▦ Combine Pages (N-up)

Combining pages with N-up places several document pages onto a single sheet, for example two or four per page. It saves paper when printing and creates compact handouts and booklets.

What N-up (combine pages) does

N-up shrinks and arranges multiple original pages side by side on one larger page, so a four-up layout fits four pages onto every sheet. The content is untouched; it is simply scaled down and tiled, which is ideal for previews, handouts, and saving paper.

Because each original page is reduced to fit its slot, more pages per sheet means smaller text, so the layout you choose is a balance between paper saved and readability. A two-up layout usually stays comfortable to read, while four-up and beyond are better suited to previews and overviews than to close reading. Matching the layout to the paper orientation keeps the reduced pages as large as possible.

When to use N-up

• You want to print a long document using fewer sheets of paper.
• You are making handouts that show several slides or pages at a glance.
• You need a compact proof to review layout without reading every word.
• You are assembling a simple booklet or thumbnail overview.

How Slate builds N-up layouts locally

You choose how many pages go on each sheet, and Slate scales and positions them into a new PDF on your device, without uploading anything. The result is a ready-to-print file where each sheet holds the number of pages you selected.

Tips for readable N-up output

• Two-up keeps text readable; four-up and beyond suit previews more than close reading.
• Pick a layout that matches your paper orientation so the pages are not tiny.
• Add page numbers before combining if you still want them visible on each mini page.
• Print a test sheet to confirm the reduced text is legible.