper re-feeding orientation for manual duplex printing. Incorrect feeding will result in misaligned printing on the reverse side.
- Print Reverse Side: Feed the paper correctly and print.
Step 5: Repeat for Remaining Sheets
You’ve now completed Sheet 1 of your booklet. Repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining sheets, following the page order you determined with your dummy booklet.
- Sheet 2: Front: [14, 3], Back: [4, 13]
- Sheet 3: Front: [12, 5], Back: [6, 11]
- Sheet 4: Front: [10, 7], Back: [8, 9]
Continue this process until all sheets are printed. Carefully collate the printed sheets, fold them in the middle, and you will have your manually printed booklet!
Consider Booklet Printing Software
While this manual method works effectively for occasional booklet printing, if you frequently need to create booklets from PDFs, dedicated software can streamline the process significantly.
For Mac users, “Create Booklet” (http://thekeptpromise.com/CreateBooklet/) from the Mac App Store is a popular and affordable option. It integrates directly into the Print dialog’s PDF submenu, offering automatic booklet imposition and duplex printing options. For more advanced imposition needs, “Cheap Imposter” (http://www.cheapimpostor.com/) is a more feature-rich software, though at a higher price point.
These software solutions automate the page ordering and layout, saving time and reducing the chance of errors for regular booklet printing tasks.
Conclusion
Printing booklets from PDFs doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. This manual method using Preview provides a free and accessible way to create booklets for smaller, one-off projects. By carefully following these steps and using a dummy booklet for guidance, you can achieve professional-looking booklets without needing to invest in specialized software. For those who print booklets more frequently, exploring dedicated software options like Create Booklet or Cheap Imposter can further simplify and enhance the process.
