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Alternate and Mix PDF Pages

Alternate and Mix PDF combines pages from two or more PDFs by taking them in turn, so the result reads A1, B1, A2, B2 and so on. Its main use is rebuilding a double-sided document from a scanner that only scans one side: scan the fronts into one file and the backs into another, then mix them. Because a flipped stack comes out last page first, each file has a Reverse box, and the Double-sided scan preset sets that up in one click. You can also take several pages per turn, limit each file to a page range, and choose whether to stop when the shortest file ends. The final order is listed before you download, and the files never leave your browser.

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How to use

01

Add two or more PDFs

Drop the files on the upload area. Each file gets a letter, A, B, C, in list order. Drag rows or use the arrows to change which file comes first.

02

Set how pages alternate

Tick Reverse for a file scanned last page first, set Per turn to take more than one page at a time, and type a page range if needed. Double-sided scan preset reverses the second file for you.

03

Check the order and download

Read the New order list, such as A1 B3 A2 B2 A3 B1, then click Mix & download. The combined file saves as mixed.pdf or the name you type.

Why Alternate and Mix PDF Pages

Worked example: a 5 sheet double-sided letter

You scan the fronts of five sheets into fronts.pdf, which holds front 1 to front 5. You flip the stack and scan again into backs.pdf, which holds back 5 to back 1 because the last sheet went through first.

Add fronts.pdf and then backs.pdf, click Double-sided scan preset, and the New order list reads A1 B5 A2 B4 A3 B3 A4 B2 A5 B1. Page B5 of the backs file is back 1, so the result reads front 1, back 1, front 2, back 2 and so on. If your scanner kept the backs in forward order, untick Reverse and the list becomes A1 B1 A2 B2.

Settingfronts.pdf (A)backs.pdf (B)Resulting order
Preset, backs reversed1, 2, 3, 4, 55, 4, 3, 2, 1A1 B5 A2 B4 A3 B3 A4 B2 A5 B1
No reverse1, 2, 3, 4, 51, 2, 3, 4, 5A1 B1 A2 B2 A3 B3 A4 B4 A5 B5
A per turn 21, 2, 3, 41, 2A1 A2 B1 A3 A4 B2

Tips for scanning double-sided paper

A few habits make the mix come out right the first time.

  • Scan both sides at the same resolution and colour setting so pages match in size and look.
  • Keep blank backs in the scan. Removing them breaks the pairing, so delete them afterwards with Delete PDF Pages and its blank page finder.
  • If some backs come out upside down, fix them afterwards with Rotate PDF, using Even pages and Rotate 180.
  • Check the page counts on both rows before mixing. Different counts usually mean a sheet was skipped or fed twice.

Common questions

How do I combine odd and even page scans into one PDF?
Add the fronts file first and the backs file second, click Double-sided scan preset, and check the New order list. It should read A1, B1, A2, B2 with the right page numbers. Click Mix & download to get one PDF in reading order.
Why are my back pages in reverse order after scanning?
When you flip a stack to scan the second side, the last sheet goes through the feeder first. The backs file then runs from the last back to the first. Tick Reverse on that file, or use the preset, and the mix puts each back after its front.
What does Per turn do when mixing PDF pages?
It sets how many pages are taken from a file before moving to the next one. With A at 2 and B at 1 you get A1, A2, B1, A3, A4, B2. It is handy for putting a divider page after every pair of pages or merging two-page forms with one-page notes.
What happens when one PDF has more pages than the other?
With Use every page, the mix keeps taking pages from the files that still have some, so no page is lost. With Stop when the shortest file ends, pages left over in the longer file are left out. The New order list shows the result either way.
Can I alternate pages from three or more PDFs?
Yes. Add as many files as you need. Pages are taken in list order, A, then B, then C, and back to A. Each file keeps its own range, reverse and per turn settings.
Can I mix only some pages from each file?
Yes. Type a page list in a file's Pages box, such as 2-10 or 1, 3, 5. Only those pages join the mix, in the order typed, and Reverse then flips that list. Leave the box blank to use every page.
Is interleaving PDF pages lossless?
Yes. Pages are copied from the source files as they are, with no re-rendering or compression. Text stays searchable and scanned images keep their resolution, so the mixed file is about the size of the inputs added together.
How is Alternate and Mix different from Merge PDF?
Merge PDF puts whole files one after another. Alternate and Mix weaves pages from the files together, one or a few at a time. Use Merge for chapters or attachments and this tool for fronts and backs or other page-by-page combining.

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