Project 03 InDesign Booklet Setup

NOTE: Video demos available in CI Learn under project 03 module.

Creating the Booklet

(NOTE: See part 1 video demo)

Once InDesign is open, create a new “Document” like so:

In the “New Document” window set the following:
(Note: by default InDesign will use picas as the unit of measurement, however if you enter units using inches or pixels InDesign is smart enough to do the conversion for you automagically.)

Settings for newer versions of InDesign (click on image for larger version…

Settings: “Intent: Print”, “Compact Disc” preset, “Number of Pages: 8”, “Facing Pages” checked, “Page Size: Compact Disc”, Columns and Margins can be whatever you’d like and finally set “Bleed: 0.125in” all around (InDesign will convert to picas).

Settings for older versions of InDesign…

IF you’re doing the optional 7″ record, Change Dimensions to…

  • In InDesign the setup is easy. Create a new document and begin by selecting the “Compact Disc” preset under the “Print” tab. This will set the stage for incoming artwork from Photoshop.
  • Change dimensions for 7″ vinyl record booklet insert to…
    • Width: 6.7855in
    • Height: 6.7855in

Once the settings above are in place the InDesign “Pages” panel and canvas should look like the following:

You may add labels to help identify pages, just be sure to turn off the helper labels before you print. The following images is a labeled example:

Notice that the first page is the front cover and page 8 at the end is the back cover. Although they are split from one another InDesign will put the pages into a single spread during the print settings process.

Printing the Booklet

(NOTE: See part 2 of the video demo)

Because this is a booklet and we need InDesign to arrange the pages in proper order, instead of the normal print process we will select “Print Booklet” as shown here:

Once the “Print Booklet” window opens, set the following:

once the above is set, select the “Print Settings…” button which will open another window. Under the “General” tab:

Next, under the “Setup” tab, set the following:

Still next, under “Marks and Bleed” tab…

Although you could at this point select “OK”, you still need to set up the printer itself to print on both sides of the paper (two-sided printing).

Two-sided printing: while you are still within the “Print” window select the button “Printer…” This will open yet another window which will be different depending on the printer. However, if available, do the following…

After all that, you’ll want to go back to the “Print Booklet” window (the first window you opened) by clicking “OK.” Before you print check the “Preview” tab and make sure that your pages look like the animation below. Note that the labels will only show if you added them.

If you do not have a printer that does “Two-sided Printing”

There is always a way…the trick is to leave only one piece of paper in the printer. Send your file to print. When the paper prints out of the machine, take it and put it back into the tray so that it will print on the other side. This is a bit more tedious but effective.

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