How to make a contact sheet from a multi page PDF

Question

I am trying to make a contact sheet from a multi page PDF. The output doesn't have to be a contact sheet per se. I am only looking for an automated way to place all of the pages from a PDF into a single document like a contact sheet.

My only thought would be to export all of the pages into their own document.

What I have tried

• I have tried Photoshop Automate Contact Sheet
• I have also tried Adobe Bridge Output Workspace

What happens when I do one of the above

It makes the contact sheet but is only placing the first page from the multi page PDF.

Question

How can I place multiple pages from 1 PDF file into a 1 page document like a contact sheet?

Answer 1

Imagemagick's montage command automatically handles pdf pages as separate images and outputs a grid. The following command outputs a grid of images that are:

1. On a black background
2. Opened at 600 pixels on their largest dimension (twice the target size)
3. Auto-resized to 300 pixels on their largest dimension (target size for each tile)

4. With a 3 pixel padding.

   montage \
   -background '#000000' \
   -define pdf:fit-page=600x00 \
   -resize 300x300 \
   -geometry +3+3 \
   inputFilename.pdf \
   outputFilename.jpg
   

Answer 2

I have kind of lost track on whether Adobe continues to bundle a PDF printer driver, but if you have a PDF printer driver, you can simply use Acrobat to print multiple pages per sheet.

In the print dialog, you will see this option in the drop-down under page scaling. Once selected, you will have options to configure the rows, columns, and order pages vertical/horizontal.

You can then print to the PDF printer wrapper to create a new PDF file or send it to an actual printer.

Answer 3

The PDF Creator printer also offers the page to sheet option. Select PDF Creator as printer - Go to Printing Preferences Layout tab Pages per sheet - Select: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12