Booklet ImposerPDF Booklet Maker FAQ
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Common questions
These are the questions people ask most when they turn a PDF into a folded, stapled booklet with this tool. Most printing problems come down to a few settings, so if a booklet came out wrong, the section below is a good place to start.
If your question isn’t here, the guides go into more detail, the glossary explains the printing terms, and you can always email me.
If the printout doesn’t match the preview
- The back is upside down: wrong flip edge. Switch between short and long edge, or turn on Rotate back pages 180°.
- Pages are shuffled: the printer’s booklet mode was on, or the original PDF was printed instead of the exported booklet.
- Everything is slightly too small: the printer scaled the page. Choose 100% or Actual size, not Fit to page.
- Text disappears into the staples: increase the gutter and export again.
- Inner pages look off-center after trimming: add a little creep. See gutter vs creep.
Questions
Does my PDF get uploaded?
No. Your PDF is opened and rearranged by code running in your browser, and the finished booklet is saved straight to your device. The file is never sent to this site or anyone else.
Why did blank pages appear at the end?
Each folded sheet holds four pages, so a saddle-stitched booklet needs a page count that is a multiple of four. If yours isn’t, the tool adds blank pages at the end and tells you how many. Your own pages are never removed or reordered.
Which duplex setting should I choose?
Print double-sided and choose flip on short edge. Booklet sheets are landscape with two pages side by side, and a short-edge flip turns the sheet over like a page of the booklet. Also print at 100% (actual size) and keep your printer’s own booklet mode off. Printer drivers vary, so print one test sheet first.
The back of my test sheet came out upside down. What now?
Your printer turned the sheet the other way. Switch to the other flip edge in the print dialog and print the test sheet again. If your printer won’t switch, turn on Rotate back pages 180° in the tool and export again.
Should I also use my printer’s booklet option?
No. The exported PDF is already in booklet order. Turning on the printer’s or PDF viewer’s booklet mode would rearrange the pages a second time and scramble them.
What paper size should I pick?
Auto keeps your pages at their original size and puts two of them side by side, which suits A5 or half-letter pages printed on A4 or Letter paper. If the resulting sheet is bigger than your printer can handle, pick A4 or Letter and the pages are scaled down to fit.
How thick can a saddle-stitched booklet be?
It depends on your paper and stapler more than on the tool. Thin booklets on ordinary copy paper fold and staple easily. As the stack gets thicker, the fold gets harder to close and inner pages start to creep, so add a little creep compensation and test first. Very thick documents are usually better with a different binding.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it’s free, with no account, no sign-up, and no watermark. The site is supported by ads, and ads never block the export.
Does it handle pages of different sizes?
Yes. You’ll see a warning, and by default each page is fitted inside the size of the first page and centered. You can choose fill and crop instead if you prefer pages to fill the space.
What about right-to-left documents?
The tool uses the page numbers as they are in your PDF (1 to N) and binds on the left. It doesn’t yet mirror the layout for right-to-left reading.
Does it change colors or prepare files for a commercial press?
No. It rearranges and positions pages but keeps your PDF’s colors as they are. If a print shop asks for a specific color profile or PDF standard, prepare that in your design software.
Are there file size limits?
Files up to 200 MB and 400 pages are accepted. Above about 50 MB or 100 pages you’ll see a note that the preview may be slow; a desktop browser works best. Password-protected PDFs need the password removed in another app first.