Imposition refers to the process of arranging a print project so that the pages are arranged from the designer’s spread to a “printer’s” spread. A printer’s spread refers to how the pages will be organized during printing. The two most common types of imposition used in InDesign are saddle-stitch and N-up.
Saddle-stitch is a printer’s spread for multi-paged projects, which are folded and then stitched (stapled) in the middle.
You can see the reader’s spread in the above-left example, which is arranged as 16 pages in 9 spreads. You can see the printer’s spread to the above-right, which is how the pages will be printed on the paper; it is arranged as eight pages in eight spreads.
N-up is a type of imposition where multiple copies of a project are “imposed” on one page. This type can also be referred to as 2-up or 3-up and is arranged in a grid pattern. This imposition is commonly used for labels and business cards. To utilize this method:
- Select the object that is to be repeated.
- Go to Edit>Step & Repeat.
- Enter the number of Rows, Columns, and offsets for vertical/horizontal gutters.
- Click ok.
Indesign includes a feature called “print booklet,” which replaces the saddle-stitch imposition. To use this method, go to File>print booklet.
The original InDesign file should be set up as the following: Letter half, portrait orientation, 16pp, facing pages – on.
When printing, set the printer to the following: Landscape orientation, 2-up, 8pp-4 sheets, 2-sided (internal duplex, short-edge flip.)
If there is a cover, it is printed separately as preprinted document and then “slip-sheeted” from a different tray when the booklet is printed and assembled.
