GRDSN TECHNOLOGY EXERCISE

Creating correct imposition for a folding dummy

Scenario: You have completed a comp for a multiple-page document. The client wants to see a folding dummy of the piece. Since your page layout program will only print single pages or reader spreads, you must create a new document with correct page imposition to make a folding dummy.

Reader spreads and printer spreads

To understand how to create a document for a folding dummy, you must first understand the difference between the two-page spreads we see as consecutive pages (called reader spreads) and the two-page spreads a printer uses to imprint multiple pages onto a press sheet (called printer spreads).

Page imposition on a press sheet

When a multiple page document is prepared for printing the order and position of pages is changed to match the needs of the printer.

Arranged to be printed on both sides of a sheet of paper is called imposition. The page position depends on the size of the press sheet and the number of pages to be printed on the sheet. A multiple page press sheet printed on two sides is called a signature.

An eight-page signature

An eight page signature is a press sheet with four pages printed on each side.

The outside of the sheet is the side which contains the outside front and back cover. The opposite side of the sheet is the inside.

From a signature to a booklet

When the signature is folded twice, trimmed and bound, it becomes an eight-page booklet.

Since the sheet will first be folded with a horizontal fold, the middle will become the top of the booklet. That is why the pages on the top of the sheet are positioned upside down.

The vertical fold will become the spine of the booklet.

To keep the booklet together requires some type of binding at the spine. The most common booklet binding is called saddle stitching,

With saddle stitch binding, wire is mechanically inserted into the spine and folded (just like a staple) to keep the pages from coming apart.

To create a file containing printer spreads

A multi-page document in a page layout contains pages in reader spreads. Pages can be printed out individually or in spreads. The commercial printer uses imposition software to automatically impose the pages into signatures.

To create a proof in folding dummy a new file must be created for printer spreads.

To create a file for an 8 1/2" eight page folding dummy, follow these steps.

Step 1. Open the original document.

Step 2. Create a new document.

Since the new document will contain the spreads, set the page size to tabloid and the page orientation to landscape.

When the document opens, pull a guide to the center of each tabloid page to mark the center fold.

Step three. Copy and paste from the original pages to the tabloid pages.

Copy the contents of each original page onto the tabloid pages using this diagram.

When yo print the document, make sure that "Spreads" is checked in the print dialogue box.