How to Print Sections or Signatures from a PDF File for Bookbinding // Adventures in Bookbinding

[@shannabolser9428]

For anyone working with Microsoft word, go to file then hit print. On the print page, click page setup at the bottom of page. Select landscape then under that will be a drop down menu. Select book fold then choose how many pages you want in your section. I generally do 16. It will print your whole document in sections if you have a printer that prints both sides.

[@DASBookbinding]

I don't seem to have that option. Maybe because I use a Mac? All the best, DAS

[@shannabolser9428]

It could be an older version of word? Mine is 2018 or 19 version.

[@user-it1cp3ux5r]

The back side prints the text upside-down. Is there a function I'm forgetting?

[@shannabolser9428]

@@user-it1cp3ux5r I think there is a button for flipping that. I am not anywhere near a computer at the moment to tell you but it should say something like flip horizontal or vertical. Or it might have a picture of where 3 holes would be for a 3 ring binder. If they are on the top or the side will change how the back side is printed

[@user-it1cp3ux5r]

@@shannabolser9428 thank you for taking the time to reply. That's so kind of you. I'll try this when my energy level is back. Thank youu

[@dimitris470]

For those watching in late 2021 onwards, word also has the option to create signatures. It's the "book fold" option in page setup.

[@celinavarchausky5333]

You are the only person I have seen actually explain all the terminology and how they work!! Thank you!!!! I am so so grateful

[@mr.kakerudanielvl6496]

THANK YOU!!! Even if it’s too late, you don’t know how much time I spent looking for this!!!! Thank you

[@bleakmouse6201]

Page Imposition! that's the term I've been looking for all morning. Thanks!

[@jaysnively1489]

You are lucky, I spent years looking for the term. It looks like "booklet" is the setting we need to look for in most programs. Happy binding.

[@Mtonazzi]

I've printed 600+ books just using the booklet option on the free Adobe Acrobat Reader and making a "booklet guide" on a scrap paper by hand and then I criss-crossed the pages as I printed them xD

[@DASBookbinding]

Thanks for your tip! DAS

[@kf9058]

You can still make signatures using this option?

[@Mtonazzi]

@@kf9058 On Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (free one) version 2021.005.20048 (latest as of today) allows you to do so. All you must do is selecting "multiple pages per sheet" on 2, and then on pages to print, you put them separated by a comma; a 4 sheets booklet should be "16,1,2,15,14,3,4,13,12,5,6,11,10,7,8,9" and finally setting the printer on "print double sided" so it'll print one side of the sheets and them you put them back onto the feeding tray upside down.

[@isabelle1739]

This is exactly what I needed. I was stressing out trying to figure out the math on what pages to print for every side of every page

[@sambarbee7234]

You have just saved my sanity. Thank you so much!! I just couldn’t get my head wrapped around the imposition. Thank you!

[@valeriehayne]

thank you so much for this. i've been trying to understand how to organize the pages to make the signatures for a while but my head just got more confusing with each site and article that i read. i found this explanation really useful. now i can bind my own book and i'm really happy!

[@westworld.westworld7113]

Thank you for making this video. I had great success in using your video and a slotted wrapper binding for my first project. As I'm on linux not all the software was available. In the end I used the free LibreOffice Draw to add extra pages and pdf jam to print the signatures. In your terminal you can use the example below to make signatures from 3 pages. A4 is the default. pdfjam input.pdf --signature 12 --landscape --outfile output.pdf

[@theintolerantjacobin1894]

This is so helpful! I'm making a Christmas gift for a friend, and this is exactly the tutorial I needed. Now on to the stiffened paper binding video!

[@LittleBlueJay789]

I’m just getting into book binding at the moment, and I’ve been watching some of your videos to orient myself. I would just like to say, you come across as a very pleasant person, and I greatly enjoy your videos! They’re calm and clear, the perfect videos for learning. I’m looking forward to binding my first book :)

[@UltraGeeky]

This was extremely helpful!! I was just watching out of curiosity, but I fully got up in the middle of the night to take notes because you gave me that light-bulb moment some of the other tutorials were missing. Thank you so much!

[@orangeandwater1538]

Thank you so much for this, it really helped me a lot.

