How to Print PDF as Booklet: A Comprehensive Guide

Turning PDFs into physical booklets can be a game-changer, but it often feels tricky. Many people worry about the layout looking off and get overwhelmed by the details of different printing software, which can lead to frustration. 

If you're facing similar issues, this blog is for you! Whether you're using Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Publisher, InDesign, or Affinity Publisher, we’ll walk you through each step so you get a professional-looking booklet every time.

We’ll cover everything from setting up your PDF to printing it out, ensuring you avoid common mistakes. By the end, you'll be ready for booklet printing that looks great and are easy to handle.

Why Choose ExWhyZed?

Looking to print your PDF as a booklet? Ex Why Zed offers top-quality booklet printing that perfectly reflects your brand. With free delivery on all orders, your booklets will arrive at your doorstep without extra costs. 
Our user-friendly website makes it easy to upload your PDF, customise your booklet, and place your order in just a few clicks. For hassle-free booklet printing, visit Ex Why Zed today and make your booklet dreams a reality.

Which software is best for printing a PDF as a booklet?

In the upcoming sections, we'll cover how to use Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Publisher for straightforward booklet printing and explore InDesign and Affinity Publisher for advanced layout and design control.

1. Adobe Acrobat

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Adobe Acrobat, with its robust feature set, accommodates users ranging from beginners to professionals for printing a booklet from a PDF. It maintains the quality of text and images efficiently and provides an easy-to-use interface that effortlessly converts your PDF into a booklet format. We’ll walk you through each step of printing a booklet in Adobe Acrobat.

How to print a booklet from a PDF document using Adobe Acrobat:

1. Launch Adobe Acrobat and download the PDF:
   • Open the PDF in your browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox).
   • Click the download icon, usually at the top or bottom of the screen.
   • Save the file to your desired location.
2. Open and print in Adobe Acrobat:
   • Open the downloaded PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
   • Click Print.
   • In the Print window, select Booklet.
   • Choose your printer settings in the booklet subset:
     • For duplex printers, select Both Sides.
     • For manual printing, choose Front Side Only or Back Side Only.
3. Print manually (if needed):
   • If printing manually, reinsert printed pages into the printer with the printed side facing backwards.
   • Print the other side as required and staple your booklet.

2. Microsoft Publisher

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Microsoft Publisher, built for novice users and small businesses, provides an intuitive and accessible platform to print PDFs as booklets. Being part of the Microsoft Office suite allows users to manage their files in one central location effectively. Let's take a closer look at how to print a booklet step by step using Microsoft Publisher

How to print a booklet from a PDF document using Microsoft Publisher:

Open Microsoft Publisher

• Launch Microsoft Publisher on your computer.

Import the PDF document:

• Go to the "File menu" and select "Open."
• In the "Open" dialogue box, navigate to the location of your PDF file.
• Select the PDF file and click "Open." Publisher will convert the PDF pages into a Publisher document.

Set up the booklet layout:

• Go to the "Page Design" tab.
• Click on "Size" and select "Booklet" from the dropdown menu. This will adjust the page layout for booklet printing.

Print preview:

• Go to "File" and select "Print."
• In the Print window, choose "Print Preview" to review how the booklet will look when printed.
• Make sure that the layout and pagination appear correct.

Configure printer settings:

• Ensure your printer is set to print on both sides of the paper (duplex printing).
• Adjust other print settings as needed for booklet printing.

Print the booklet:

• Click "Print" to start printing your booklet.

3. Adobe InDesign

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Often chosen by professionals due to its advanced control over design and layout, Adobe InDesign is a powerful tool for printing booklets from PDFs. Its professional typesetting options and advanced layout capabilities provide excellent results, making it popular in the publishing industry. This section will discuss the step-by-step guide to printing a booklet using InDesign.

How to print a booklet from a PDF document using Microsoft Publisher:

To print a booklet from a PDF using Adobe InDesign, follow these steps:

Open Adobe InDesign

•  Launch Adobe InDesign on your computer.
• Create a new document:
  • Go to "File" and select "New" > "Document."
  • Set the document size and orientation according to your booklet's dimensions.
• Import the PDF:
  • Go to "File" and choose "Place."
  • In the Place dialogue box, navigate to the location of your PDF file.
  • Select the PDF file and click "Open."
  • Click to place the PDF onto your InDesign document. You may need to scale or adjust the placement as needed.
• Set Up the booklet layout:
  • Ensure the document is set up for booklet printing by adjusting the layout.
  • Go to "Layout" > "Margins and Columns" and adjust the margins as needed for booklet binding.
• Create a booklet:
  • Go to "File" and select "Print Booklet."
  • In the Print Booklet dialogue box, choose the desired booklet printing preset or create a custom preset if needed.
  • Set the "Print Preset" to "Booklet" and adjust other settings as needed, such as page range and printer options.
• Preview the booklet:
  • Click on the "Preview" tab in the Print Booklet dialogue to review how the booklet will look.
  • Make sure that the pages are correctly arranged and that the booklet layout appears as intended.
• Configure printer settings:
  • Ensure your printer supports booklet printing and is set to print on both sides of the paper (duplex printing).
  • Check and adjust the printer settings in the Print Booklet dialogue box.
• Print the Booklet:
  • Tap on "Print" to start printing your booklet.

4. Affinity Publisher

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Affinity Publisher, though a newer entrant in the market, has quickly gained popularity due to its robust features, intuitive interface, and affordable payment model. It's a favoured choice among designers who value quality and affordability. In this section, let’s check out the PDF printing as a booklet process using Affinity Publisher. 

How to print a booklet from a PDF document using Affinity Publisher

Open Affinity Publisher

• Launch Affinity Publisher on your computer.

