This is a command line program to automate re-ordering a PDF in the manner required for bookbinding projects using folded single-sheet 8 or 16 page "signatures" (AKA "gatherings"). If the PDF is not evenly divisible by 16, blank pages are written and inserted into the PDF in whichever positions are required to keep blank pages together in the rear of book after folding. (See below for folding instructions.)
At present, only 8- or 16-page signatures are supported.
This is a single python script that you can run from your terminal. Verify you have Python3 installed:
$ python3 --version
Python3.X.XIf you do not, download the Miniconda distro for python3.x.
Once you have Python3 download the only other file in this repository (reorder.py). You can then open your terminal and run the program with the following commands:
> pip3 install PyPDF2
>
> python3 filepath/to/your/download/of/reorder.pyand follow the prompts from there!
I am hoping to improve this program by
- supporting additional binding formats and styles
- creating a simple web-based GUI
- collating and re-orienting pages to single sheets of variable dimensions.
- reflowing / formatting pdf content to allow for major adjustments to page-dimensions (IMO the standard 8.5 x 11 ratio is not an especially friendly format for most books).
Happy to collaborate if you have any other ideas or want to work on any of the improvements above!