And, you can do this without having to copy/paste common elements (like page numbers) on every single new master. You can create Master Pages with different grids and guides to help you with the underlying structure of your multi-page layouts. Not everything that you apply to a Master Page has to be a design element. My example A-Master page is a spread, so I’ll repeat this on the opposite page.Īpplying Grids and Guides to Master Pages Within your document, it’ll automatically populate with the page number as it appears below the page thumbnails in your Pages Panel. Your page number will appear as the suffix letter of your Master Page (in this case, A). To set up your page numbers, select your placeholder number, right-click, and go to Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. With your numbering automated and securely placed on a master, you don’t have to worry about accurately numbering pages by hand. Headers and footers are also perfect Master Page fodder. Page numbers are the most common use for Master Pages. Any new layers or changes you make to the stacking order are universal.Īpplying Page Numbers and Headers/Footers Rename your layers by double-clicking on them. In the example below, I have a colored box on one layer, and a text frame on another. You can design on multiple layers within your Master Page. If you want to avoid covering up your Master Page items, simply make a new layer that’s above the others. If you only have one layer in your document, your Master Page objects will appear behind elements that you apply to your non-Master Pages. It’s important to understand that the items on your Master Page also live on layers just like anything else in your design. Master Pages appear as a spread by default, but you can delete one if your design doesn’t have facing pages. You can also rename the master by right-clicking on its name and selecting Master Options for A-Master.
Check out the top of your Layers Panel and you’ll find the default labeled A-Master. Double-click on the page thumbnail to work within the master. All InDesign files have one Master Page applied by default. Would you be surprised if I told you that you already had a Master Page in your InDesign file? Well, you do. Whenever you change the Master Page design, that change automatically applies to those designated pages and won’t move unless you have overrides (more on that later). Whatever is placed on a Master Page will appear on the designated page(s), and you can create more than one Master Page, depending on your design needs.
Think of Master Pages as a template that you can apply to any page of your document. If you’re designing anything with multiple pages or repeating elements, Master Pages are a time-saving game changer.