Book Imposition Preview

A web-based tool that simulates page imposition for different binding types and visualizes page ordering and layout for professional printing.

Features

• Perfect Binding: Pages arranged in signatures (typically 16 pages per signature), ideal for larger books like magazines and paperbacks
• Saddle Stitch: All pages in a single signature, folded and stapled through the spine, perfect for booklets and brochures (4-64 pages)
• Booklet: Optimized for duplex printing and center folding, great for small booklets and pamphlets

Screenshots

Perfect Binding (16 pages)

Saddle Stitch (16 pages)

Booklet (16 pages)

Usage

1. Open index.html in a web browser
2. Select your desired binding type from the dropdown
3. Enter the number of pages (must be a multiple of 4)
4. Click "Generate Preview" to visualize the imposition layout

How It Works

Perfect Binding

• Pages are organized into signatures of 16 pages each
• Each signature consists of multiple sheets folded together
• Signatures are stacked and glued at the spine
• Best for books with more than 64 pages

Saddle Stitch

• All pages form a single signature
• Each sheet is printed front and back
• All sheets are nested together and stapled through the center fold
• Page ordering ensures correct sequence when folded

Booklet

• Similar to saddle stitch but optimized for duplex printing
• Pages are arranged to facilitate easy folding and binding
• Ideal for simple booklets printed on standard printers

Technical Details

• Technology: Pure HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (no dependencies)
• Responsive: Works on desktop and mobile devices
• Visual Feedback: Pages are displayed with their numbers showing front and back of each sheet
• Blank Pages: Automatically handled and displayed with a striped pattern

Implementation

The tool consists of three main files:

• index.html - User interface structure
• styles.css - Styling and visual layout
• imposition.js - Imposition calculation logic and rendering

Key Classes

• ImpositionCalculator - Calculates page positions for each binding type
• ImpositionRenderer - Renders the visual representation of sheets and pages

Browser Compatibility

Works in all modern browsers that support ES6+ JavaScript:

• Chrome/Edge 51+
• Firefox 54+
• Safari 10+

License

This project is open source and available under the terms specified in the LICENSE file.