How to print (PDF) for book-like binding?
Solution 1:
Folding together 8 pages at once for binding in center of any group, means put 4 sheets containing 2 pages for any side (front / back) so to have a particular printing order
The first thing we need to know is the total number of pages needed as an integer multiple of the number of signatures we have chosen (8 in our case) ot the last signature will be not one in-octavo and this can cause problems in binding
So, instead of 500 pages we need 504 pages (504/8 is 63 signatures; each composed by 8 pages) that will be juxtaposed at 2 by two like in your diagram:
Now, the imposition order for 504 pages that you want fold in files of 8 pages, will be:
8 1 2 7 6 3 4 5
16 9 10 15 14 11 12 13
24 17 18 23 22 19 20 21
32 25 26 31 30 27 28 29
40 33 34 39 38 35 36 37
48 41 42 47 46 43 44 45
56 49 50 55 54 51 52 53
64 57 58 63 62 59 60 61
72 65 66 71 70 67 68 69
80 73 74 79 78 75 76 77
88 81 82 87 86 83 84 85
96 89 90 95 94 91 92 93
104 97 98 103 102 99 100 101
112 105 106 111 110 107 108 109
120 113 114 119 118 115 116 117
128 121 122 127 126 123 124 125
136 129 130 135 134 131 132 133
144 137 138 143 142 139 140 141
152 145 146 151 150 147 148 149
160 153 154 159 158 155 156 157
168 161 162 167 166 163 164 165
176 169 170 175 174 171 172 173
184 177 178 183 182 179 180 181
192 185 186 191 190 187 188 189
200 193 194 199 198 195 196 197
208 201 202 207 206 203 204 205
216 209 210 215 214 211 212 213
224 217 218 223 222 219 220 221
232 225 226 231 230 227 228 229
240 233 234 239 238 235 236 237
248 241 242 247 246 243 244 245
256 249 250 255 254 251 252 253
264 257 258 263 262 259 260 261
272 265 266 271 270 267 268 269
280 273 274 279 278 275 276 277
288 281 282 287 286 283 284 285
296 289 290 295 294 291 292 293
304 297 298 303 302 299 300 301
312 305 306 311 310 307 308 309
320 313 314 319 318 315 316 317
328 321 322 327 326 323 324 325
336 329 330 335 334 331 332 333
344 337 338 343 342 339 340 341
352 345 346 351 350 347 348 349
360 353 354 359 358 355 356 357
368 361 362 367 366 363 364 365
376 369 370 375 374 371 372 373
384 377 378 383 382 379 380 381
392 385 386 391 390 387 388 389
400 393 394 399 398 395 396 397
408 401 402 407 406 403 404 405
416 409 410 415 414 411 412 413
424 417 418 423 422 419 420 421
432 425 426 431 430 427 428 429
440 433 434 439 438 435 436 437
448 441 442 447 446 443 444 445
456 449 450 455 454 451 452 453
464 457 458 463 462 459 460 461
472 465 466 471 470 467 468 469
480 473 474 479 478 475 476 477
488 481 482 487 486 483 484 485
496 489 490 495 494 491 492 493
504 497 498 503 502 499 500 501
and you will have 63 files containing 8 pages (the first number designates the signature number)
1 8 1 2 7 6 3 4 5
2 16 9 10 15 14 11 12 13
3 24 17 18 23 22 19 20 21
4 32 25 26 31 30 27 28 29
5 40 33 34 39 38 35 36 37
6 48 41 42 47 46 43 44 45
7 56 49 50 55 54 51 52 53
8 64 57 58 63 62 59 60 61
9 72 65 66 71 70 67 68 69
10 80 73 74 79 78 75 76 77
11 88 81 82 87 86 83 84 85
12 96 89 90 95 94 91 92 93
13 104 97 98 103 102 99 100 101
14 112 105 106 111 110 107 108 109
15 120 113 114 119 118 115 116 117
16 128 121 122 127 126 123 124 125
17 136 129 130 135 134 131 132 133
18 144 137 138 143 142 139 140 141
19 152 145 146 151 150 147 148 149
20 160 153 154 159 158 155 156 157
21 168 161 162 167 166 163 164 165
22 176 169 170 175 174 171 172 173
23 184 177 178 183 182 179 180 181
24 192 185 186 191 190 187 188 189
25 200 193 194 199 198 195 196 197
26 208 201 202 207 206 203 204 205
27 216 209 210 215 214 211 212 213
28 224 217 218 223 222 219 220 221
29 232 225 226 231 230 227 228 229
30 240 233 234 239 238 235 236 237
31 248 241 242 247 246 243 244 245
32 256 249 250 255 254 251 252 253
33 264 257 258 263 262 259 260 261
34 272 265 266 271 270 267 268 269
35 280 273 274 279 278 275 276 277
36 288 281 282 287 286 283 284 285
37 296 289 290 295 294 291 292 293
38 304 297 298 303 302 299 300 301
39 312 305 306 311 310 307 308 309
40 320 313 314 319 318 315 316 317
41 328 321 322 327 326 323 324 325
42 336 329 330 335 334 331 332 333
43 344 337 338 343 342 339 340 341
44 352 345 346 351 350 347 348 349
45 360 353 354 359 358 355 356 357
46 368 361 362 367 366 363 364 365
47 376 369 370 375 374 371 372 373
48 384 377 378 383 382 379 380 381
49 392 385 386 391 390 387 388 389
50 400 393 394 399 398 395 396 397
51 408 401 402 407 406 403 404 405
52 416 409 410 415 414 411 412 413
53 424 417 418 423 422 419 420 421
54 432 425 426 431 430 427 428 429
55 440 433 434 439 438 435 436 437
56 448 441 442 447 446 443 444 445
57 456 449 450 455 454 451 452 453
58 464 457 458 463 462 459 460 461
59 472 465 466 471 470 467 468 469
60 480 473 474 479 478 475 476 477
61 488 481 482 487 486 483 484 485
62 496 489 490 495 494 491 492 493
63 504 497 498 503 502 499 500 501
You don't need to manually add the convenient number of pages to your multipage PDF file in order to have an integer multiple of signatures you've chosen, you can automatically calculate and perform imposition with
Multivalent.jar (latest freeware version with tools inside)
http://tli.tl/2I41nm
java -cp /path...to/Multivalent.jar tool.pdf.Impose -dim 2x1 -paper 29.7x21cm -layout "8,1,2,7,6,3,4,5" file.pdf
the -paper switch is settled to 29.7x21cm assuming your page has size A5, you can easily change this value according your needs, by doubling the width of your page
For different folding you only need to write once the beginning of the imposition sequence that Multivalent will take as a model for other groups of pages. So, for folding 16 pages, you'll write:
java -cp /path...to/Multivalent.jar tool.pdf.Impose -dim 2x1 -paper 29.7x21cm -layout "16,1,2,15,14,3,4,13,12,5,6,11,10,7,8,9" file.pdf
Solution 2:
You can use pdfbooklet. It's a free and open source app.
Start the app then file > open yourbook.pdf.
Press the Go button.
Solution 3:
Adobe Reader allows booklet printing for any PDF file.
Print booklets using Acrobat or Reader
You can print a multipage document as a booklet. Acrobat or Reader lays out the pages two per sheet. When you collate, fold, and staple the double-sided sheets, the result is a single book with the correct page order.
Solution 4:
pdfrw comes with a tool called subset_booklets.py to do just this, though the output is on 11"x17" paper.