pdf-booklet-maker

pdf-booklet-maker is a small command-line PDF layout tool for duplicating PDF pages onto A4 print layouts.

It is designed for teachers, churches, study groups, small publishers, and anyone who needs repeatable printable handout layouts.

The project originally started as a Python-based saddle-stitch booklet helper. The active direction is now a native Node.js CLI package that can be used through npm and npx.

Quick Start

Run without installation:

npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output-half.pdf --mode half
npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output-eighth.pdf --mode eighth

Install globally:

npm install -g @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker
pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output-half.pdf --mode half

Show help:

npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker --help

Current published package

Package: @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker
Command: pdf-booklet-maker
Latest published version: 0.7.0
Registry: https://registry.npmjs.org/

The package is public on npm and provides duplicate layouts, arbitrary grids, print-control options, cut/crop marks, saddle-stitch booklet imposition, and batch conversion.

Current status

Phases 1–7 are implemented (v0.7.0):

• --mode half / --mode eighth duplicate layouts
• --grid CxR arbitrary grid layouts
• --margin, --gap, --rotate auto|none|90|180|270, --fit contain|cover|stretch
• --cut-line (with --cut-line-style, --cut-line-width) and --crop-mark (with --crop-mark-length, --crop-mark-offset)
• --booklet / --saddle-stitch true saddle-stitch imposition with --signature-size and --duplex short-edge|long-edge
• --input-dir / --output-dir / --pattern / --suffix batch conversion of whole folders
• --serve local drag-and-drop web UI
• --cover <file.pdf> prepend an existing cover, or --cover-title (+ --cover-subtitle, --cover-author, --cover-date) to generate a typographic cover — CJK titles are drawn as vector outlines, so no font embedding is needed

# 8 copies of each page with cut guides
npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --grid 2x4 --gap 8 --cut-line

# saddle-stitch booklet, 8-page signatures, long-edge duplex printer
npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --booklet --signature-size 8 --duplex long-edge

# booklet with a generated Korean cover page
npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --booklet --cover-title "화학 학습자료" --cover-subtitle "3학년 1학기" --cover-author "MH"

# convert every worksheet in a folder to 2x2 grids
npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker --input-dir ./pdfs --output-dir ./out --pattern "worksheet-*.pdf" --grid 2x2

# open the local drag-and-drop web UI at http://127.0.0.1:8383
npx @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker --serve

Built with Node.js, pdf-lib, and commander. No Python, pip, or virtual environments required; the old Python saddle-stitch workflow remains as legacy code only.

Current Features

--mode half

Duplicate each input PDF page twice on one A4 page.

pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output-half.pdf --mode half

Layout:

┌──────────────┐
│     copy     │
├──────────────┤
│     copy     │
└──────────────┘

Use cases:

• half-page handouts
• short quizzes
• compact notices
• classroom activity sheets

--mode eighth

Duplicate each input PDF page eight times on one A4 page using a 2 × 4 layout.

pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output-eighth.pdf --mode eighth

Layout:

┌───────┬───────┐
│ copy  │ copy  │
├───────┼───────┤
│ copy  │ copy  │
├───────┼───────┤
│ copy  │ copy  │
├───────┼───────┤
│ copy  │ copy  │
└───────┴───────┘

Use cases:

• mini cards
• memorization cards
• Bible verse cards
• vocabulary cards
• small tickets
• classroom feedback slips

npx Troubleshooting

If npx says:

sh: 1: pdf-booklet-maker: not found

clear the local npx cache and retry:

rm -rf ~/.npm/_npx
npx --yes @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker@latest --help

Alternatively, use npm exec:

npm exec --yes --package=@mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker -- pdf-booklet-maker --help

You can also verify the package by installing it in a temporary directory:

tmpdir=$(mktemp -d)
cd "$tmpdir"
npm init -y >/dev/null
npm install @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker@latest
node_modules/.bin/pdf-booklet-maker --help

Why this project exists

Many teachers and document creators repeatedly need small but annoying PDF transformations:

• duplicate the same worksheet twice on one A4 page
• make 8 small copies of the same notice or card
• prepare mini test papers
• print vocabulary cards or Bible verse cards
• make cuttable classroom materials
• create booklet-style layouts
• add cut lines and crop marks
• automate the same layout from scripts, bots, or batch jobs

Large PDF editors can do some of this, but they are often slow, GUI-heavy, paid, or awkward to automate. This project aims to make these workflows available as simple CLI commands.

