add numbers to raffle tickets

using: indesign

There is specialist software available that enables you to add sequential numbers to print files. But the cheapest costs several 1000s of dollars - which is fine for corporations, but a bit rich for us normal folk. This tutorial is a means of creating sequential numbers using automatic page numbering in Adobe InDesign.

NOTE: there is a PDF download of this tutorial,with his-res images, available for members.

To begin, set up your raffle ticket (or whatever) document as normal, setting page size, bleed etcetera. Make a single page document to start with. Then select the Master Page. All of your elements will be on this page.

In this case I've created a rather plain-looking raffle ticket with my own services as a prize (gee I hope I win!). Remember, all of the text, images and other elements are on the Master Page.

In the place where you want the ticket numbers, insert the Auto Page Number (TYPE/MARKERS/CURRENT PAGE NUMBER). Once in place, format it how you want it to appear.

Add any other text or elements that might be necessary, and swith to the actual page. Now you should have a number '1' in place.

It's time to INSERT PAGES to the document. The number of pages you add should equate to the number of tickets you want. Make sure to apply the Master Page used for the graphics.

And that's it. Ticket Numbers in InDesign without the hassle.

Of course, some people require that the numbers contain 3 or 4 digits. The easiest and quickest method to do this would be to start your numbering at 1000 (o2 10,000 or whatever), which would give you the extra digits or leading zeroes. Do this under LAYOUT/NUMBERING AND SECTION OPTIONS. But if you actually want leading zeroes without a '1' in front, you will have to use SECTION NUMBERING.

On the first page, open the NUMBERING AND SECTION OPTIONS and add your zeroes to the Section Prefix. Then choose INCLUDE PREFIX WHEN NUMBERING PAGES. In this case I've chosen 3 zeroes. Page one now looks like the image above.

On page 10, open the NUMBERING AND SECTION OPTIONS again, then change the prefis to 2 zeroes. On page 100 change it again to 1 zero and so on.

When you EXPORT the file to PDF, it creates a 100 (or 1000 or whatever) page document with all the numbers in place.

Here it is in Acrobat, crop marks and bleed set, ready to print.

And if you have an imposition plugin, such as Quite Imposing, you can n-up your pages nicely. Or else, leave it to the printer.

There you go. Page Numbers can be used for all manner of things.

REMEMBER: there is a PDF download of this tutorial,with his-res images, available for members.

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