Sheetwise

Arrange print items on press sheets in Typst.

Sheetwise is a Typst-native imposition helper for business cards, labels, stickers, coupons, tickets, flyer grids, mixed versions, duplex sheets, cut-and-stack jobs, independent cut-mark regions, and saddle-stitch booklet proofs.

Two Input Workflows

Sheetwise supports two ways to work:

Workflow	Use it when	Job constructors
Typst content	The design is authored in Typst and should be repeated or arranged on press sheets.	repeat, variants, sequence
Finished PDF input	The design is already compiled and should be imposed without re-authoring it.	pdf, booklet

Use marks-only when you only need crop/registration marks around explicit regions. Use calibration to print a front/back duplex alignment sheet.

Features

• One canonical renderer: impose(job, ...).
• Job constructors for repeated content, mixed variants, numbered sequences, finished PDF input, saddle-stitch booklets, mark-only sheets, and duplex calibration.
• Automatic or manual rows/columns for press-sheet grids.
• Side-specific margins with (left:, right:, top:, bottom:).
• Single-cut and double-cut spacing with bleed validation.
• Per-item crop marks, shared grid marks, and arbitrary explicit mark regions.
• Registration marks default to 4C process black cmyk(100%, 100%, 100%, 100%); crop marks use K-only black by default.
• Duplex front/back alignment with long-edge and short-edge flipping.
• Saddle-stitch PDF imposition with blank-page padding, binding direction, fold marks, and creep compensation.

Preview

Automatic gang-up with print guides:

Finished PDF input imposed on a sheet:

Multiple versions and cut-and-stack output:

Saddle-stitch printer spreads:

Independent mark regions and asymmetric margins:

Installation

After publishing to Typst Universe:

#import "@preview/sheetwise:0.1.0": impose, repeat

For local development from this repository, compile with a local package path and use the same import shape:

#import "@preview/sheetwise:0.1.0": impose, repeat

If you cloned the source repository, compile all local examples and tests with:

sh tests/run.sh

Quick Start: Typst Content

Use this mode when your design is Typst content.

#import "@preview/sheetwise:0.1.0": impose, repeat

#let card = rect(width: 100%, height: 100%, fill: rgb("#fff8eb"))[
  #pad(6mm)[
    #text(size: 15pt, weight: "bold")[John Doe]
    #v(2mm)
    Typst print imposition tools
  ]
]

#impose(
  repeat()[#card],
  paper: "a4",
  trim-size: (85mm, 55mm),
  margin: 12mm,
  gap: 6mm,
  cut-mode: "double",
  bleed: 3mm,
  safe: 4mm,
  marks: (crop: true, bleed: true, safe: true, color-bar: true),
  slug: (job: "business cards", sheet: true, grid: true),
)

Quick Start: Finished PDF

Use this mode when the design is already compiled. Prefer passing PDF bytes with read(..., encoding: none) so the source path is resolved by your document.

#import "@preview/sheetwise:0.1.0": impose, pdf

#impose(
  pdf(read("card.pdf", encoding: none), source-name: "card.pdf"),
  paper: "a4",
  trim-size: (85mm, 55mm),
  cut-mode: "double",
  gap: 6mm,
  bleed: 3mm,
  marks: (crop: true, registration: true, file-header: true),
)

Core Concepts

Term	What it means	How to set it
Paper	The full press sheet or printer sheet.	paper: "a4" or paper: (320mm, 450mm)
Trim size	The final cut size of one item.	trim-size: (85mm, 55mm)
Margin	Empty space around the grid.	margin: 12mm or side margins
Gap	Space between items.	gap: 4mm or (width: 6mm, height: 3mm)
Bleed	Artwork allowance outside the trim.	bleed: 3mm
Safe area	Inset guide for text/logos away from trim.	safe: 4mm
Cut mode	Whether neighboring items share one cut or use a removable gutter.	cut-mode: "single" or "double"
Marks	Crop, bleed, safe, registration, color, and fold guides.	marks: true or a dictionary
Proof	Adds visible proof outlines and labels.	proof: true
Slug	Small metadata text on the sheet edge.	slug: "Job 42" or a dictionary

The impose Renderer

Every output goes through impose(job, ...). The job defines what content is placed. Renderer options define the sheet, grid, marks, and proof overlays.

#impose(
  repeat()[#card],
  paper: "a4",
  orientation: "portrait",
  trim-size: (85mm, 55mm),
  margin: 10mm,
  gap: 3mm,
  rows: auto,
  columns: auto,
  cut-mode: "single",
  bleed: 0pt,
  safe: 0pt,
  marks: true,
)

Sheet And Grid Options

Option	Default	Meaning
paper	"a4"	Named paper size or custom (width, height) / (width:, height:). Built-ins: a6, a5, a4, a3, sra3, letter, legal, tabloid.
orientation	"portrait"	"portrait" keeps the paper size as defined; "landscape" swaps width and height.
trim-size	auto	Required finished item size unless item-size is supplied.
item-size	auto	Alias for trim-size; if both are set, they must match.
item-orientation	"original"	"original", "portrait", "landscape", or "auto". "auto" chooses the orientation that fits the most slots.
margin	10mm	Length, (x, y), (width:, height:), or (left:, right:, top:, bottom:).
gap	3mm	Length or pair. Controls horizontal and vertical space between trim boxes.
rows	auto	Manual row count. Must be at least 1 when set.
columns	auto	Manual column count. Must be at least 1 when set.