[@janisward5361]

I have been looking for this way of making my own books. Thank you, I shall be watching this tutorial many times.

[@DASBookbinding]

You are so welcome! DAS

[@DavidDiazOlivares]

Thanks! Im from Chile, and I coudn't find this type of tutorial anywhere in spanish. Thanks a lot again, its all very clear

[@properpolymath2097]

I just found your channel, and I'm so glad! I've been waiting for a channel like this, and this video here looks like the perfect first project.

[@DASBookbinding]

Good luck! Sewn boards is a also a good starting point. DAS

[@azasazandorable8577]

This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you so much for this channel! Your explanations are very clear and your voice is very soothing, just perfect.

[@whogavehimafork]

Im cataloging my observations of native wildflowers in my area and writing descriptions of them and whatnot. Once I get enough to justify printing and binding them I'll definitely be using this video as a guide. Thank you so much for this video dude you've done an excellent job explaining everything in detail, can't thank you enough 🙏

[@DailySpatialDose]

This is amazing. Thank you so much, I’ve been meaning to start bookbinding for years, and this is allowing me to get started. Excellent videos, I can’t wait to continue to learn.

[@bobbyd1961]

I love booklet creator, thank you I downloaded it and purchased it

[@frederickmagill9454]

I don't bookbind, but I find these videos of yours very relaxing and really interesting. Many thanks for the work and effort you have put into your work. I binge watch and love it❤️👍👍👌👌

[@nahidhasanniloy]

Huge help man! Sectioning pages from mac print tool is really very helpful. Can't thank you enough

[@demee11]

I LOVE the way you fold the sections. So perfect.

[@vdc7153]

I am so grateful to have found this outstanding tutorial, your exceptional professional channel. Thank you so much, you solved my problems! Thank you

[@CaptainNow2]

Absoltely superb!! I was going to be sorting and printing my booklet content by hand! Imagine that! I am addicted to your chennel! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us

[@laura_nix]

you are a heven send sir, ive been struggling to’ figure out how to format the pages that way, but thank you so much for this tutorial

[@xenophilie]

Such wonderful pedagogy and dedication to the craft. Thanks!

[@marilynbook4211]

One of the programs I use on the windows machine is PDFSamBasic which is a free program for manipulating PDF documents. It separates them into pages and then you can rearrange the pages to print in the correct order. Thank you for the tutorial. I am looking forward to the next video as I am doing a 3 section memorial book and the binding you describe looks perfect for it.

[@DASBookbinding]

Thanks for sharing the PDF tools. I think for a memorial book I would use a fore-edge square which the board paper wraps around. It just feels much nicer in the hand. I'll cover this in Saturdays video. It's uploading now. Happy binding!

[@IronChefBoyardee]

I would have appreciated some information on how to do this in Windows, but your explanations of the terminology has helped me find the right tools I need. Thank you!

[@DASBookbinding]

Sorry, I'm an Apple user.

[@joaquinbarreto9398]

Phenomenal video! I need to figure out how to make it a bit smaller almost pocket size but you’ve given me hope with this video.

[@joycemelo88]

Thank you so much for this!! This is exactly what I need! You have a great straight-forward way of teaching, I really appreciate that. I'm a new subscriber and I'm excited to start a bookbinding videos marathon, all from your channel. :)

[@craftychatscafe6342]

This would be perfect for knitting and crochet pdf files! Sometimes they are awkward to organise when they're just loose pages but this would be great!

[@john80944]

Thank God I finally found this. I don't know the english term "imposition" before so I have no way of googling it.

[@TheContrariann]

Thank you so much, I've been looking for this for a long time...❤

[@dingding.6911]

Thank you so much now I can print books that I've read so I don't have to be scared to loose them

[@goldenCrows]

This vid is great! I can really understand it, thank you for explaining everything step by step

[@DASBookbinding]

You're very welcome! DAS

[@lucianagonzalez8612]

Thank you so much! I knew there was an app for the imposition part but I didn't know which one. It was very helpful!

[@andypowers3025]

I enjoyed the Cheerio at the end. Deserving of a like

[@KathleenRenninger]

Thanks for the good instructions. Very nice result!

