What Does “Booklet Subset” Mean in Printing?

Booklet subset tells your printer which sides of each sheet to print. Both sides prints the front and back automatically. Front side only prints just the fronts, and Back side only prints just the backs. You only need the last two when your printer cannot print on both sides by itself.

You open the print window, click Booklet, and a new drop-down appears with a strange name. It says “Booklet subset” and offers three choices. Pick the wrong one and you may waste a whole stack of paper.

The good news is that it is simpler than it sounds. This guide explains what each option does, when to use it, and what to do if you picked the wrong one.

First, what is a “subset”?

In printing, a subset is just a part of the whole job. In a booklet job, the whole job is every side of every sheet. The subset lets you print only a part of it, such as the fronts of each sheet, or just the backs.

This matters because a booklet is printed on both sides of the paper. Printers that can do that on their own use one setting. Printers that cannot need you to do it in two rounds.

The three options, explained

Both sides

This is the easiest choice and the one most people should use. The printer prints the front of sheet one, flips it, prints the back, and then moves to sheet two. You get a finished stack, ready to fold.

If you pick this option, remember to check the flip setting. A booklet printed on landscape paper must flip on the short edge. If it flips on the long edge, the backs will be upside down. See why your booklet is printing upside down for the fix.

Front side only

This prints the front of every sheet and nothing on the back. It is the first half of manual double-sided printing. Use it when your printer only prints on one side at a time.

Back side only

This prints the back of every sheet. It is the second half of manual double-sided printing. You run it after you have put the printed fronts back into the paper tray.

How to print a booklet by hand, step by step

Here is the full manual method. It works on almost any printer.

1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat or Reader, and choose File, Print.
2. Click Booklet under Page Sizing & Handling.
3. Set Booklet subset to Front side only.
4. Print.
5. Take the printed stack out of the tray. Do not shuffle it. Keep it in the same order.
6. Put the stack back into the tray so that the blank side will face the print head. Which way that is depends on your printer.
7. Set Booklet subset to Back side only.
8. Print.
9. Fold the stack in half and staple along the fold.

Step 6 is where most people get tripped up. The right way to load the paper changes from one printer to the next. Here is a good trick: before you run the real job, test it with one sheet of scrap paper. Draw a small arrow on the top corner, print the front side, then reload it and print the back. You will see right away if the back is upside down or on the wrong side.

If you have a long booklet, it can help to try the manual method with just two sheets first. Use a short 8-page test file.

Which option should I choose?

Use this quick guide:

• My printer prints on both sides on its own: choose Both sides.
• My printer only prints on one side: use Front side only first, then Back side only.
• I printed the fronts and got the backs wrong: choose Back side only, and double-check how you loaded the paper.
• I am not sure if my printer can print on both sides: look for words like duplex, two-sided or double-sided in the printer settings, or check the manual. If you see none, assume it cannot.

Related options you might see in the same window

While you are in the Booklet settings in Acrobat, you will also see Binding. Here is a quick explainer.

• Left: The booklet opens like an English book, with the spine on the left. This is the right choice for most UK booklets.
• Left (tall): The spine is at the top, like a calendar or a notepad.
• Right: The spine is on the right, for right-to-left languages such as Arabic or Hebrew.
• Right (tall): The spine is at the top, for right-to-left tall booklets.

For the complete setup, read our guide on how to make a booklet from a PDF.

What if I do not see “Booklet subset” at all?

There are a few reasons.

• You have not clicked the Booklet button yet. The subset option only appears once Booklet is selected in Page Sizing & Handling.
• You are using a different program. Booklet subset is part of Adobe Acrobat and Reader. Word uses Book fold instead. Take a look at how to set up booklet printing in Word.
• You are in a browser. Chrome, Edge and Safari do not have a real booklet option.
• Your printer driver has its own booklet menu. Some printers have a separate Booklet setting in their own properties window. The words may be different, such as “Booklet printing” or “Booklet layout”.

Common mistakes with booklet subset

• Choosing Both sides on a printer that cannot print on both sides, so the second side never prints
• Printing Front side only and forgetting to print the backs
• Reordering the printed sheets between the two rounds
• Loading the paper back in the wrong way for round two
• Turning on a printer’s own booklet setting at the same time as the software’s
• Changing the page range between rounds

If you do make a mistake, do not throw the pages out. Take one printed sheet, mark which side was wrong, and run a second test. You can usually recover most of the stack.

A word about page count

The subset setting works on sheets, not pages. Every sheet carries four pages, so your document must have a page count that divides by 4. If it does not, the software will add blank pages. Our article on how many pages a booklet can have explains how to plan for this.

Frequently asked questions

What does booklet subset mean in printing?

It tells the printer which sides of each sheet to print: both sides, only the fronts, or only the backs.

What is the booklet printing option?

It is a print setting that rearranges your pages so they come out in the right order when the sheets are folded in half.

Should I choose Both sides or Front side only?

Choose Both sides if your printer can print double-sided on its own. Choose Front side only if you will be printing each side by hand.

Do print shops use booklet subset?

No. Print shops use their own imposition software. You only need booklet subset for printing at home or in the office.

Prefer someone else to handle it?

If this all sounds like a lot of effort for one booklet, we can take care of it. Upload your PDF in normal page order and we will print, fold and staple it. Have a look at our booklet printing page, or get a quote today.