Side-specific margins solve asymmetric printer or finishing needs:

margin: (left: 18mm, right: 8mm, top: 12mm, bottom: 28mm)

Cut, Bleed, And Safe Options

Option	Default	Meaning
cut-mode	"single"	"single" means adjacent items can share cut lines. "double" means a removable strip separates items.
bleed	0pt	Must not be negative. For double-cut jobs, each gap must be at least 2 * bleed.
safe	0pt	Must be smaller than half of the item width and height.

Use "single" for zero-gap shared cutting. Use "double" when each item has its own bleed and the gutter will be removed.

Marks And Proof Options

marks can be true, false, none, or a dictionary.

marks: (
  crop: true,
  crop-mode: "auto",
  bleed: true,
  safe: true,
  registration: true,
  color-bar: true,
  fold: false,
  file-header: false,
  page-border: false,
)

Mark option	Default with marks: true	Meaning
crop	true	Draw crop marks around trim regions.
crop-mode	"auto"	"per-item" draws each item separately. "grid" draws shared grid cut lines. "auto" picks grid marks for tight shared cuts and per-item marks otherwise.
bleed	false	Draw bleed outlines when bleed > 0pt.
safe	false	Draw safe-area outlines when safe > 0pt.
registration	false	Draw four registration marks on the sheet.
color-bar	false	Draw CMYK and gray color patches.
fold	false	Draw fold marks, mainly useful for booklets.
file-header	false	Draw per-PDF source labels such as flyer.pdf:2 when PDF jobs provide source-name.
page-border	false	Draw a thin border around the full output sheet. Works for Typst-content and finished-PDF jobs.

proof: true adds colored trim/bleed/safe outlines and labels for checking placement. It is useful for development proofs, not final print output.

Mark Style

Use mark-style to tune crop and registration mark appearance.

mark-style: (
  color: cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 100%),
  registration-color: cmyk(100%, 100%, 100%, 100%),
  length: 5mm,
  offset: 3.1751mm,
  bleed-offset: 0pt,
  no-bleed-offset: 2mm,
  thickness: 0.1764mm,
  knockout: true,
  knockout-color: cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 0%),
  knockout-padding: 0.7pt,
  file-header-size: 5pt,
  file-header-color: cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 70%),
  file-header-inset: 1mm,
  page-border-color: cmyk(0%, 0%, 0%, 100%),
  page-border-thickness: 0.1764mm,
)

Registration and fold marks use registration-color, which defaults to 4C process black. Crop marks use color, which defaults to K-only black. The default crop mark offset and width follow common InDesign-style values: offset: 3.1751mm and thickness: 0.1764mm.

file-header needs explicit PDF metadata because read(..., encoding: none) passes bytes, not the original path. Set source-name so the imposed sheet can show filename:page in the bleed area of each placed PDF page.

Slug Metadata

slug prints small metadata near the sheet edge.

slug: (job: "cards", sheet: true, grid: true, bleed: true, cut-mode: true)

Set slug: none or slug: false to disable it. Use a string for fixed text or a dictionary with job, date, sheet, grid, bleed, cut-mode, or text.

Job Constructors

repeat(...)[body]

Repeat one Typst design across the grid.

#impose(
  repeat(copies: auto)[#card],
  paper: "a4",
  trim-size: (85mm, 55mm),
)

Options:

Option	Default	Meaning
copies	auto	Number of occupied slots. auto fills the grid.
duplex	false	Emit a back side after the front.
back	none	Back-side Typst content. Required when duplex: true.
back-rotation	180deg	Rotates back content before placement.
flip	"long-edge"	Back-side slot mapping: "long-edge", "short-edge", or "none".

variants(items: ...)

Arrange several Typst designs with per-variant copy counts.

#impose(
  variants(
    items: (
      (label: "A", copies: 3, body: card-a),
      (label: "B", copies: 2, body: card-b),
      (label: "C", copies: 3, body: card-c),
    ),
  ),
  paper: "a4",
  trim-size: (85mm, 55mm),
)

Each item needs body. It may also include label, copies, and back for duplex variant jobs. order: "reverse" fills records in reverse order.

sequence(count:, item:, ...)

Generate numbered or variable items. This is useful for tickets, coupons, and cut-and-stack work.

