Imposition

[Old Bruce]

3 minutes ago, StrawHousePig said:

That said, creep accommodation should be a part of the design process not just the production proces

I have to strongly disagree. Are the book designers going to know in advance the paper weight and signature size? What happens when the second run is done on a lighter or heavier paper stock?

[StrawHousePig]

1 minute ago, Old Bruce said:

I have to strongly disagree. Are the book designers going to know in advance the paper weight and signature size? What happens when the second run is done on a lighter or heavier paper stock?

Why wouldn't they know? Too afraid to ask the publisher or the printer? Then don't use it and hope for the best like they already do. What happens to the second run if it is lighter? If you are unable to spec the job to the file accordingly or vice versa then again, do what you do now, wing it.

Having run into a third booklet with "bleeds" in the last couple of weeks which need creep, I'm telling you it would be infinitely useful if it were available as part of the layout software, particularly as I said a margin where designers would know not to drop anything important too close to.

[Archangel]

Something for Mac and Windows

https://www.bookletcreator.com/

https://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/clickbook/

[Nathan Shirley]

4 hours ago, Michael S Harvey said:

Something for Mac and Windows

https://www.bookletcreator.com/

https://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/clickbook/

Those look promising, but do they support adding creep? I couldn't find anything about that from either.

[Archangel]

7 hours ago, Nathan Shirley said:

Those look promising, but do they support adding creep? I couldn't find anything about that from either.

Not sure but Anti-Shingle is included in Clickbook

4.4 Modify Layout
The Modify Layout dialog box allows the user to make permanent changes to any layout format. It also allows the user to save
their changes as a new layout by selecting Save As or to save their changes over an existing layout by clicking done.
To access the Modify Layout dialog go to Layouts on the menu bar, and select Modify Layouts.
Layout: Displays the current layout.
Style:
Booklet Type - Select a booklet style such as Cut book, Folded book, French fold, Planner pages, Poster, Tiled, Tri-fold
and Zine.
Anti-Shingle - In large folded booklets with more than 10 sheets of paper the edges start to creep out in the center untilrinting with ClickBook 16
the edge looks like a V. We call this shingling. ClickBook can move the page towards the center so you can cut offexcess paper without cutting into printed text.
Mini-pgs. on Sheet - Select how many pages to put on a single sheet of paper.
Sheet Orientation - Select if you want the sheet to print in Portrait or Landscape Orientation.
Repeat - The effect of Repeat depends on the current Layout. Repeat can be used to print more copies when there aren't
enough mini-pages to fill the sheet. Repeat can also be used, alternatively, to avoid the step of assembling multiple
booklets.
Printer (* Settings are layout specific.)
Paper Size - Select the size of paper you want to use. NOTE: Default paper size is specified by the Operating System.
Paper Tray - Select the printer paper tray you wish to use.
Print Quality - Select the print quality you wish to print with.
Print Color - Select between Color and Monochrome.
Binding
Binding Edge - Choose how you want the binding edge
Printing
Print Sides - Select to print on one side or both sides of paper.
Sub Booklets
Sub-Booklets - Rather than folding a whole booklet together, you may wish to print and fold sub-booklets separately, and
then bind them together. Mark the check box to activate sub-booklet printing. Then set Pages-per to the number of
pages you want each sub-booklet to contain.
Scaling
Absolute Dimensions - ClickBook sets the Mini-page dimensions to fill a sheet of paper. You can set the dimensions by
turning on Absolute Dimensions.
Width - Specify the width to match a custom page size.
Height - Specify the height to match a custom page size.
Scaling - Choose the type of scaling to use, either One to One, No Scaling, or Stretch to fit.
Margins
Paper Margins - Allows you to change the margins for a sheet of paper.
Mini-Page Margins - Allows you to change the mini-page margins for the current Layout.
Adjust Mini Pages - Allows you to make corrections to the mini page(s) position. Can be used for Front and Back
adjustments.
Change Icon - If you are saving a custom layout you can change the icon graphic associated with the layout.
Carbonless Copies - Input the amount of carbonless copies you would like to print for a specific form.
Carbon # - Adjust settings for carbonless copies.
Form - Allows you to add custom forms and/or Letterhead. (Leave blank for no forms to print.)
Form only on first page - Only prints selected form on Page #1
Layout Description - Gives you a brief definition for the selected layout..
Save and Close - Saves any changes made to the current Layout.
Save As New Layout - Opens the Save As dialog box to save the layout with a new name
Use Factory Settings - Reverts all changes back to the original settings.
Help- Launches the help file.
Cancel - Closes the Modify Layouts dialog.

As for Booklet Creator you can download a free version to try it out.

[Old Bruce]

Imposition is a specialized job. You can have a press set up to print signatures of four, eight, twelve, sixteen or twenty-four pages. The order of the folds determines which the orientation of the pages and which pages go where on the plate. I include a pair of 12 page spreads for you to look at. No page creep was included or calculated, it is a proof of concept to show that page imposition should be left up to the press owners. Not the page designers.
Regarding page creep there is one thing we would need to keep in mind and that is the thickness of the paper stock. Two papers of the same weight can be different thicknesses. Two papers of the different weight can be the same thickness. Finish makes a difference too.

Untitled.afpub

[Nathan Shirley]

Some people are printing themselves.

[Archangel]

Mac only. Looks quite good though.

https://www.thekeptpromise.com/CreateBooklet/

 

A few other options. Bookbinder PDF seem quite powerful and is written in Jython. Theoretically, that means it could be set up to run on other platforms. Not just Windows.

https://fixthephoto.com/best-free-booklet-creator.html

[StrawHousePig]

3 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

Imposition is a specialized job. You can have a press set up to print signatures of four, eight, twelve, sixteen or twenty-four pages. The order of the folds determines which the orientation of the pages and which pages go where on the plate. I include a pair of 12 page spreads for you to look at. No page creep was included or calculated, it is a proof of concept to show that page imposition should be left up to the press owners. Not the page designers.
Regarding page creep there is one thing we would need to keep in mind and that is the thickness of the paper stock. Two papers of the same weight can be different thicknesses. Two papers of the different weight can be the same thickness. Finish makes a difference too.

Untitled.afpub

Here's the thing though: As someone in production I would love it if my layout software was able to handle that in some capacity. Trap, bleed, imposition, creep, and while we're at it separations(!), process colors, solid colors, step-&-repeat, the list goes on. Some of these are must haves, some are a luxury.

Just because the office newsletter isn't suitable for running on a 40 inch Speedmaster that doesn't mean its designer and most likely printer couldn't make use of simple built in booklet imposition.

 

Speaking of, that Booklet Creator 2 works really well and does include creep that can be tweaked to your needs.