[@thaliawaldvogel2053]

This video is awesome. I've been trying to do this for the longest time. Thank you!

[@darkwriter_xx94]

I literally was just about to do this and then I saw your video.

[@DASBookbinding]

Cool! DAS

[@deanontheinterwebs]

For me as I use InDesign I have created imposition files that I can re-use by changing the linked pdf file, especially eg when printing say A6 booklets (on A5 sheets) on an A3 sheet, then trimmed to size... especially fun then getting the trimmed stacks worked out to save manual sorting time. I know there is software for this, but for my needs once I have set this up once, it is easy to use again later.

[@onskhlify5025]

Thank you so much, so far the best bookbinding video on youtube, your way of explaining is very helpful, keep up the great work

[@ariofsouthdakota]

Thank you very much for this. Ive been racking my brain trying to figure out a good printing method for book binding. This should certainly help. Ive gotten sime to print doing a teadious manual method and the size doesnt come out right or the pages dont print right. Will try this method tomorrow.

[@AtticusBlackwolf]

super informative! Very helpful for formatting with pdf!

[@nguyenxloan]

5:20 For double sided printing when your printer doesn’t have this capability, in Abode Reader, select to print Odd pages only. After all the sheets are printed, put whole stack back in the paper tray and select to print Even pages only AND check Reverse pages. If you have odd number of pages to print, remember to remove the last page. I made a booklet from a long handout and so happy with the way it came out. Thank you.

[@basantimoirangthem3441]

best video i get today❣️❣️...thank you forever❤️

[@Steven-gv1ii]

Mate, you're absolutely brilliant. Thank you!

[@mitchclarke19]

If you don't have a printer that can print double sided, you can print half of the pages, then reinsert those pages into the printer, to be printed on, making sure to flip them so they'll be printed onto the blank side. (making sure you flip it so it won't print upside down)

[@DASBookbinding]

That is tricky. Do do that you first need to print every second page and then do the same when you re-feed, but the pages that weren't printed first time. Possible, but tricky. Good luck! DAS

[@mitchclarke19]

oh yes you would have to do that, that's right, I forgot to mention that, thankyou :)

[@batchrocketproject4720]

Libre Office Writer (and presumably other word processors) print dialogue has odd/even pages as an option for exactly this purpose. The only thing I found is that I often get the occasional sheet that goes a bit skewed on its second pass through the printer (despite taking care to stack neatly and having a fairly good printer). So I always carefully check the text is square to the page (after folding as subtle skew is sometimes not noticeable straight out of the printer) and repeat print any skewed prints.

[@NeutronioGames]

Thank you for your video, it spurred me on to create an automated solution to this problem. I wrote a tiny program that rearranges any PDF document for signature printing. It basically does the same thing as you manually did in Adobe Reader. Amount of signatures and sheets per signature are configurable. I'm currently testing & fleshing it out. Let me know if anyone could use something like that

[@carlafinklea740]

This tutorial is incredibly helpful! Thanks for posting!

[@MabruBlack]

This is great! I usually use a program called PDF architect, but when printing booklets with more than one signature it always puts the first page to be printed as the ‘cover’ regardless of me trying to print the next section, and I can’t seem to make it understand that it isn’t a new cover. This option looks great, and even though I don’t have acrobat pro, the other option (Finder, I think? I need to look up for the Windows version) seems like it will solve my problems. Thank you!

[@susanbenes4094]

yes this is what I needed!!! Thanks so much!!!

[@Marianne1443]

Variation Goldberg add a nice touch!

[@DinizMaris]

Hello I’m sorry but I still don’t know your name, I’ve been watching some of your videos for a while and I’d like to say a big thanks for all the knowledge you’re sharing in your videos, I’m a very young hobbiest bookbinder and I’ve been doing it for 4-5 years now sporadically, I’m not much of a community person with my hobbies and this sometimes is a big disadvantage, so I really appreciate all the tips and tricks you share with us! Hugs from Brazil!

[@DASBookbinding]

Hi Marina, I'm Darryn Schneider. I love hearing from Brazil, a place I've never visited but that I feel a strong connection to. I hope you are staying safe in these tough times. Happy binding and all the best, Dazza.