#let ticket(n) = align(center + horizon)[Ticket #n]

#impose(
  sequence(
    count: 36,
    stack-flow: ("deep", "right", "down"),
    item: n => ticket(n),
  ),
  paper: "a4",
  trim-size: (70mm, 35mm),
  rows: 6,
  columns: 2,
)

Options:

Option	Default	Meaning
count	required	Total generated records.
item	required	Function called as item(n) for 1-based record numbers.
flow	"cut-stack"	Preset ordering. Supported: "cut-stack", "n-up", "down-right-deep", "deep-down-right", plus the explicit names "deep-right-down" and "right-down-deep".
stack-flow	auto	Custom ordering tuple containing deep, right, and down exactly once.
stack-size	auto	Force the number of sheets in the stack. Must fit count.
order	"forward"	"forward" or "reverse".

pdf(source:, ...)

Impose one page from a finished PDF. Use this when artwork already exists as a PDF.

#impose(
  pdf(
    read("front.pdf", encoding: none),
    source-name: "front.pdf",
    page: 1,
    copies: auto,
  ),
  paper: "a4",
  trim-size: (85mm, 55mm),
)

Options:

Option	Default	Meaning
source	required	PDF bytes or a source accepted by Typst image.
source-name	none	Optional filename printed by marks.file-header, for example front.pdf.
page	1	Source PDF page to place.
fit	"stretch"	Passed to Typst image.
alt	none	Alternative text for the placed image.
copies	auto	Number of occupied slots.
duplex	false	Emit a back side.
back-source	none	Back-side PDF source. Required when duplex: true.
back-source-name	auto	Filename for the back side. auto reuses source-name; set it when the back comes from a different PDF.
back-page	1	Back-side page number.
back-fit	auto	Uses fit when left as auto.
back-alt	none	Alternative text for the back-side image.
back-rotation	180deg	Rotates back PDF content before placement.
flip	"long-edge"	Back-side slot mapping.

booklet(source:, page-count:, ...)

Create saddle-stitch printer spreads from a finished PDF. Sheetwise outputs front and back sides for each booklet sheet.

#impose(
  booklet(
    read("booklet-source.pdf", encoding: none),
    source-name: "booklet-source.pdf",
    page-count: 8,
    creep: (paper-thickness: 0.12mm),
  ),
  paper: "sra3",
  orientation: "landscape",
  trim-size: (148mm, 210mm),
  marks: (crop: true, registration: true, color-bar: true, fold: true),
)

Options:

Option	Default	Meaning
source	required	Finished source PDF bytes.
source-name	none	Optional filename printed by marks.file-header for each placed booklet page.
page-count	required	Number of source pages before optional blank padding.
fit	"stretch"	Passed to Typst image.
alt	none	Alternative text for placed pages.
creep	0pt	Saddle-stitch creep compensation. Use a direct amount or (paper-thickness: 0.12mm).
blank-policy	"error"	"error" rejects page counts not divisible by 4. "end" pads blanks at the end.
binding	"left"	"left" or "right".
reading-direction	"ltr"	"ltr" or "rtl". RTL mirrors page pairs.
order	"forward"	"forward" or "reverse" output sheet order.

Creep is the English term for German Bundverdrangung: inner sheets shift when nested and folded for saddle stitching. creep: (paper-thickness: 0.12mm) computes the maximum shift from paper thickness and sheet count, then applies a progressive horizontal correction across sheets.

Use the helpers below to inspect spread order:

#booklet-plan(8)
#booklet-report(12, blank-policy: "end")

marks-only(regions:)

Draw marks around explicit regions without placing content. This covers multi-region cut-mark workflows.

#impose(
  marks-only(
    regions: (
      (x: 18mm, y: 20mm, width: 50mm, height: 30mm, label: "A"),
      (x: 82mm, y: 20mm, width: 50mm, height: 30mm, label: "B"),
    ),
  ),
  paper: "a4",
  bleed: 2mm,
  marks: (crop: true, registration: true),
  proof: true,
)

Regions can be dictionaries (x:, y:, width:, height:) or arrays (x, y, width, height). Coordinates start at the top-left sheet corner.

calibration(...)

Print a two-page duplex calibration sheet to verify flip direction and back-side rotation before running real jobs.

#impose(
  calibration(flip: "long-edge", back-rotation: 180deg),
  paper: "a4",
  marks: (registration: true),
)

Planning Helpers

Sheetwise exports small helpers for checking imposition math:

Helper	Use
paper-size("a4", orientation: "landscape")	Resolve paper dimensions.
grid-plan(...)	Inspect rows, columns, slot count, margins, and grid origin before rendering.
booklet-plan(page-count, ...)	Return saddle-stitch page pairs.
booklet-report(page-count, ...)	Typeset a human-readable booklet spread report.
registration-color	Exported 4C registration mark color.

Current Limits

Sheetwise is a Typst package, not a PDF preflight engine. It can arrange pages and draw print guides, but it cannot guarantee PDF/X conformance, convert color profiles, inspect image resolution, or rewrite PDF page boxes. Use dedicated prepress tooling when those constraints matter.