Facing Pages Layout Guide for CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW includes a dedicated Facing Pages mode designed for multi-page projects such as books, magazines, brochures, and newsletters. This article explains what the Facing Pages feature is, how it functions within CorelDRAW, how to enable it, and how to use the modern Multipage View to inspect your document spreads efficiently.

What is Facing Pages in CorelDRAW?

The Facing Pages setting displays two consecutive pages side-by-side on your screen as a two-page spread. In print design, facing pages (also called a reader's spread) consist of an even-numbered page on the left (verso) and an odd-numbered page on the right (recto). Enabling this mode allows you to align design elements across both pages, adjust gutter margins, and preview how the publication will look once bound.

How to Enable Facing Pages

To turn on the Facing Pages view for your document:

  1. Open your document in CorelDRAW.
  2. Go to the top menu and select Layout > Page Setup (or navigate to Tools > Options > Document > Page Size).
  3. Under the Page settings, locate and check the Facing Pages box.
  4. Set the Start on option:
    • Right page: Starts page 1 on the right side as a single page, which is standard for book covers and publication openers.
    • Left page: Starts page 1 on the left side.
  5. Click OK to apply the layout.

Multipage View and Facing Pages

In modern versions of CorelDRAW (CorelDRAW 2021 and newer), facing pages can be combined with the Multipage View feature.

  • Single-Page View: Displays only one spread or individual page at a time.
  • Multipage View: Allows you to see, navigate, and edit all pages and spreads in your document at once on a single continuous canvas. To toggle this, go to View > Multipage View. When Facing Pages is active, the pages naturally group into their respective two-page spreads within this interactive workspace.

Key Considerations for Facing Pages

  • Margins and Gutters: When Facing Pages is enabled, standard "Left" and "Right" margins change to "Inside" and "Outside" margins. The inside margin accounts for the binding (the gutter).
  • Master Layers: You can assign master layers specifically to odd (right) or even (left) pages, allowing for alternating running headers, footers, and page numbers.
  • Exporting: When exporting to PDF for commercial printing, you can choose whether to output the project as individual single pages or as full spreads depending on your printer's specifications.