[@johnmorrison8577]

Did you use short grain paper for that? I find it difficult to get A4 and A3 paper in the right grain direction to make A4 and A5 books to sew.

[@DASBookbinding]

Yes. Short grain A3 for making A4 sized books is fairly easy. That seems to be the standard for copy paper. I guess the assumption is that most printers feed the short dimension through the machine. We have been sourcing a long grain A3 paper called Supreme from a printing supply company. It's made in Thailand. That's what I used for this project. All the best, DAS

[@sleepyearther270]

thank you so much for this!!! i went out and about looking for a tutorial like this for so long 🥺 i had no idea about this when i started my small business, so the manufacturer just stapled a 200-page (A5)x 100-page (A4), planner. it was so hard to lay it flat. a lot has broken before the year ended. it was so frustrating :(

[@DASBookbinding]

Try and find somewhere that will do sewn sections. Much more appropriate for something that will get daily use. Good luck! DAS

[@almonies]

🤔 I'll have to look at the free method. See if the pages are in the right order. If so that solves my problem. Thanks 👍 Yep it worked. Although free acrobat didn't let me change the flip to short side. So I had to use another program. But the saving to files the signatures works great thank

[@craftopus1140]

Does booklet creator make the impositioned sheets if you want to have more than one fold per sheet? I'm currently using the free version of Acrobat, almost exactly like how you demonstrated, except I exported the entire pdf from where I was formatting the pages, and then selected the pages I wanted to make into a booklet as I impositioned them. It seems a bit more efficient, since you don't have to export so many pdfs (about half).

[@DASBookbinding]

No unfortunately.

[@adityakumarchoudhary3840]

Excellent work sir ... This will help me a lot

[@victornoagbodji]

😊 🙏 😊 thank you so much for sharing this video!

[@nielcraig6153]

I've just stumbled across your videos and am blown away by them. Thanks so much for making all this content available. The quality and detail are exceptional. I made a little booklet for my club last year to record some historic moments. I think I made a reasonable first attempt and was quite surprised at how satisfying and fairly straight forward the whole process was. I've since noticed a few typos and some factual errors, and knowing what I know now am about to do a second edition. My booklet is in A6 format, so I'm printing 4 pages on each side of an A4 sheet in portrait, doing this twice and cutting along the horizontal to give a 16 page section. I've worked out how to lay these out to get the correct order but it is seriously l a b o u r i o u s! Have you any hints about taking the labour out of this? Does Booklet Creator or anything similar have a facility to do this? Thanks.

[@DASBookbinding]

Hi! The laying out is called imposition. I believe there is some good cheap/free software that would do this. But haven't got around to looking into it. What I would do is cut the A4 paper in half to A5 and then use BookletCreator to make the pdf to print on the A5, assuming your printer prints on A5. Good luck! DAS

[@nielcraig6153]

@@DASBookbinding Hi. Thanks for suggestions. I like your idea of cutting to A5. That's thinking outside the box. There is nothing in my printer documentation that suggests it can do A5 but interestingly there is an A5 setting in the paper settings so I will investigate that. I've also been looking to see what software is available and as well as booklet creator there is something called Clickbook which looks interesting. I'll do a bit of digging/experimenting. Failing that I know how to do it "long handed". Cheers, Niel.

[@mediocremel201]

you sir are a god send. thanks so much!

[@lainkinnie1442]

best tutorial ever, thank you! :)

[@joaquin3509]

Thank you very much, this was super helpful.

[@warmlacroix_9820]

Everything else is so easy to understand, but the problem I can’t find a solution to is a too-wide margin, making my text really small. I used docs to type out my text, (12pt, normal margins), and Adobe Acrobat to print the booklet. How do I get it to fill more of the page and look better?

[@lidycat1098]

thank you so mutch this really helped me 😭❤❤

[@phoebebaker1575]

Very informative! I’ve been making blank books. I’d like to make books with content, one day.

[@jacobsdm13]

Since you are using a Mac, I found something that might be a little easier for you. Quentin Stafford-Fraser wrote an Automator script that is incredibly easy to use. Here is the website: statusq.org/archives/2019/01/11/8893/. The instructions are very easy to follow. Once installed as a service, you just right-click on the pdf file and select "Make Booklet pdf on Desktop". The service does all of the work for you and saves the new file on your desktop. You might have to pad your file with blank pages in order to get the page count correct. Then open in the file and hit print.

