Expert: Glen Demers - 9/21/2009

Question
QUESTION: I tried to use build booklet for a 48page self cover minibooklet and have had difficulty. I am not sure of the proceedure in setting up the master page. Now that I found someone who might be able to help me, I will try it again and see exactly where the hang up is and get back to you...
The 48 page minibooklet is run as (3)11 x 17 sigs, sig1-4/1K,sig2-1/1K, sig3-1/1K. Each folded to 4.25 x 5.5, collated, saddlestitched, 3 edge and face trimmed.
On Pagemaker 7 , after I abandoned my attempts at the build booklet plugin, I laid out 3 press sheets with trim marks and gutters and locked the page numbers in and didnt allow for page creep or pushout, made templates, so to speak where I drop in Photoshopped CMYK or Grayscale ".eps images of pages". The file sizes add up quick. I have hit block limit errors when trying to place some images and have had to go back to Photoshop to cut the rez down from 600 to 300. The hardest part was figuring out how to make PDF files. When I used the Epson Stylys Color 1500 I got my first taste of Postscript with their new RIP from Birmy and an early version 3 of Acrobat Distiller. Print to file, PS to Distill...properly..then off to Acrobat Reader for the less RIP time output.
...Currently I use an HP5000 to output poly plates for a Hamada 2 Color. The default heat and toner density settings have been changed for those poly plates. The plate size is 12 x 19. The default sheet size setting on the printer is set to 12 x 18. In Pagemaker, I select the latest Postscript driver and select custom sheet size to 12 x 18.
What is my order of proceedures to get the build booklet plugin to work for me bro? Thanks in advance...peace.

ANSWER: Hi Neil,

Build booklet will let you impose spreads in printer spreads so you could print out your booklet in 8.5 x 5.5 sigs, but that's about it - it's not imposition software.
The way to layout 16pg sigs (or any sig bigger than 2 up saddle-stitch) is to set up a master page 12 x 19 with guides for your gripper and page trims. Instead of making bitmaps of each page you can put a box on each page the size of the page in PageMaker and group everything, copy and paste this onto your 12 x 19 page and move into position, repeat for every page.
If anything is close to the trim on a booklet that small, you'll have to adjust for creep manually, which is the caliper of your press sheet for pages 3,4,45 and 46; twice that for the next 4 , etc.
It's clunky, but it works and unless you want to run a considerably smaller press sheet or invest in imposition software it's the only way to go,

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more PageMaker tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/pagemaker.htm

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I take it I need Quark to do what I am trying to do. Thanks for the manual page creep advice. I once knew a Glen Demers. Did you attend The Sanford Naval Academy military school in Sanford, FL? thanks..peace neil

Answer
Hi Neil,

Quark and InDesign have the same limitations as PageMaker's build booklet. You need imposition software which can be expensive for pro programs such as Kodak's Preps. Quark has several third party plug-ins or extensions available for imposing jobs from A Lowly Apprentice Production Software or INposition from Dynagram.
There is another program out there for imposing pdf's called Quite Imposing, but I have never used it and cannot vouch for it's use.
I went to Charlotte HS in Punta Gorda, FL.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

For more PageMaker tips please visit our help pages here: http://www.bestprintingonline.com/pagemaker.htm