Create a new document:

• Go to "File" and select "New."
• Set the document size to match the size of the PDF pages. For example, if your PDF is letter-sized, set your document to letter size.

Import the PDF:

• Go to "File" and choose "Place."
• Navigate to the location of your PDF file.
• Select the PDF file and click "Open."
• Click on the document to place the PDF pages. Affinity Publisher will import the PDF and place each single page on a separate spread.

Set up booklet layout:

• Go to "Document" and select "Create Spreads" if necessary to ensure pages are laid out in a booklet format.
• Ensure that the document is set up with the correct number of pages and spreads for a booklet layout. You may need to adjust the page count to match your PDF's content.

Adjust the layout:

• Check each page for proper alignment and ensure that the content fits within the booklet margins.
• Use the "Pages" panel to rearrange or adjust pages if needed.

Print setup:

• Go to "File" and select "Print."
• In the Print dialogue box, choose your printer and configure print settings.
• Select "Print on Both Sides" (duplex printing) to print your booklet correctly.

Booklet printing settings:

• To print as a booklet, you may need to configure the print settings to ensure pages are arranged correctly for folding and binding.
• Check the "Booklet" or "Layout" settings in the print dialogue to ensure proper page arrangement.

Preview the print:

• Use the "Preview" option in the Print dialogue to review how the booklet will look when printed.
• Ensure that pages are correctly ordered and that the layout appears as intended.

Print the booklet:

• Once you are satisfied with the settings and preview, click "Print" to start printing your booklet.

How do you set up your PDF for booklet printing?

While setting up your PDF for booklet printing, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the page layout, margin settings, and printer settings. Also, check the export settings for your final PDF to ensure everything aligns perfectly. We’ve covered these key points in detail below to help you achieve a flawless booklet.

Page Layout and Margin Settings

• Page layout is key to your booklet’s design, ensuring text and images are aligned and easy to read. Consistency in layout helps maintain the logical flow of information.
• Margins control the whitespace around your content, preventing text and images from printing too close to the edge and enhancing readability.
• Gutter settings provide space for the fold in the middle of the booklet, ensuring a clean look.
• Lastly, bleed settings are essential for designs that extend to the edge, ensuring a polished finish after trimming.

Printer Settings

• Print Quality: Opting for 'High Quality' settings ensures that your booklet's details and clarity are at their best. This setting is crucial for producing sharp, professional-looking prints.
• Paper Size: Selecting the correct paper size is vital. It should match your booklet's trim size to avoid any unwanted scaling or distortion during printing.
• Duplex Printing: Decide between automatic duplex printing (printing on both sides of the paper automatically) or manual duplex printing (manually flipping the paper). This setting determines how your booklet will be printed and assembled.
• Paper Tray Selection: If your printer has multiple trays with different paper types or sizes, ensure you choose the correct tray. The software should guide the printer to pull from the appropriate tray to match your booklet's needs.
• Colour Management: Proper colour management settings are essential, especially for booklets with vibrant colours or gradients. This helps maintain the visual integrity of your design, ensuring that what you see on screen is what you get in print.

Exporting to PDF Format

• High-Resolution Images: Ensure images are 300 dpi for sharp, print-ready quality.
• Embed Fonts: Embed all fonts to maintain consistent typography across different platforms.
• Colour Spaces: Use CMYK for print and RGB for digital versions.
• Security Settings: Add password protection or editing restrictions if needed to secure your content.

Conclusion

Printing a booklet from a PDF might seem tricky at first, but with the right tools and a bit of know-how, it’s a breeze. Whether you’re using Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Publisher, InDesign, or Affinity Publisher, the key is to get your layout, margins, and printer settings just right.

Don’t forget to do a test print to iron out any kinks before your final run. With a bit of preparation, you'll end up with a stunning booklet that’s ready to impress. Share your booklet printing tips and tricks—you might just help someone else achieve their printing goals!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I arrange pages for booklet printing in my PDF?

To arrange pages for booklet printing in a PDF, you must first open your PDF using the selected software. Then, choose 'Print' and select 'Booklet Printing' from the options available. Pages will automatically be arranged suitably for booklet printing.

How do you split a PDF into a booklet?

Splitting a PDF into a booklet mostly involves selecting the booklet option in your chosen software’s print settings. Depending on the software, there may be further steps involving setting up margins and layouts before you proceed to print.

How do I convert a PDF to a booklet for free?

Converting a PDF to a booklet can be done with free online tools or software like Adobe Reader. The method includes opening the PDF in Adobe Reader, choosing 'Print', selecting 'Booklet Printing' from the 'Page Sizing & Handling' section, and finally clicking 'Print'.

Is there any specific file format required for booklet printing?

The primary requirement for booklet printing is that your document is in PDF format. This format maintains the integrity of your layout and design components, ensuring your booklet prints accurately irrespective of device or platform.

Can I use my home printer to print a PDF as a booklet?

We obviously encourage you to print from a PDF with us at Ex Why Zed. Our prices are fair, our expert team are ready to help and our quality is substantially better than you will achievee on a home printer.

Let us transform your ideas into print.

What is the best paper size for booklet printing?

The best paper size for booklet printing depends on the specific requirement of your project. However, the commonly used formats are A4 and A5 sizes. It's crucial to select a paper size that matches the size of your document in the print settings of your selected software.

Will Ex Why Zed Download My File and Check The PDFelement before printing?

YES, we always preflight all work when it arrives!

A little patience and triple check before going ahead and printing a booklet from PDF ensures it is correct. We will come back to you if there are any issues with the bleed settings, image quality, objects too near the edge of the trim area.