[@DASBookbinding]

Thanks, I'll have a look! DAS

[@ironicallymacaroni6096]

thank you for the video!! (5:13)

[@SpanishPronunciationFromSpain]

I'm still going a bit crazy with this. I have a book written in A5 size, so that I can print it double sided on a A4 page. Still I'm not understanding how the whole booklet thing works. Could you do a tutorial using PC and Word? Thank you so much!

[@dookiecookie100]

I want to try this to my fanfictions!

[@davidweiser9406]

I just found your channel the other day and man has this been eye opening. I have bound a couple of books over the last several years and, while they seem to be durable enough for the light use they get, I wish I had seen all of this. I was using 8 sheets per signature, which probably explains why my one attempt at a rounded spine was lack luster to say the least. I have a few books to make totaling nearly 700 pages each and am looking forward to trying it with 4 sheets per signature. I saw your response to someone else with a similar project assuming they would have a flat spline. Is there a good reason to choose a flat spine over a rounded and backed spine?

[@DASBookbinding]

Glad you found the videos useful. A rounded and backed book will hold its shape better in the boards. A large flat back book will sag. But backing is a skill that needs tools and practice and is not for everyone.

[@Cutondogor]

OMG Buchan Caves - it's a tourism book for Victoria!

[@nicolassantos5541]

Thank's for this video!

[@DASBookbinding]

You're welcome! DAS

[@ZorbaPress]

Thank you. ... Is it a problem if the original PDF file pages (from the original PDF ebook) are not the same size as final document -- the 1/2 of the A4 (or Letter size) sheet that will printed ?

[@DASBookbinding]

No, it normally scales, as long as there isn't any protection in the pdf that stops modification. DAS

[@Turgon92]

Thank you,teacher

[@vaidoo]

Well Done ! The inside gap between two pages is it possible to change ?

[@alexisramis]

In windows I use pdfbooklet, is free and on sourceforge, you can edit the gaps there, resize pages, etc

[@DASBookbinding]

No. This is one of the feature requests I've made. But I don't think the app is being actively developed. It's cheap and mostly does the job. I wouldn't highly recommend it. If you want a cheap tool that gets a job done fast and easy, this is good.

[@Lady_of_Ishpeming]

This is good information! Unfortunately I don't have a Print Booklet button on my printer options.

[@DASBookbinding]

That is why I use booklet creator. There are many solutions to achieving this. Depends on computer, OS, and applications that you use. Books are so much simpler than computers! DAS

[@andrea-stickersswissmade]

Can I use Adobe Pro for the following as well: I want to print B6 sized pages on A4 with cut marks as a booklet. Can this be set up in Adobe Pro?

[@vitvits]

Thank you, this is priceless

[@thanospletsas4488]

love your content and your editing! I have two questions: a) what suits you better (for sewn binding purposes) as a signature size: x times 16pages signatures or 2x times 8pages signatures? In other words what is more convenient to bind 8pages or 16 pages? b) in case the customer wants to have for his/her end product an exact amount of pages (not divisible with 16) why many bookbdinders put a 8page signature as next to last signature ?

[@DASBookbinding]

If it is only 2 sections or less then I would go with the single 4 sheet section (1 sheet = 2 leaves = 4 pages). I suspect you mean an 8 sheet section. But for a single section pamphlet with 120gsm or less paper, 8 sheet is fine - just. If it is a multi-section book then certainly 6 or less sheets. My video on swell and how to manage it describes my decision making process for this. In a multi-section book it is not uncommon to change the sheets per section to get the outcome you want. Maybe 2/3 of the book is 4 sheet sections and 1/3 is 3 sheet sections. Hope this helps. DAS

[@taliatelly6877]

Hello again! Thank you for another wonderful and helpful video! Do you have any advice for how wide margins should be for home printing, specifically along the center fold? Once the binding is said and done, I'm worried that the text will be uncomfortably close to the inside margin (if that makes sense).

