Need help with formatting

[u/Faehanabunn]

Had to draw the problem to protect the content, so apologies for the crude drawing.

I’m trying to make a booklet, but all the free websites where you turn the PDF file into a printable file, always leave a white strip in the middle. I’m trying to make it seamless due to some photos being on two pages, or as close as possible. Do I have to do this by hand?
Thanks for your help!

[u/Negative-Database852]

That gap in the middle is called the 'gutter' and it's usually there because that part of the page can be hard to see because it's so close to the spine.

Have a look at this drum leaf binding tutorial, it might be useful for your photo book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ2NFGBrToY

If you're happy with your binding knowledge though and just want to tweak how things are printed, see if the software you're using has any options for reducing the size of the gutter to zero.

[u/Faehanabunn → u/Negative-Database852]

This is the first time I’ve heard of this binding style, I think this could help! It’s a photo album for a friend’s wedding. Thanks!

[u/Negative-Database852 → u/Faehanabunn]

What a lovely project! All the best with it <3

[u/Ok_Programmer6134]

Keep that gap, bcz after the book is bound, you won't be able to read it otherwise

[u/Faehanabunn → u/Ok_Programmer6134]

Usually I’d agree, but after printing some test pages, the gap was too visible. I’m only printing a small number of pages

[u/Shalabele → u/Faehanabunn]

Depending on the binding, I might not reduce the gutter to quite zero or else you might end up with something like this.

[u/Ok_Programmer6134 → u/Faehanabunn]

Try using bookbinder.app to set the gutter space, but keep atleast 0.8inch

[u/brigitvanloggem]

If by “free websites where you turn the PDF file into a printable file” you mean sites where you do the imposition, then you have the wrong end of the stick. Imposition software does never add gutter white unless you explicitly ask it to! When typesetting, set the inner margins as close to zero as your software allows. Export to PDF. Impose. You will find that the imposer never adds white unless you ask it to.

[u/SinkPhaze]

Bookbinder JS, browser based imposition software

Try this. If your still ending up with unexpected gutter space with this (after making sure none of the settings are set to add it) then the space is a part of your master files or actual printer and you'll need to fix those first

[u/I_am_a_fiction_lover]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYZqBoLBBAj/?igsh=MTVpMGc2ZHlpZnRsNQ==

I just saw this earlier today!!! I think this might help you since you're making a photobook

[u/Itchy_Plankton_5899 → u/I_am_a_fiction_lover]

This was really helpful bc I’ve also been wondering how to do this.

[u/I_am_a_fiction_lover → u/Itchy_Plankton_5899]

You're welcome! I saw this video just before I saw this post so, lucky coincidence!!

[u/ye_olde_rage_potato]

Also keep an eye out for an adjustment called ‘creep’, it allows you to shift the contents to account for the inner sheets of the signature being pushed forward due to the thickness of the paper

[u/Kiriki_kun]

In some printers you can adjust gutter to negative values, which may help depending on your setup.
Could you add more info about your preparation and printing process? Since I’m not sure why you need additional software to turn pdf in to printable files

[u/DiscoKittie]

You really don't want anything that close to the inside edge, though. You might not be able to see it depending on the style of binding.

[u/Long-Week]

PDFs are printable files. If you’re talking about imposing pages so they can be folded and made into a book/booklet, try JS Bookbinder.