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• • July 12, 2010 at 1:52 pm #56338
    blackdoggiedog

    Participant

    I hope this isn't a stupid question…

    I am working on a 22 page, tabbed booklet and the printer has given me pdfs of the exact page sizes. The overall size of the booklet is 7 x 5. The booklet is to be saddle-stitched, so to accommodate for the folds, each page needs to be a slightly different size. Is there a spot where I can change the size of individual pages within a document? When I go to a certain page and change the size, it changes them all. The printer is insisting I work with the printer spreads which is quite a challenge while trying to make 22 pages of copy flow from beginning to end. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks:-)

  • July 12, 2010 at 2:00 pm #56339
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    You need a new printer. It is insane for you to try to manage imposition creep manually.

    You can set different page sizes in CS5, but not earlier versions. But even if you were to manage the “creep,” you wouldn't change the page size, you'd just move the objects toward or away from the spine.

    But you should not be doing that! That is what imposition software is for, and that's something your printer should be doing, not you as an InDesign user.

    If your printer balks at this, please print this message out and hold it in front of their face: Dear Printer, You should be ashamed of yourself, asking people to work in printer spreads!

  • July 13, 2010 at 6:47 am #56341
    Colin Flashman

    Member

    i'm not so sure the OP is talking about managing creep manually. i think the OP is referring to a book which, rather than having pages the same size throughout, has tabs or fold-out panels which poke out every so often. can the OP please elaborate in greater detail as to what is being done, and perhaps upload to an ftp the instructions the printer gave them? i've worked on several saddle-stitched books which had pages which fold out and, whichever way they're set up, they can be trouble, and its mainly to do with grasping the concept of taking the 2D artwork and making it into a book which has 3D characteristics such as panels, odd page sizes, etc.

    i'd also like to reassure the OP that they have not asked a stupid question. these kinds of books come up rarely for me, and i don't know how often other printers would see them.

  • July 13, 2010 at 8:29 am #56342
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    I hope I didn't give the impression that it was a stupid question. No, I think asking the question was smart. I was just venting at printers who ask their clients to do their work for them.

    However: Interesting interpretation, Collywolly! I can see how it's a bit ambiguous. I was reacting primarily to the phrase, “The printer is insisting I work with the printer spreads.”

    If the question is how to do fold-outs within a book (a longer piece of paper folded and inserted) then forgive me. As I said, CS5 can handled multiple page sizes. In CS4 and earlier, you would need the very good Page Control from dtptools.com.

  • July 13, 2010 at 3:58 pm #56343
    blackdoggiedog

    Participant

    Thanks to you both for your responses! The booklet is a cover weight booklet, 22 pages, with pockets on the interiors of the inside covers (front and back), tabs every other page, AND a fold out page in the center of the book. Whew! The printer has given me 5 different pdf files with names such as “pages 7, 8 and 13, 14.pdf” Each pdf is completely different because each page size is slightly different, not to mention the fold-outs and tabs. It's making my head spin! Of course, I need to send my client a pdf in reader spreads so they can approve the book, so I think my only choice is to work in ID (CS3) in reader spreads, get it approved as such, and then cut & paste it apart and place it in printer spreads. Such a pain. Or, maybe I could download the 30-day free trial of CS5?? I spoke with the printer again today and told their pre-press guy that I've never had a printer request this of me and he basically admitted they don't want to put the time into it. I think it's a low-paying job for them as my client has only ordered 500 of these complicated little buggers. This printer is the one who designed this custom book and therefore, I'm stuck using them. Again, thanks for your opinions!!!

  • July 13, 2010 at 4:27 pm #56344
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    Sounds like we were all correct.

    You can use Page Control from dtptools.com to get multiple page sizes in CS3.

    I would then just export each page or spread as a separate pdf and piece it together or just give them the pile of PDFs, well-numbered/named.

  • July 14, 2010 at 7:33 am #56346
    blackdoggiedog

    Participant

    Hi David…thanks for your advice. I'll look into Page Control. I think I might also take your advice and print out your earlier post for the printer-spread-loving printer!

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