General grid layout (implemented in v0.5.0)

Usage:

pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --grid 2x4
pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --grid 1x2
pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --grid 3x3

Planned behavior:

--grid CxR

Where:

• C = columns
• R = rows

Examples:

• --grid 1x2: one column, two rows
• --grid 2x4: two columns, four rows
• --grid 4x4: four columns, four rows

Shortcut relationship:

--mode half    = --grid 1x2
--mode eighth  = --grid 2x4

Validation rules:

• use either --mode or --grid, not both
• --grid must match CxR, for example 2x4
• columns and rows must be positive integers
• very large grids should be rejected to prevent unusable output

Implemented feature reference

Print-control options (v0.5.0)

Options:

--margin <points>
--gap <points>
--rotate auto|none|90|180|270
--fit contain|cover|stretch

Purpose:

• control outer whitespace
• control space between duplicated items
• rotate pages to fit better
• preserve aspect ratio or fill cells

Cut lines and crop marks (v0.5.0)

Options:

--cut-line
--crop-mark

Use cases:

• printable classroom cards
• cuttable memorization cards
• church handouts
• small group materials
• labels and slips

Booklet imposition (v0.5.0)

True saddle-stitch booklet imposition, the feature the project is named after.

Example conceptual transformation:

Input reading order:
1, 2, 3, 4

Booklet print order:
4 | 1
2 | 3

Modes:

--booklet
--saddle-stitch
--signature-size 4
--signature-size 8
--duplex short-edge|long-edge

Use cases:

• small booklets
• class reading packets
• church bulletins
• devotional booklets
• zines
• folded handouts

Batch automation (implemented in v0.6.0)

Options:

--input-dir ./pdfs
--output-dir ./out
--pattern "*.pdf"
--suffix "-8up"

Use cases:

• batch convert many worksheets
• generate multiple classroom versions
• connect with Telegram bots or school automation scripts
• prepare weekly handouts automatically

Local web UI (implemented in v0.7.0)

The same layout engine now powers a local drag-and-drop web UI:

pdf-booklet-maker --serve            # http://127.0.0.1:8383
pdf-booklet-maker --serve --port 9000

• drag and drop a PDF, pick grid or booklet options, download the result
• runs entirely on your machine (binds to 127.0.0.1, no data leaves the computer)
• zero extra dependencies — built on node:http

Possible future directions on the same engine:

• Electron desktop app
• school document automation pipeline
• server-side batch service

The core principle is:

CLI first, reusable layout engine second, GUI later.

Local development

git clone https://github.com/rjegjin/pdf-booklet-maker.git
cd pdf-booklet-maker
npm install
npm test

Run locally:

node src/cli.js input.pdf output.pdf --mode half
node src/cli.js input.pdf output.pdf --mode eighth

Or link as a local command:

npm link
pdf-booklet-maker input.pdf output.pdf --mode half

Design principles

1. Simple command first
   Common tasks should be one command.

2. Predictable print output
   A4 size, stable scaling, centered placement.

3. No unnecessary dependencies
   Keep the package small and portable.

4. Automation-friendly
   Every feature should be usable from scripts.

5. Teacher-friendly
   The tool should solve real classroom document problems, not only abstract PDF manipulation problems.

6. Expandable architecture
   half and eighth are shortcuts over a general grid engine.

Roadmap summary

v0.1.0
- Node.js CLI package
- package name: @mhj6022/pdf-booklet-maker
- command: pdf-booklet-maker
- --mode half
- --mode eighth
- npm publish complete

v0.2.0
- --grid CxR
- --mode half as shortcut for --grid 1x2
- --mode eighth as shortcut for --grid 2x4
- basic validation
- better error messages

v0.3.0
- --margin
- --gap
- --rotate
- --fit

v0.4.0
- --cut-line
- --crop-mark

v0.5.0
- booklet imposition prototype

v1.0.0
- stable CLI
- duplicate layouts
- grid layouts
- print marks
- booklet mode
- documented examples

Legacy note

Earlier versions of this repository used a Python script such as:

python booklet_maker.py

That workflow may remain useful for old saddle-stitch experiments, but the active npm package direction is Node.js.

License

MIT