id prepress/print layout

[grizzlyadamsuk]

Being so new at id, i could get a Virgin sticker for am laptop.....

i was in a massive printing company last week, ( they do yellow pages for runs of 1,000,000 copies )

I noticed that they printed both sides on a sheet probably bigger than A0. this folded up to give about 16 pages I think.

I was wondering - do I need to build my document all ready for this sort of printing, or do i let the printer sort this out when im ready ?

 

[AdobeTim]

Insist the printer sort it out. Doing an imposition like that should not be the responsiblity of the designer.

 

[blueark]

There's no need to worry about it. Any decent printer will have imposition software that takes care of this.

 

[thombathe]

Just create you file in single or 2 page spreads.
There are lots of layouts that are used by your printer,
depends on amount of pages, stock size, type of bindery being done,
sheetwise, tumble or a work and turn.
This is what you pay your printer for, they have the tools and programs to get the job done.
Sometimes when a designer trys to make things easier it can cost more then its worth.

Thom

The longest jounney starts with the first step.

http://www.thombathe.com

 

[lvixen]

I do a 180 page coupon book. It has a different stock for the cover than the interior. What I do is use the plug-in for InDesign called Ibooklet. I work in readers spreads with two pages side by side (it reads 1, 2-3, etc. the first and last pages are by themselves. The first two and last two pages have no numbers. You can set this up in styles on your masters.) By using the plug-in, I can instantly change it to printers spreads, the first and last pages face each other. Then I let the printer divide the document as he wishes to set up his print spreads. You aren't doing all the work for him, but it is an assistance that is easier for him, and simple for you. The plug-in also allows you to make a duplicate, so you can keep your original in readers and send the printer the copy in printer spreads. Our printer does 37 or so million of our circular a week. Plus the coupon book run is a 2 million copy run. The plug-in is $99 for a single user so I don't know if you wish to spend that, but here is the website if you would like to check it out.

http://www.alap.com/products/inbooklet.html

As stated in previous posts, if you printer is a good one, he'll have no problem using your document as is. It is easier to let them do it if you are not versed in printer spread set ups.