Cut Stack Imposition Layout

Cut stack layout is very flexible and can even simulate N–Up layout if necessary. This is because of the Pages flow parameter described below.

You can enable cut stack layout both in Standalone and Acrobat versions of Imposition Wizard by selecting “Cut Stack” in the Layout drop–down list at the Layout tab of the right panel:

You see the first page is placed on the first sheet, the second page - on the second, the third on the third and so on, so the pages go “down” the stack of sheets. Then the next column starts at right etc.

Pages Flow Parameter

The way the pages are placed to the stack of sheets is configured by the Pages flow drop-down list:

The drop-down list lets you choose between the different combinations of Deep, Down and Right options and the default one is Deep, Right, Down. How do they work?

Simple. “Deep” means go down the stack of sheets, so basically go to the next sheet. “Down” means go to the next row on the same sheet and “Right” means go to the next column on the same sheet. The combination of three defines how Imposition Wizard places the pages across the stack of sheets.

The default “Deep, Right, Down” means that the next page is placed to the next sheet, right below the current one. Once the sheets are over (we reached the end of stack at the bottom), Imposition Wizard looks at the second rule. The second rule is “Right”, so it takes the next column of the grid and starts placing pages again down to the end of the stack. Once there is no more columns to go to the right, Imposition Wizard reads the third rule. The third one is “Down” and it means to go to the next row and start over again.

Imposition Wizard computes the minimal number of sheets required to place all the pages with the selected set of rules. If there’s less pages than required, Imposition Wizard leaves that space empty.

Let’s try a different flow: “Down, Right, Deep”:

You see that pages fill the first sheet column by column, then go to the next sheet and so on. It’s like rows–first N–Up. Let’s make a classic N–Up then. Select “Right, Down, Deep” pages flow mode:

Done! There are other pages flow options you may use to configure the cut stack imposition the way you need.

Configuring Pages Grid

At the top of the right panel you can configure the gaps between pages:

You can enter multiple numbers separated by spaces to configure complex and flexible gaps. Here you can read more about page gaps.

Below you can configure the grid itself:

Change the number of rows and columns to adjust the number of pages on the sheet.

Read more about pages grid here

Flipping Rules and Pages Rotation

You can flip pages using the Flipping rules parameter that goes next. This can also be used with the page rotation option (see below).

Read more about flipping rules here

You can also rotate the pages 90° clockwise using the Rotate pages 90° option. To rotate them counter–clockwise flip the pages first using the Flipping rules option.

Duplex Printing Support

You might notice that pages run continuously on both even and odd sheets and this order is not perfect for duplex printing. To fix that you need to check the Enable duplex printing option at the Sheet tab of the right panel:

This way the second page goes under the first one and so on. The document is now ready for duplex printing.

Read more about duplex printing here

More Imposition Wizard Tutorials

Installation

• Installation — how to install Imposition Wizard;
• License Activation — how to activate Imposition Wizard with a license key;
• Acrobat Plugin Problems — what to do if the plugin doesn’t work.

Basics

• User Interface — how to run Imposition Wizard and make the first steps;
• Pages Grid — how pages are placed across the sheets in Imposition Wizard;
• Presets — how to save and re–use imposition layouts.

Layouts

• N–Up — a very simple, yet customizable layout;
• Step and Repeat — perfect layout for business cards;
• Cut Stack — flexible layout with pages flow options;
• Booklet — lots of options for fine–tuning the imposition process;
• Shuffle — manual imposition mode where you control the flow;
• Dutch Cut — save paper by printing more pages on the same sheet.

Imposition Parameters

• Source Panel — overriding trim box and bleeds, pages scaling;
• Page Gaps — configuring gaps between pages;
• Sheet Panel — output sheet size, content position and more;
• Duplex Printing — duplex printing support;
• Registration Marks — adding and configuring marks, custom texts etc;
• Flipping Rules — how to flip pages in most layouts.

Registration Marks

• Angle Mark — angle mark for image drift compensation;
• Barcode — encoding job details with barcodes;
• Bull Eye — placing bull eye marks around the pages;
• Color Bar — adding color bars to imposed files;
• Crop Marks — configuring crop marks for easier trimming;
• Custom Mark — adding ad–hoc graphics where needed;
• Custom Text — adding text elements with imposition details;
• Gap Crop Marks — adding crop marks in the middle of the page gaps;
• Folding Marks — marking the middle of booklet spreads;
• Star Target — placing star target marks around the pages;
• Trim Line — marking page boundaries to simplify trimming;

Automation

• Batch Processing — impose multiple files at once;
• Hot Folders — monitor folders and run imposition on changes.

Command Line

• Basic Imposition — basic command line imposition example.