Change the page count and the layout updates.
How booklet imposition works
A booklet is made by folding sheets of paper in half and nesting them. Each sheet carries four pages: two side by side on the front and two on the back. Because the sheets nest, the outer sheet carries both the first and last pages, and the innermost sheet carries the centre spread. Working out which pages go where is called imposition. BookletOrder does it for any page count: for a 12-page booklet the outer sheet has 12 and 1 on the front and 2 and 11 on the back, the next has 10 and 3 with 4 and 9, and the centre sheet has 8 and 5 with 6 and 7.
Printing it
Make the document pages half the size of your paper, such as half letter on US letter or A5 on A4. Add blank pages at the end until the total is a multiple of four. Then paste the print order into the pages box of your print dialog, set two pages per sheet and print double-sided, flipping on the short edge. Stack the sheets in order, fold the stack in half and staple through the fold. If the backs come out upside down, switch the flip setting.
Signatures for bookbinding
Thicker books are sewn from several signatures, each a small booklet of three to six sheets. Choose sewn signatures and set the sheets per signature. Each signature is imposed on its own, so the page numbers flow from one into the next. If the page count does not divide evenly, the last signature is smaller.
Zines and page counts
The classic one-sheet mini zine fits eight pages on a single sheet with one cut. The diagram shows where each page goes; the top row is printed upside down. For printed saddle-stitched booklets, printers want page counts in multiples of four, and a separate heavier cover adds another four pages. Nothing is uploaded; you only type a number.
Frequently asked questions
What is imposition?
Arranging pages on a printing sheet so they end up in order after folding.
Can I print pages in any order?
Most print dialogs accept a comma-separated page list.
Why are some pages blank?
They pad your document to a multiple of 4.
Is BookletOrder free?
Yes, with no sign-up or ads.
Do I upload my document?
No. You only enter a page count; nothing leaves your browser.