What is imposition (printer's spreads vs reader's spreads)?
In short
Imposition is the arrangement of pages on a printed sheet so that, once the sheets are folded, stapled and trimmed, the pages read in the right order.
Imposition is the job of placing booklet pages on each printed sheet so the booklet reads correctly once it is folded and stapled. In a saddle-stitched booklet the pages on a sheet are not in reading order: in an 8-page booklet, the back cover and front cover sit side by side on the outer sheet.
Reader's spreads and printer's spreads
| Reader's spreads | Printer's spreads | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Pages side by side as you see them when the booklet is open | Pages side by side as they sit on the printed sheet |
| 8-page example | 2 and 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7 | 8 and 1, 2 and 7, 6 and 3, 4 and 5 |
| Who makes it | Designers, for checking layouts | The printer, when preparing the sheets |
What to send us
Send single pages in reading order, starting with the front cover, in one PDF. Don't send reader's spreads or printer's spreads, and don't use printer-spread layouts such as a booklet or book-fold setting in your word processor. We do the imposition for you, so your page count must simply match your order: a 16-page booklet needs a 16-page PDF.
Why it matters
If pages arrive already imposed, they get imposed a second time and the order comes out scrambled. Single pages also let the on-screen proof show each page with its own trim line, bleed and safe area. Our booklet page count guide explains page counts and set-up.