Expert: Ken Black - 10/25/2008

Question
Ok, using Indesign CS4 to create a magazine layout. When looking at other magazines I see the front cover and the ad usually placed on the inside front cover. Page numbering begins technically, on page 3 (labeled as page #1).

My question is, when creating my layout in Indesign I have selected facing pages. However, page 1 is always single while pages 2 and 3 are in a spread. If this project was actually going to be printed however would I not need to have pages 1-2 facing in a spread to constitute the cover and inside front cover respectively?

Perhaps I lack the appropriate understanding of how it all goes together in the end. Could you maybe give me an example using say a 6 page magazine.

i.e. Cover-inside cover- pages 1&2(spread)-inside back cover- back cover

And how that would be laid out in Indesign?

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Chris,

Unfortunately, I am a step behind in the upgrade race for CS4. From what I have seen thus far, the options and menus are not all that different from CS3 or CS2, that is it has the same feel and treats page layout in the same manner.

That being said, the first thing I would advise you to do is contact your print provider and ask them how they prefer to receive your document. Most likely they will tell you to provide it in single page format, facing pages will work fine. Most printers do this because their own RIP and imposition software will take care of the messy details of converting to what we call printers spreads.

The reason you see page 1 on its own and then 2 and 3 as a spread is because Indesign (and other layout programs) produces what is called readers spreads, that is the pages are arranged in order of how they would be read in a finished magazine or book. For example, if you were to look at a finished magazine, page 2 (the inside cover) faces page 3, 4 faces 5 and so on. If we assume that page 6 in this situation is the back cover or last page, it would assemble to the right of page 1 or the cover, as neither the front or back covers have a facing page.

So, to answer the question, no you do not need to have page 1 and 2 in a facing spread, because in the end they in fact do not face each other. Just leave the layout with page 1 (the cover) and the back cover on their own and work in readers spreads. Don't forget to be sure your document size reflects the finished page size and be sure to add bleed to anything that meets the trim edge (your printer will thank you).

You can force the page numbering to start on page 3 with the number 1 by changing this option under the Numbering and Section Options in the page layout pallete. Access this by clicking the little option arrow at the top of the pallete and selecting it from the drop down menu.

Let me know how everything turns out.

Thanks,

Ken Black

www.bestprintingonline.com