Creating booklets for print can sometimes feel complicated, especially when preparing files for commercial printers. Understanding the best way to “Print Pdf As Booklet” is crucial for a smooth printing process. There are typically two main methods to generate a print-ready PDF booklet, each with its own set of features and implications for your final printed product. Let’s explore these options to ensure your booklet printing goes off without a hitch.
Understanding Your Booklet Printing Options
When you need to create a PDF for booklet printing, you’ll generally encounter two distinct approaches within publishing software like Affinity Publisher or similar programs. These methods dictate how your PDF is structured and what print options are available. Choosing the right method depends on your printing needs and whether you are printing in-house or sending your document to a professional print service.
Option 1: Exporting PDF as Spreads
The first approach involves using the “Export” function, usually found under the “File” menu. This method typically exports your PDF in “spreads.” A spread means that pages are arranged as they would appear when the booklet is open, side-by-side. For example, page 1 and page 2 will be next to each other in the PDF, mimicking the final booklet layout.
- Layout: Spreads (reader spreads or printer spreads depending on software settings)
- Crop Marks: Generally not included through standard export settings.
- Bleed: Can usually be included.
This option is often straightforward and useful for digital previews or for simple in-house printing where precise printer instructions might be less critical. However, it may lack some professional print features.
Option 2: Saving as PDF via Print Dialogue (Booklet Printing)
The second method leverages the “Print” dialogue, specifically the “Save as PDF” function within the print settings. Here, you can often find a “Booklet” option under “Layout” or similar settings. This method is designed to create a PDF with “imposition.” Imposition refers to arranging the pages in the PDF so that when printed and folded, they fall into the correct page order for a booklet. This means page 1 and page 2 might not be adjacent in the PDF; instead, pages are ordered based on the printing sheet layout.
- Layout: Imposition (printer spreads, pages arranged for folding)
- Crop Marks: Usually can be included via print settings.
- Bleed: Can typically be included and controlled through print settings.
This method is generally preferred for creating print-ready PDFs for commercial printers as it allows for essential print marks and proper page arrangement for professional finishing.
Print dialogue box showing booklet printing options, illustrating the imposition layout for print-ready PDF creation.
Key Considerations for Print-Ready PDFs
Choosing between these methods involves understanding a few critical print concepts.
Crop Marks and Bleed for Precision
Commercial printers rely on crop marks to know where to trim the paper after printing. Bleed is the extended area beyond the trim edge, ensuring that colors or images extend to the very edge of the page after trimming, preventing white borders.
- Export Method: Typically lacks options for crop marks, which might be a problem if your printer requires them. Bleed can often be added, but without crop marks, communicating trim size can be less direct.
- Print to PDF (Booklet) Method: Usually allows for both crop marks and bleed, making it ideal for professional print workflows where these elements are standard requirements.
If your printer requests crop marks, the “Print to PDF” method is likely necessary.
Dimensions and Layout Understanding
The “spread setup” dimensions in your document software usually define the finished size of your booklet pages after trimming. When you add bleed, the overall PDF document size increases to accommodate this extra area.
- Export with Bleed: The PDF size will be the spread dimensions plus the bleed area on each edge. Without crop marks, you’d need to communicate the intended trim size and bleed amount to the printer separately.
- Print to PDF with Bleed and Crop Marks: The PDF size includes bleed and crop marks. Crop marks clearly indicate the trim size, making it easier for the printer to understand the final dimensions.
For clear communication of dimensions and trim, especially with bleed, the “Print to PDF” method with crop marks provides a more self-contained and printer-friendly file.
Conclusion: Best Practices for Booklet PDF Printing
For creating PDFs to “print PDF as booklet” for commercial printers, using the “Save as PDF” function within the print dialogue, with booklet settings enabled, is generally the recommended approach. This method offers the flexibility to include essential print marks like crop marks and ensures proper page imposition for booklet assembly. While the export method can be suitable for drafts or in-house prints, for professional, print-ready booklets, leveraging the print dialogue options provides greater control and meets industry standards for file preparation.
