J.D. Hodges

How to Create a Two-Page Duplex PSD/PDF in Photoshop for Double-Sided Printing

Recently, I had to scan a duplex (double-sided) form, edit it in Photoshop, and then reprint it as a duplex document for mailing. The catch? I’d never made a “two-page” document in Photoshop before. 😅

After some trial and error (and a few cups of coffee ☕), I figured it out. Here’s the process I used—it’s surprisingly straightforward once you know the steps!

NOTE: There are definitely better tools for tasks like this (e.g., InDesign, Acrobat). However, since I had legacy PSD content to include, Photoshop seemed to be my best bet. 🤷‍♀️ Thankfully, the end result was perfect!

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Step 1: Create a New Document with Artboards

1. Open Photoshop.
2. Go to File > New.
3. In the New Document dialog:
   • Set the width to 8.5 inches and the height to 11 inches (Letter size).
   • Set the resolution to 300 DPI (print quality).
   • Check the box for Artboards (usually near the bottom of the dialog).
4. Click Create. 🎉 You now have your first artboard (Artboard 1).

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Step 2: Add a Second Artboard

Here’s how to add a second artboard to your document:

1. Select the Artboard Tool:
   • Click and hold the Move Tool in the toolbar and choose Artboard Tool, or press Shift + V.
2. Add the second artboard:
   • With the Artboard Tool active, click the small + sign that appears to the right edge of Artboard 1.
     (or you can right click on the artboard and create a new one)
   • Voilà! Artboard 2 will appear to the right of Artboard 1.
3. Alternative method:
   • Go to the Layers Panel, right-click Artboard 1, and select Duplicate Artboard.
   • Rename it to Artboard 2 (e.g., “Back”).

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Step 3: Import/Copy/Move PSD Files into the Artboards

Now it’s time to bring your designs into the artboards:

1. Open your first PSD in Photoshop.
2. (Optional) Flatten the layers if needed: Layer > Flatten Image.
3. Select everything: Select > All (Ctrl/Cmd + A).
4. Copy the visible content: Edit > Copy Merged (Shift + Ctrl/Cmd + C).
5. Switch to your new document and select Artboard 1 in the Layers Panel.
6. Paste: Ctrl/Cmd + V. Resize or align the content as needed.

Repeat the same steps for your second PSD file, but paste the content into Artboard 2.

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Step 4: Organize Layers for Clarity

To keep everything clean and organized:

• In the Layers Panel, ensure each artboard has its own set of layers.
• (Optional) Double-click artboard names to rename them (e.g., “Front” for Artboard 1 and “Back” for Artboard 2). or Page 1 and Page 2.

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Step 5: Export to PDF

Once your design is ready, you can export it as a multi-page PDF:

1. Go to File > Export > Artboards to PDF.
2. In the export dialog:
   • Select All Artboards.
   • Choose your quality setting (e.g., High Quality Print).
   • Name your file and select a save location.
3. Click Export. 🖨️ Photoshop will create a multi-page PDF, with each artboard as a separate page.

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Step 6: Print Double-Sided

Finally, print your shiny new PDF as a duplex document:

1. Open the PDF in your preferred viewer (e.g., Adobe Acrobat).
2. Go to the print settings and select Print on Both Sides of Paper.
3. Make sure to choose Flip on Long Edge to maintain the correct orientation.

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And that’s it! With these steps, you’ll have a polished, professional-looking duplex document ready to go. I was pretty shocked how good the final print turned out! If you have any tips or tricks for working with artboards or duplex printing, drop a comment below—I’d love to hear them. 👇 Have a great day!