Expert: Candice Anderson - 10/12/2009

Question
Hello,

I am in the process of putting together a small, free magazine to be distributed around university. I have found that the "Event Insert" template under the community newspapers section is perfect for the layout I was thinking of.

The format will be A5 pages, so I have done a test run by setting the paper to A4, and printing the template landscape. The result is a pamphlet 8 pages long, with each page being of A5 size (A4 paper folded in the centre)

My question is, how can I print double sided to avoid blank pages. Currently, the pages run:

Front cover, 2 blank pages, page 2, page 3, 2 blank pages, page 4, page 5, 2 blank pages, page 6, page 7, 2 blank pages, page 8.

I hope it's clear what the problem is, as reading back my question it isn't very well written! I would be very grateful if you could get back to me as I am a newcomer to this, and it would help me a lot!

All the best,

Joseph

Answer
hey there,

couple of things you can do.
If you are printing on your own...which I dought you are doing but just incase ;)
You need to set your book up in what is called a Printer's Spread. The button to automatically do it is on the bottom of the file folder ( I think it's called inCopy...or In something, sorry I'm not at the computer with Indesign). But I like doing it on my own so that I can have the control.

The way you can check your page order, it to actually take some paper and make a book. Number each page, then take it apart. That will be your page order. I did this, and you will either need to delete a page (assuming page 8 is not the back) or add more pages. You must have your pages in fours. When printed, each piece of paper that's printed on will make four pages in your book.

If you are getting them professionally printed. Then just put them in 123 order. The printing companies don't like it when you do it. But call your company to make sure. And don't go to Kinkos.
You will still need to do something about your page order no matter what.