Creating booklets for print, especially when sending files to commercial printers, can present some confusion regarding the best approach for PDF preparation. Many users, particularly when working with design software, find themselves questioning the optimal method to ensure their PDF files are print-ready. This article clarifies two common methods for creating Print Pdf Booklets and highlights the key considerations for each to help you make the right choice for your printing needs.
Option 1: Exporting PDF Booklets Directly
One common approach is to use the “Export” function available in the “File” menu of many design applications. This method typically allows you to export your document as a PDF, often with options for layout.
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Spread or Pages Layout: When exporting, you can usually choose between exporting your booklet as “spreads,” where facing pages are side-by-side (like in the final booklet view), or as individual pages. For booklet printing, spreads might seem intuitive initially.
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Bleed Inclusion: The export function generally allows for the inclusion of bleed, which is crucial for professional printing to ensure no white edges appear after trimming.
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Crop Marks Limitation: A significant limitation of the direct export method is often the inability to include crop marks. Crop marks are essential for printers as they indicate where the paper should be trimmed to achieve the final booklet size.
Therefore, a PDF exported this way might present your booklet layout correctly in spreads but lack the necessary crop marks for precise trimming by a commercial printer.
Option 2: Saving as PDF Through the Print Dialogue
Another method involves using the “Save as PDF” option within the “Print” dialogue. This route, while seemingly less direct, offers crucial advantages for booklet printing.
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Booklet Imposition: The “Print” dialogue often provides a “Booklet” setting under “Layout” or “Paper Handling.” Selecting this option instructs the system to arrange the pages in printer spreads, also known as “imposition.” This arrangement is how pages are positioned on large sheets of paper to fold into a booklet, meaning page 1 will not be next to page 2 in the PDF.
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Bleed and Crop Marks: Critically, using the “Print” dialogue to save as PDF usually allows you to include both bleed and crop marks. These are vital for commercial printers to accurately trim and finish your booklet.
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OS-Level Functionality: This “Save as PDF” via “Print” function often leverages the operating system’s PDF capabilities, which can sometimes offer more print-specific options than the application’s direct export.
This method generates a PDF that reflects the printer’s sheet layout, including imposition, bleed, and essential crop marks, making it more suitable for commercial printing workflows.
Booklet print output example with imposition and crop marks
Key Considerations for Print-Ready Booklet PDFs
When preparing your PDF booklet for printing, especially for commercial services, keep these points in mind:
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Crop Marks are Essential: Printers rely on crop marks for accurate trimming. If your chosen export method doesn’t include them, it may cause issues in production.
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Bleed is Necessary for Edge-to-Edge Printing: Always include bleed if your booklet design extends to the edge of the page. This prevents white borders after trimming.
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Dimensions and Bleed: The document dimensions you set in your design software typically represent the final trimmed size of your booklet. When you add bleed, the overall PDF document size will be larger to accommodate the bleed area. Printers understand that bleed needs to be trimmed off, and crop marks indicate the final trim lines.
Conclusion: Best Practice for Print PDF Booklets
For creating print-ready PDF booklets, particularly for commercial printers, using the “Save as PDF” function within the “Print” dialogue is generally the recommended approach. This method provides the necessary control to include booklet imposition, bleed, and crop marks, ensuring your PDF is optimized for professional printing workflows. While direct export might be suitable for digital booklets or quick personal prints, the “Print” dialogue method offers the precision and features required for high-quality, commercially printed booklets.
