InDesign Spreads vs. single page

[Joe Seven]

Hello,

I have an obsure question that needs answering!!

In InDesign, when creating a new document, you can select "facing pages" to work in spreads. When doing any kind of editorial/booklet design, this seems to be the way to go.

A co-worker of mine, however, set up a 100 plus page brochure with single pages. Funny thing is, the pages did look like spreads in the pages pallete. I figured out that you could create a new document with facing pages, then select the first spread the deselect "allow selected spread to shuffle". THEN, go into document settings and deslect "facing pages". Now duplicate your spread as much as you like. So you've got spreads, but your not in "facing pages" mode

SO, I'd like to know... is there any benefit to working this way???
I'm curious....

[Ned]

Are there master pages in the document? Perhaps he didn't want opposing masters?

[jimking]

Printer spreads, maybe?

[urstwile]

If I'm understanding you correctly, the difference between what facing pages mode and you're friends go-around does is that facing pages mode forces the first page of the document to be a solo (right hand) page, and what happens when you use your friend's go-around is it allows you to start the document off with a spread.

As to any advantage? I guess the advantage would be in pieces where you want pages to be side by side, but you don't want to be forced into having a first page that you might not necessarily be using.

That's of course contingent upon whether I've understood your post correctly. ;)

[Joe Seven]

thanks for the tips. I've learned that you must switch back to "facing pages" if you want to export as spreads.

[Broacher]

Joe, you probably know this, but please remember that readers spreads, and printer spreads are two different critters. First is for readers, second is for printers. And most printers prefer you NOT to create imposed joined pages for handoff. They do that with their prepress. Or they should. Always check.

[urstwile]

thanks for the tips. I've learned that you must switch back to "facing pages" if you want to export as spreads.
This hasn't been my experience. Again, I may not be understanding what you're saying, though. There are a number of times when I've set a document up as non-facing pages, but also want to export as spreads (two or more pages side by side, for example, a four page newsletter, where I just need two spreads, or a spread ad, where the publication requires the pages to be set up as individual pages rather than a single page "spread").

In both of those examples, I don't want the extra right hand page that facing pages seems to force me into.

[budafist]

I work in prepress and I give my clients 2 choices for submitting their books.

Either imposed correctly in printers pairs (not readers pairs) or in single pages so that I can impose it myself.