[@DASBookbinding]

Hi, I'm sure there are solid rules of thumb on this, but I'm afraid I don't know them. I think an inch (25mm) is minimum and a bit more is probably better. Good luck! DAS

[@taliatelly6877]

@@DASBookbinding Thank you!

[@stephanierebel-energyinflu7389]

So happy that your channel popped up into my KZbin feed. This video answers a questions I had been contemplating for several days. I just have one tiny issue... Adobe Acrobat Reader DC won't print from my Mac. It tells me that there are no pages selected. I've gone through a range of "fixes" but none seem to work. Do you know of other free programs that do the same with the booklet as Acrobat?

[@DASBookbinding]

Sorry, no. Someone said that microsoft word did. But I use a Mac too and I couldn't work out how to get word to do pamphlets. Good luck! Darryn

[@ntzrmtthihu777]

bit of a more 'technical' way of going at it, but for anyone who may use LaTeX to write (apologies for the probably bad formatting when posting code in a youtube comment): \documentclass{book} \usepackage[paperheight=x,paperwidth=y]{geometry} \usepackage{pdfpages} \begin{document} \includepdf[pages=-,signature=z,landscape}{original_pdf_file.pdf} \end{document} x is the width of the file original_pdf_file.pdf, doubled y is the of the file original_pdf_file.pdf, as is z is the number of numbered pages in the signature/group/gathering, so a value of 16 will produce 8 pdf pages in the new document produced from the above tex file, each containing 2 pages of the original_pdf_file.pdf, which when printed double sided will take 4 physical pieces of paper front and back.

[@DASBookbinding]

I'll have to reprint my thesis.

[@max.maslov]

Thank you for the video! Brilliant, as always. Can you recommend some good printers for short grain A4 paper? I heard there may be some difficulties with short grain printing.

[@DASBookbinding]

Most printers should be fine. Because most printers feed A4 paper with the long edge leading the best result is to have the paper flex best in the long grain direction. This is usually most important in high speed industrial printers where paper jams cost time and money. The slow home printer should be fine. Maybe a few extra paper jams. I use Epson printers and have no problems. All the best, Darryn

[@irishguy13]

You would also want the grain of the paper to be running side to side rather than top to bottom.

[@DASBookbinding]

For the unfolded sheet yes. Short grain paper for the sheets to give a vertical paper grain after folding.

[@katvyletalstudio]

Hello, what is the brand of printing paper/ paper used in video? I do have a hard time to find short grain A4 paper for A5 finished books and the only short grain paper I can find is usually art paper for drawing/painting with weight 160g and higher. Thank you ;)

[@Skibbi198]

Super valuable, cheers!

[@GyanenderSirohi]

Hello, I want to print a book for preserving, which printer should I use laser or inkjet? How long would the prints last. Thanks 👍 for simplifying the printing process.

[@DASBookbinding]

I'm not an expert on this, but I believe Laser printing is considered long lasting. But if you want to use an inkjet, Epson make special long lasting inks. Good luck!

[@GyanenderSirohi]

@@DASBookbinding I will give it a try. Thanks for replying.

[@NamelessHorde]

What do you suggest would be the way to go if I have a book with 242 pages? 21 12 page sections for 252 pages or 16 16 page sections for 256 pages? Or is there another configuration I can try?

[@DASBookbinding]

Check out my video on swell. The swell needed (or not needed) for the type of binding being made is one of the main factors in how many sheets to use in a section. Good luck. DAS

[@chazanderson4532]

Thanks for the video! What type of printer paper are you using for making books? Is it just usual printer paper or something else?

[@DASBookbinding]

I use all types off paper, but it is all short grain - grain from head to tail. Most modern digital printing paper is long grain. In some places it is easier to find than others. In Australia it is very difficult to find, and thus why I sell it. My favourite papers are Mohawk Superfine for really nice work and Clairbook for more economical work.

[@candelamarzaroli2780]

I have problems installing Booklet Creator, do you know any other way for doing this? Thank you in advance

[@DASBookbinding]

Not that are cheap. Some people tell me the free very of the Adobe reader will do booklets, but I'm not sure this is true on a Mac. Good luck, DAS

[@LadyAriani]

Thanks so much for your videos! I've been learning a lot and have just started printing my own files. Can I ask where you got this particular PDF? Or do you have a recommendation for copyright free texts such as this?

