Your 50-page report has a cover, a contents page, then the body. The cover shouldn't have a number. The contents page might be roman numeral. The body should start at page 1.
Custom page numbering handles all of that — once you know where to set the start.
Plan the numbering scheme
Common pattern: cover unnumbered, contents in roman numerals (i, ii, iii), body in Arabic (1, 2, 3) starting at the first content page.
Write the plan: which pages are skipped, which range uses which format, which page is "page 1".
Apply numbering per range
Open the PDF in Flint's editor and add numbering for the first range (pages 2-3 as roman numerals starting at i). Then add a second pass for the next range (pages 4-end as Arabic starting at 1).
Most editors handle multiple numbering ranges. Specify each separately.
Verify the result
Open the numbered PDF and scroll through. Cover: no number. Contents: i, ii. Body: 1, 2, 3.
If any pages are wrong, jump back to the editor and re-stamp that range.
FAQ
Can I use roman numerals for the front matter?
Yes — most numbering tools support multiple formats per range. Set i, ii, iii for the contents pages and 1, 2, 3 for the body.
How do I restart numbering for the appendix?
Apply a separate numbering pass to the appendix range. Use A1, A2 or restart at 1, depending on convention.
Will inserting a page later mess up the numbering?
Yes. Re-stamp after inserting or reordering pages.
Can the cover page have no number while still being page 1?
Yes — exclude page 1 from numbering. The page count is unchanged; only the visible stamp differs.
Custom page numbering keeps long documents looking professional. Set it up in Flint's editor with separate passes per range.