When you do a 2 page layout, do you start out as 1 page and then cut it? or do you make 2 pages?

am I making sense?

__________________
~~Laura
My Gallery

I've only done a couple two-pagers, and what I did was have two 8.5x11" documents open at the same time - so I could just drag and drop any items I wanted on both pages (like the background layer, etc).

But, there's probably a better way to do it!

I do it as one page then crop it when its time for printing.

i also do one page then crop when printing. i just drag guide lines where the page separation is. Ü

I've done it both ways. To make both pages at the same time I start with an 17 x 11" page. It ends up being a huge file(up to 80M or more), but it's easier to make things match that way. I just draw a line down the centre, which I later erase. When I'm done and ready for printing I make sure I save everything. Actually what I've done lately is make a copy of the whole file and using that to print from. Then I group or link everything on the left and same thing on the right--you know, for the left page and the right page. Then I select one of the pages(eg the left) and then crop(in Photoshop) and then print that page. I do the same for the right page.
I've also done several 5.5" x 8.5" books that I started at 11(w) x 8.5(h), then printed and then cut and spiral bound.
I hope this all makes sense. Is this what you're looking for?

I also treat my 2-page layouts as one page. It helps me with balance, unity, etc. When I'm ready to print, I crop so I have the left side. Then I undo that crop and crop again so I have the right side.

Thank you all for your input. I have done one 2 page layout by doing 2 separate pages. and now I think I will try to do one as 1 big page and then crop. I will see which way I like better. Maybe it depends on the layout.

__________________
~~Laura
My Gallery

I like to do mine as two pages that are related, so I do them as two pages from the start.