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Laidout

Free plan Linux

What Laidout is

Laidout is free Linux desktop publishing software for arranging pages into folded print layouts, including book signatures, accordion folds, and polyhedron nets. It also supports single-page layouts and can help prepare posters for printers that use small sheets. Its graphics tools include paths, ellipses, rounded rectangles, gradients, point sets, color meshes, warped images, and captions. Laidout imports SVG, images, Scribus files, and OFF polyhedra; it can bring in PDF pages as rendered images, while PDF import for reimposition remains under development. Export options include PDF, SVG, Scribus, images, HTML galleries, Podofoimpose plan files, Page Atlas images, and PostScript. Command-line operations can batch import, reimpose, and export without opening a window. Laidout is released under GPL 3.0 and can exchange Scribus files with limitations, as well as import Gimp palettes. The listed version is 0.097; the stable release is old, and the maker suggests trying a development snapshot or compiling from source. Its FAQ notes that color management has not been a priority and recommends Scribus for that task.

Who it suits

Laidout suits Linux users who need unusual page impositions, such as folded booklets or polyhedron nets, and people preparing posters for small-sheet printers. It may also fit users who want command-line batch processing.

What it does well

Free software released under GPL 3.0
Handles folded signatures and polyhedron nets
Batch import, reimpose, and export by command line
Exports PDF, SVG, images, and PostScript

What to know first

Currently works only on Linux variations
Stable release is old
PDF page import for reimposition is under development
Color management has not been a development priority

Limits

The free GPL 3.0 plan is the software itself. The listed plan identifies Linux support and version 0.097; the homepage describes the stable version as old, while PDF page import for reimposition remains under development.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free (GPL 3.0)	GPL 3.0 software · Linux support stated · version 0.097	Free

As laidout.org lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Laidout website.
Use a Linux system; the maker says Linux variations are currently supported.
Choose the development snapshot or compile from source where possible, as the stable release is old.
Use Laidout's command-line workflow to batch import, reimpose, and export files, or work in the desktop software.

Verdict

Laidout covers specialized imposition tasks and offers a broad set of import, export, and batch options at no cost. Its old stable release, Linux-only support, and limited color-management focus are important considerations.

Questions

How much does Laidout cost?

The listed Free (GPL 3.0) plan costs nothing (GPL 3.0 software · Linux support stated · version 0.097).

Is there a free plan or trial?

Yes. Laidout is free under GPL 3.0, and there is no free trial.

Which platforms does Laidout support?

The maker says it currently works only on variations of Linux. Mac and Windows WSL support are described as uncertain.

What can Laidout import and export?

It imports SVG, images, Scribus files, and OFF polyhedra, and can import PDF pages as rendered images. It exports PDF, SVG, Scribus, images, HTML galleries, Podofoimpose PLAN files, Page Atlas images, and PostScript.

Can Laidout work with Scribus?

The maker says Laidout can import and export Scribus files with limitations, and suggests exporting to Scribus for color management.

Who develops Laidout?

The site identifies Tom Lechner as its only current developer. Users can report bugs or request features through Laidout's Codeberg issue tracker, or contact the developer.

Facts from Laidout's own pages

Batch processing: Laidout can import, reimpose, and export files from the command line without opening a window. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Book layout: It supports single pages, custom folded book signatures, and net impositions such as accordion folds and polyhedron nets. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
Color management: The FAQ says proper color management has not been a development priority and suggests exporting to Scribus for color management. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
Command line: Laidout can batch import, reimpose, and export files from the command line without opening a window. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
Development status: The home page identifies version 0.097 and says the stable version is old, dated November 2018, with the last compiled unstable snapshot from 2021. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Export: Export formats include PDF, SVG, Scribus, images, HTML galleries, Podofoimpose plan files, Page Atlas images, and Postscript. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
Export formats: It lists export to PDF, SVG, Scribus, images, HTML gallery, Podofoimpose PLAN, Page Atlas, and PostScript. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
File formats: It imports SVG, images, Scribus files, OFF polyhedra, and PDF pages rendered as images; PDF page import for reimposition is described as under development. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
Founded: 2006 · laidout.org, 28 Sept 2026
Graphics tools: Its listed object types include images, gradients, variable-width paths, ellipses, rounded rectangles, point sets, color meshes, and warped images. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Import formats: It lists importing SVG, images, Scribus, OFF polyhedra, and PDF pages as rendered images. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Imposition modes: It supports single pages, custom folded book signatures, and nets including accordion folds and polyhedron unwrapping. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Integrations: The site describes Scribus import and export, Gimp palette import, and Podofoimpose PLAN export. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Known limitations: The FAQ says scripting is not well debugged or documented and not all object types are accessible to scripts. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
License: The FAQ says Laidout is released under GPL 3.0. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Limitations: The FAQ says proper color management has not been a high priority and suggests exporting to Scribus for color management. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Maker: The site identifies Tom Lechner as Laidout’s only developer and says he uses it to lay out his comics into books. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Platform: The maker says Laidout currently works only on variations of Linux; Mac may work with hacking, while Windows via WSL is mentioned as uncertain. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Purpose: Laidout is desktop publishing software built for arranging pages into cut and folded impositions such as booklets and polyhedra. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Release status: The homepage identifies version 0.097 and says the stable release is old, recommending a development snapshot or compiling from source where possible. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026
Support: The maker directs users to the Codeberg issue tracker for bugs and feature requests and also offers email contact. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Target use: Laidout describes the Paper Group tool as useful for making posters when a printer can print only on small sheets. · laidout.org, 7 Oct 2026
Vector tools: Object types include paths, ellipses, rounded rectangles, gradients, point sets, color meshes, warped images, and captions. · laidout.org, 5 Oct 2026

Where Laidout stands on Freedom251

Desktop Publishing Software#11 of 30