[@DASBookbinding]

The internet archive. archive.org DAS

[@kf9058]

Okay, I made a book once maybe a year or two ago following this. But im back here again to start up again, and Im totally confused with how many pages per booklet to choose when creating a book. :( For some reason my head cannot wrap around what to choose. For example, the current book Id like to make is 84 pages. How do I do the math to figure this out? 🤣🤦‍♀ I'm sorry for the dumb question...math/word problems were not my strong suit in school. ha.

[@DASBookbinding]

Check out the video on swell and how to manage it. But I'll also paste in some information I recently sent someone else. I use bookletcreator. It is very basic, but works well. www.bookletcreator.com/ Here is an example of how I use it. I might have a pdf file that is 100 pages long and I want to make a book US letter size using 4 sheet sections. I usually would add 12 blank pages to the file to get a total of 112 pages, which is 7 sections. I believe the program will do this for you, but I like to do it myself. I often also make changes like adding the occasional blank page so the chapters always start on the recto and title page also on the rector. I might add a blank leaf at the front. I might even change the number of sheets per section to avoid too many blank pages. But it depends on page numbering and other layout factors. I use acrobat pro to make these changes. I set the paper size to "tabloid" and the number of pages to 16 (2 pages per leaf, 2 leaves per sheet, 4 sheets per section). I drag the file into bookletcreator and "create booklet". It produces a single file which when printed on tabloid paper is 7 sections in order for folding. When folding I'm always checking that the 2 pages in the center of the section are sequential and the first page of the next section is the page number after the last page of the previous section. It is really easy to get the sheets out of order. Almost forgot, when I print I always check that the double sided printing is set to "bind" on the short edge. Otherwise half the pages will be upside down:)

[@rigvedrane]

Could you please put up a download for Booklet creator? Awesome video. Thanks!

[@DASBookbinding]

www.bookletcreator.com/ Also added in video description. All the best, DAS

[@frjosephop]

I'm not quite sure where to ask this question so I shall just leave it here! What is the best binding/cover option for a book to lay open flat, such as a missal for a religious service? If there is one, do you have a video explaining this? Thanks very much in advance for your help!

[@DASBookbinding]

Such a complex question that I couldn't do justice in KZbin comments, and without more information. Missals have traditionally been bound with an aesthetic component as well as functional. It also depends on level of binding skill. I would suggest sewn-board binding as simple structure to execute and that could be adapted to a wide varieties of finished look. I've got a series of videos on this structure. Limp leather covers is another common solution for missals, and I will probably have a series of video on this in the next 6 months (it's on the list anyway). Hope this helps. I would enjoy discussing this further if you want to send me a message at [e-mail]

[@frjosephop]

@@DASBookbinding Thank you, Darryn. I shall drop you an email in due course. Best wishes and thanks!

[@leahbethanybutler]

I’ve been reading a lot of fan fiction recently which I’ve been desperately trying to print, I’ve never done anything like this before and it really helped! Do you have to arrange the pages or do they do it automatically in the booklet setting? It’s a lot to take in sorry!

[@leahbethanybutler]

I have a MacBook Air too! So I’m glad you can explain that better!

[@DASBookbinding]

Yes, booklet setting should do that, but it usually does it as one big booklet rather than multiple sections. There are tricks to get around this like cutting the pdf up, but lots of mucking about. Good luck! DAS

[@Nanakinsz]

Mister Darren, I am ... weary ... of imposing my pages by hand. Will Booklet Creator work with smaller, 1/4th sheet size pages, instead of 1/2 sheet pages? I'm starting to work on the little Christmas books soon. Thank you. Deb

[@DASBookbinding]

I think I understand and no. It’s not a real imposition tool. But cheap and easy for simple jobs.

[@Nanakinsz]

@@DASBookbinding Thank you. I will ... continue to find ways around paying for and learning InDesign or Illustrator :)

[@tiphanienina4282]

great video! how would you do this if you don’t have a double sided printer?

[@DASBookbinding]

Print every other page then flip the paper and refeed doing every other page + 1?