Create PDF Files with 2 Pages Each Using Python

Learn how to efficiently create a PDF file every `two pages` from images using Python's FPDF library. This guide will walk you through the solution step-by-step!
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66129819/ asked by the user 'Vishy' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/5060926/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66130011/ provided by the user 'Umb' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14805465/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Create PDF Files with Two Pages Each in Python

Creating a PDF that contains both the front and back images of an ID card is a common task when volunteering or working on projects involving document creation. However, you may find that consolidating multiple images into a single PDF file can lead to challenges, especially if you need to generate separate PDFs for each set of images. In this guide, we will explore how to create separate PDF files that each contain two pages using Python's FPDF library.

Understanding the Problem

In your situation, you've managed to generate images for ID cards but faced the issue of all images being compiled into a single PDF. The goal here is to modify your code such that each PDF contains only the front and back images of one ID card and that you create a new PDF file after every two pages.

The Solution Approach

To accomplish this, we will modify the way we create and handle PDF files using the following logic:

Instantiate a New PDF Object: For every two pages, you need to create a new instance of the PDF object.

Add Pages Conditionally: Every time you add a new page, check if it’s the second page. If so, output the current PDF and instantiate a new one for the next set of images.

Step-by-Step Code Explanation

Here’s a breakdown of how the code should look to achieve this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Components of the Code:

FPDF Instance: At the start of the create_pdf function, we initialize an instance of FPDF which acts as a container for creating our PDF.

Looping Through Images: The provided loop goes through your list of images. Replace image_list_fake with your actual list of image file names.

Adding Pages: For every image, we add a page to the PDF and set the desired font and content. In a real scenario, instead of a dummy string, you would load and display images of the ID cards.

Conditionally Outputting PDF: Every second page triggers the output method that saves the current document and resets the PDF instance to start anew.

Counting Pages: A simple counter is used to track the number of pages.

Additional Tips

Image Size Management: Ensure that the method you use to insert images (like pdf.image()) handles your images correctly regarding size and position on the page.

File Naming Conventions: When generating file names, consider a clear and consistent naming convention that incorporates the card holder's name or another identifier, as needed.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively create separate PDF files containing two pages each—perfect for ID card creation or other similar tasks. This method is adaptable and can be customized as required. Happy coding, and happy volunteering!