How can I fit multiple pages on to one A3 PDF page in Adobe InDesign?

Question

I want the document in the screenshot below to export as PDF on a single A3 paper format with crop marks.

So all 6 pages have to fit on a single page, A3 print size.

Right now I am only able to get it exported as 6 individual pages.

How can I place my pages so that all 6 pages fit on to one A3 page in a PDF?

Answer 1

You can open up a multi-page pdf in Acrobat and print it out as a pdf with multiple pages in one sheet.

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1. In Acrobat you go to Print Ctrl+P
2. Select pdf printer (probably something like: Adobe PDF) from your list of printers .
3. Next, depending on your version..
   • Older versions: Can be found under Page scaling multiple pages per sheet.
   • Newer versions: Can be found under Page sizing & handling > Multiple. ^{The above link may be useful for newer versions as well.}
4. Choose how many pages per sheet...
5. Then print away.

_{( It's very likely that you don't have pdf printer in your list, if you don't have Acrobat installed)}

Answer 2

Alright, now that I know what needs to happen, I know what I would do.

This should be a fairly quick and effortless method, even for large grids and even if you have to do this more than once.

^{However this explanation is going to be very long, because I want to make sure everyone can do it}

1. Exporting pages as separate pdf files

1. Open Scripts panel in Indesign. Window > Utilities > Scripts
2. Right-click "User" script folder in the Scripts panel and choose "Reveal in finder" ^{( Or the windows equivalent, what ever that might be )}
3. Download PageExporterUtility5.0.1.jsx script.
   • Export it into that "User" scripts folder you just opened in step two.
   • After that it should show up in the Indesign Scripts panels "User" folder.
4. Make sure you have the document you want to export open and active.
   • Double click the script in the scripts panel.
   • The only thing you need to change in the script options is the Output format.
   • Then just click OK and choose a destination folder.

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2. Placing multiple images in a grid

1. Make a new document (In the OP's case that would be the A3 size document)
   • Make gutters 0, unless you really need to have gutters.
2. Choose all of the page pdf files you wish to place.
   • Either use "Place" Ctrl+D and use shift or control to select multiple files at the same time
   • OR just drag the files to your indesign document straight from the folder.
3. Start placing the images like you normally would...
   • Drag from the upper left corner to the lower right corner ( Don't let go yet! )
   • While still holding down the mouse button, tap the arrow keys to add rows and colums
     • Up arrow - Adds a row
     • Down arrow - Deletes a row
     • Right arrow - Adds a column
     • Left arrow - Deletes a row
   • If you desired to keep gutters in this document you will see a gutter between the grid sections. Doesn't matter either way, really.
   • After you have a desired grid, let go of your mouse button, and the images will be placed in the grid inside their own frames.

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3. Joining the rows and columns

1. Right-click anywhere in the documents and choose Fitting > Fit frame to content.
   • 
2. Select the Gap tool.
   • Drag between a row and/or a column while holding Cmd+Alt (mac) or Ctrl+Alt (windows)
   • Drag until the rows and/or columns are joined