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Adobe InDesign CS2

Using Master Pages

Master pages act as a foundation for your document. Master pages allow you to type or draw information once, then apply the master page to other pages of your document so that this information appears on each of the pages.

Master pages are most useful when creating documents where the same elements need to appear at the same location on multiple pages.

return to topDesign Elements

Some elements that might be useful to include on your master pages include:

return to topThe Pages Palette

In order to understand how to use master pages well, you first have to have a clear understanding of the Pages palette. The Pages palette is the easiest way to move between master pages and document pages, apply master pages, and create additional pages from a master page.

The Pages palette is divided into two sections: the master page pane and the document pages pane.Pages Palette

The top half of the Pages palette is the master pages pane. It shows all available master pages, as well as an icon for removing master page formatting from a page. Each master page displayed in the Pages palette has a unique prefix to differentiate it from the other master pages, as well as an icon on the right side of the palette indicating whether it contains information for a single page or for both pages of a two-page spread.

The bottom half of the Pages palette is the document pages pane. This pane shows icons for all the pages of your document, and indicates whether they appear as single pages or part of a two-page spread. Each icon has a letter displayed on it, specifying which of the master pages is applied to this page. (If a page has no master formatting applied, no letter appears on the icon.)

return to topFormatting Master Pages

By default, the A-Master, or default master page, is applied to all pages in your initial publication. This includes basic default formatting options, such as margins. Changing or adding design elements to your master page is an easy way to create the basic format of your document.

  1. If the Pages palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Pages
    The Pages palette appears.
    NOTE: A checkmark appears when this option is selected.

  2. To format individual pages, in the Pages palette, double click the single A-Master page icon
    To format even-numbered pages in a document with facing pages, in the Pages palette, double click the left A-Master page icon
    To format odd-numbered pages in a document with facing pages, in the Pages palette, double click the right A-Master page icon
    Pages Palette

  3. Design the page by adding any text and graphic elements that you want to appear on each page of your document

  4. When finished, to view the results within your document, double click the icon for any page(s) Page 1 icon
    The page appears on the screen.

return to topCreating Additional Master Pages

For some pages of your publication, it might be helpful to have a different master page to apply. InDesign displays all master pages in the Pages palette.

  1. If the Pages palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Pages
    The Pages palette appears.
    NOTE: A checkmark appears when this option is selected.

  2. From the Pages palette, click MENUmenu button» select New Master...
    The New Master dialog box appears.
     New Master dialog box

  3. In the Prefix text box, type a unique prefix for your master
    Example: The default master is A-Master with A being the prefix. Both the prefix and the master name will appear in the Pages palette.

  4. In the Name text box, type a name for the master page

  5. OPTIONAL: To base the new master on an already existing master, from the Based on Master pull-down list, select the master it will be based on

  6. In the Number of Pages text box, type the number of pages the master spread will contain

  7. Click OK

  8. To format your new master, refer to Formatting Master Pages

return to topApplying Master Pages

By default, the A-Master is applied to all pages in your initial publication. You can apply a different master to any page(s) in your document, either by using the Apply Master dialog box or the Drag and Drop method. If you decide to create a document without applying the A-Master, you need to Remove the Master Pages Format.

Applying Master Pages: Dialog Box Option

  1. If the Pages palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Pages
    The Pages palette appears.
    NOTE: A checkmark appears when this options is selected.
    Master Pages Section

  2. In the Pages palette, in the Pages section, select the page(s) to which you would like to apply the master
    HINTS:
    To select multiple contiguous pages, hold [Shift] while clicking.
    To select multiple non-contiguous pages, hold [Ctrl] while clicking.

  3. Click MENUmenu button» select Apply Master to Pages...
    The Apply Master dialog box appears.
    Apply Master dialog box

  4. From the Apply Master pull-down list, select the master you would like to use

  5. In the To Pages text box, type the range of pages you would like the master to apply to
    NOTE: Enter a hyphen (-) to list a range of pages, or separate individual pages by a comma (,).

  6. Click OK
    The master page(s) is applied.

Applying Master Pages: Drag and Drop Method

  1. If the Pages palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Pages
    The Pages palette appears.
    NOTE: A checkmark appears when this option is selected.

  2. In the Pages palette, in the Master Pages section, click and hold the desired master page

  3. Drag the master page to the page or page spread you would like to apply the master to
    A rectangle appears around the selected page or page spread.

  4. Release the mouse button
    The master is applied to the selected pages.

  5. Repeat steps 2-4 for each additional page or page spread as desired

Removing the Master Pages Format

To create a document without master page formatting, you can simply remove the A-Master formatting from the pages.

  1. If the Pages palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Pages
    The Pages palette appears.
    NOTE: A checkmark appears when this options is selected.

  2. In the Pages palette, in the Pages section, select the page(s) that you want to appear without master page formatting
    HINTS:
    To select multiple contiguous pages, hold [Shift] while clicking.
    To select multiple non-contiguous pages, hold [Ctrl] while clicking.

  3. From the Pages palette, click and hold the NO MASTER PAGE FORMATTING icon
    Pages Palette

  4. Drag the icon to the pages you wish to remove master page formatting from

  5. Release the mouse button

  6. Design the page by adding any text and graphic elements that you want to appear

return to topDisplaying Master Items

The Display Master Items feature may already be activated through InDesign's default settings. If you are not seeing the master page items on your document, do the following:

  1. Move to the page on which you want the Master Items displayed

  2. From the Pages Palette, click MENUmenu button» select Show Master Items
    The selection changes from Show Master Items to Hide Master Items, and the Master Items appear on the selected page(s).
    NOTE: If the Master Items are already displayed, the Show Master Items selection will not be available.

return to topHiding Master Items

If you want to hide the master page items on your document, use the Hiding Master Items feature.
NOTE: When items are hidden, they do not print.

Hiding All of the Items

  1. Move to the page on which you do not want the Master Items displayed

  2. From the Pages Palette, click MENUmenu button» select Hide Master Items
    The selection changes from Hide Master Items to Show Master Items, and the Master Items are not displayed on the selected page(s).
    NOTE: If the Master Items are already hidden, the Hide Master Items selection will not be available.

Hiding Selected Items

  1. Move to the page on which you do not want selected Master Items displayed

  2. Using the Rectangle ToolRectangle Tool , Ellipse ToolEllipse Tool, or Polygon ToolPolygon Tool, draw a white shape over the items you wish to hide
    NOTE: For more information, refer to Drawing Objects with InDesign.

return to topNumbering Pages

To have InDesign automatically do the page numbering:

  1. On a master page, using the Type Tool, create a text box where you want the page number to appear on the page

  2. From the Type menu, select Insert Special Character » Auto Page Number
    Page numbers will automatically appear on the pages.

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