Impostition in InD CS3

[stickers]

Installed CS3 on our Mac and started to run some jobs last week. Then the imagesetter died a little and bought me some time (the guy is working on it now). Now I have a problem with imposition in InDesign CS3.

The job is a 64 page 5.5 x 8.5 booklet - CMYK. It's done in reader's spreads with .125" bleeds, facing pages. I need to get these into printer's spreads for 8.5 x 11, then rearrange again for 11 x 17 to run film. I'd like to keep this editable (I'm a bit of a control freak, I guess) and will image film from InD.

In CS2 I used InBooklet to impose things and created a new document, so I could get things where the pressman wanted them and check the bleeds, etc. (like where the pages butt and don't need bleed). But CS3 doesn't let me create the new document and all I find in "help" eventually says "check with your printer." Problem is, I'm the printer; who do I check with?

Is there a way around this without having to go back to the days of dragging pages around myself or buying expensive software? Hope this makes sense to someone.

[The Repro Kid]

I haven't used the InBooklet in CS3 but did work pretty good in CS2. This probably isn't the answer you are looking for but, the Documentation is more complete than the help. The Documentation is in the Goodies Folders on the content Disk of the installers. Maybe you could skim that for more in depth info?

[eugenetyson]

Hey there. It's a bit of a problem, I know, I've been there. Fortunately there are options for you.

Have you looked around the Adobe Exchange - Beta that's gone live. It's quite cool.

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?searchfield=imposition&search_exchange=19&search_category=-1&search_license=&search_rating=&search_platform=0&search_pubdate=&num=25&startnum=1&event=search&sticky=true&sort=0&Submit=

Hopefully you can find something that suits your requirements there.

Although I have to say, I would impose it myself by hand.

You can import InDesign CS3 files into an InDesign CS3 document. It wouldn't take all that long to make an imposition template, and import the file, seen as the cursor will load all the document pages into it, so if you know your imposing then you should be able to do it.

The best thing about it, it's a link to the original file. So when you make changes to the original, all you have to do is update the links in your imposed file.

And you know what, I would do this, because what I'd do is take the imposition that you can create, print it to PDF. Use that as your template for your CS3 imposition file, it's just that you have to input the files yourself. But it's easy.

Good luck.

[stickers]

Thanks!

I had checked the documentation stuff. Interesting, but not what I'm needing. It's good to be reminded that it exists, though.

I think I'll try going the PDF route in the future and put pages where they belong as I import them - linked. That makes a lot of sense - once I get over the annoyance with not being able to just let the application do my work for me. Oh well.

For now, the poor old imagesetter is still whining about its discs being dead and the repair guy is about to put his application in at the next fast food place, I think. The current jobs are getting sent out for film.

Sure appreciate your efforts. Thanks!

[AdobeAce]

Hi Stickers,

I haven't had a chance to try this yet but..

You might be able to use "Print Booklet," a new feature in CS3 to Create an Acrobat with all pages in Printer Spreads.

Open you original document and go to File>Print Booklet. Choose the appropriate settings for your booklet in the window that opens. At the bottom of the window, press the Print Setting button. For Printer, choose PostScript File. For PPD, choose AdobePDF 8.0. You'll have to go through the rest of the settings to make sure you're including any bleeds and crop marks that are needed. And that it is Flatenned in High-Res., ect.. etc., before saving your files as a Postscript file (Print to File). Next open Acrobat Distiller, choose PDF/X-1a for Setting. and drag the Postscript file to the bottom part of the window.

The Acrobat should give exactly what you need in Printers spreads.

Hope this helps!

[stickers]

Thanks, ACE.

I've been messing with the substitute imagesetter, trying to get it calibrated and then apply numbers from the various presses we image film for and generally going crazy. The RIP runs in OS8! But I finally got a chance to try your idea, too, and it does give me a document with everything in spreads with the marks I had set, much like the old InBooklet in CS2 did . . . ready for printing in a hot folder or inserting in InD if it needs more attention, like additional imposition. But it isn't editable, and it isn't uncommon for me to be all ready to image a job and get a call that some phone number or name or something needs to be changed. All in all, though, I love having alternatives like this.

It was great to have something work right during these days of imagesetter madness.

[AdobeAce]

Hi Stickers,

Here's another thought, but once again I haven't had a chance to play much with it yet.

In CS3, you can Place InDesign layouts into other InDesign layouts. Hmm! Wonder if this would make imposition easier than moving actual pages. Problem is that pages that come in can't be edited. But unlike using PDFs, the pages Link back to the original layout, so if you make changes in the original the Printer's layout will update as well.

Kind of a cool concept, but something about Placing a layout in a layout is kind of scary. Especially for after Halloween.

Ace

[The Repro Kid]

...In CS3, you can Place InDesign layouts into other InDesign layouts. Hmm! Wonder if this would make imposition easier than moving actual pages. Problem is that pages that come in can't be edited. But unlike using PDFs, the pages Link back to the original layout, so if you make changes in the original the Printer's layout will update as well...

Actually ace and stickers, that's what eugenetyson suggested in his first reply... :o

[AdobeAce]

Hi Repro,

Knew it sounded familiar.

I guess I missed that post.

Happy weekend!

Ace

:D

[eugenetyson]

Thanks repro. Nice to know someone reads my posts :D It's all good.

[eugenetyson]

Dave Saunders has free script on his site

http://jsid.blogspot.com/search?q=preserve+local+formatting

[The Repro Kid]

Thanks repro. Nice to know someone reads my posts :D It's all good.Too funny. :confused::rolleyes::cool:

[micke]

for a great tip. I think I'll use this
micke:)

[eugenetyson]

You're welcome. It's quite easy to do. I love InDesign.