How to Format a Booklet or Use Mirrored Margins in Word for Mac
Question details
The user wants to understand how to properly set up a document for either booklet printing or bound facing pages using Microsoft Word on a Mac.
- Product
- Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Preparing a document for physical printing, deciding between folding it in half to create a booklet or binding full-size facing pages like a traditional book.
- Observed behavior
- Users frequently confuse the Book Fold and Mirrored Margins layouts because terminology can be unclear. Setting the wrong layout results in improper pagination or margins that do not accommodate physical binding.
Determine your final physical format before formatting: choose 'Book Fold' if you are folding the printed sheets in half, or 'Mirrored Margins' if you are binding full-size printed pages along one edge.
Set Up Mirrored Margins for Bound Documents
Use this method if you are creating a full-size document that will be bound like a book (e.g., a thesis or thick report), ensuring the inner margins align perfectly on facing pages.
Mirrored Margins, sometimes referred to as Facing Pages, do not change the physical size of your pages or print multiple pages per sheet. Instead, it mirrors the left and right margins so that the binding edge (the gutter) is consistent.
Open your document in Word for Mac. Navigate to the 'Layout' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Margins'.
Scroll to the bottom of the drop-down menu and select 'Custom Margins...' to open the Document layout dialog box.
In the Margins tab, look for the 'Multiple pages' dropdown menu and select 'Mirrored margins'. Adjust the 'Gutter' size to allow enough space for your physical binding method, then click 'OK'.
Format a Document as a Folded Booklet
Choose this layout to print two pages on a single sheet of paper in a specific order so the stack can be folded down the middle into a booklet.
Format Booklets and Bound Documents Easily with WPS Writer
WPS Office provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for advanced page layouts on macOS. Whether you are setting up mirrored margins for a bound manuscript or creating a book fold for an event program, you can manage your document layout effortlessly.
- 1. Open Page Setup: Open your document in WPS Writer. Click on the 'Page Layout' tab and select 'Margins', then click 'Custom Margins'.
- 2. Choose Multiple Pages Layout: In the Page Setup window, locate the 'Pages' section. Open the 'Multiple pages' drop-down list.
- 3. Apply Layout: Select either 'Mirror margins' for bound documents or 'Book fold' for folding booklets. Set your gutter margins and click 'OK'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the actual difference between Book Fold and Mirrored Margins?
Book Fold prints two pages on one side of a landscape sheet, ordered specifically so the sheets can be folded into a booklet. Mirrored Margins keeps your pages at their original size but adjusts the inner and outer margins so they mirror each other, which is necessary for binding a stack of facing pages.
Why do I get a margin warning when formatting my booklet?
Margin warnings occur when your document's margins are set smaller than your specific printer's minimum printable area (the edges where the printer cannot apply ink). To fix this, open your Custom Margins settings and slightly increase the top, bottom, left, and right margins.
Can I print a Book Fold layout if my printer doesn't support automatic duplex (double-sided) printing?
Yes. When you go to print, look for the 'Manual Duplex' or 'Print on Both Sides (Manually)' option. The printer will print one side of all sheets, then prompt you to take the printed stack, flip it over, and feed it back into the tray to print the reverse sides.
How do I add extra space for binding in a Mirrored Margins layout?
In the Custom Margins dialog box where you selected 'Mirrored margins', find the 'Gutter' setting. Increase the gutter value to add extra blank space strictly along the binding edge of the pages, ensuring your text isn't hidden once the document is bound.
