Since CS3, Adobe has implemented a feature that rates right up there as one of my favorite publishing techniques. You may already “place” tifs, pdfs, etc. into an Indesign file, but did you know you can also place an Indesign file into itself?
Here are some reasons I use this technique on a day-to-day basis.
Layers
Sometimes your 1UP document is the same file you use to export your client’s proof from. You may even have notes, colors, etc. that the client NEEDS to see, but won’t get printed. So go ahead and put those items on its own layer. When you go to create your 2UP version, you can choose which layers you want to import.
Bleeds
Bleeds are already confusing enough, with this feature, you have full control of how much bleed you want to be placed in your 2UP design. The trick here is to tell your 1UP file how much bleed it needs, you do this in your document setup settings. When you place the 1UP into the 2UP document, simply choose to include bleed or not.
Updating
Anytime you need to have multiple layouts of the same design, it can be frustrating to remember to update each one. Let’s say all of your color bars, crop marks, and registration marks are all setup in a 2UP version with your design. What if your client needs to make a last minute change? You most likely would need to update the original 1UP file, then copy/paste into the 2UP version and hope you re-positioned it perfectly. What if it was a 25UP version? Yikes … instead, simply “place” the Indesign file into your 2UP document, then step and repeat. Every time you update your 1UP file, it will then require you to update the placed files in the 2UP version. No copy and pasting needed.