Setting up Your Document > Working with master pages

 

Working with master pages

Master pages allow you to easily apply consistent page layouts in a document. You can define page attributes on a master page, as well as place text and graphics on it, and then apply these attributes to some or all of the pages in your document. You can create more than one master page in a document.

Note: You can also use templates to apply a page layout to an entire document. For more information, see Using templates.

You can create a new master page or convert a current document page to a master page. When you create a new master page, it takes on the page size, orientation, and bleed settings of the current page in the document; you can then change these settings if you wish. When you convert a document page to a master page, the elements on the document page are placed on the master page.

You can manage master pages in the same way you manage graphic symbols, using the Library panel. You can group, duplicate, rename, and delete master pages, and you can hide or show them in the Library panel. For more information on the Library panel, see Using the Library panel.

You can export master pages to use them with other documents, and import master pages from other documents for use with the current document. You can also include information about master pages in a document report. For more information, see Using Document Report.

When working with master pages, keep in mind the following parameters:

When you apply a master page to a child page, the elements on the master page are placed on the bottom of each layer in the child page.

You can bleed objects off of a master page onto the pasteboard. When master pages with bleeds are applied to child pages, the imaging on the child page is controlled by the bleed rectangle.

Master page and child page
 

Selecting a master page from the pop-up menu in the Document inspector makes the current page (or range of pages) a child (or children) of the master page. Selecting None in the Document inspector makes the current page (or range of pages) an ordinary page (or pages), disassociated from the master page.

To create a new master page:

1

Do one of the following:

Choose Window > Inspectors > Document. Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Document inspector to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose New Master Page.

Choose Window > Library. Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Library panel to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose New Master Page.

The new master page opens in the master page window and uses the current page's settings for size, orientation, and bleed. If the current page is a child of another master page, then the new master page uses the settings from that master page. These settings can be changed within the Document inspector.

2

Place elements such as text or graphics on the master page.

3

When you have completed the master page layout, close the master page window. The attributes are saved with the master page symbol in the library.

To base a selected document page on an existing master page:

In the Document inspector, select the master page from the Master Page pop-up menu.

To convert a page to a new master page:

1

Select the page (see Selecting pages).

2

Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Document inspector to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Convert to Master Page.

To apply a master page to a document page:

1

Select the page (or pages) with the Page tool.

2

Do one of the following:

In the Document inspector, choose a master page from the Master Page pop-up menu.

Note: In a multipage document, the selected page is the only page assigned to the master page. If multiple pages are selected with the Page tool, they all become children of the master page in the above procedure.

Drag a master page icon from the Library panel and drop it onto the document page.

To add a child page to a document, do one of the following:

Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Document inspector to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Add Pages. Select Make Child of Master Page.

Select a child page, click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Document inspector or Library panel to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Duplicate.

Alt-drag the page with the Page tool.

To edit a master page:

1

Do one of the following:

Double-click the icon of the master page in the Library panel.

Select a child page and click Edit in the Document inspector.

2

Modify the master page as needed.

3

Close the master page window to end the editing session.

To release a child page:

1

Select a page or multiple pages using the Page tool.

Note: The current page must be a child page.

2

In the Document inspector, click the triangle in the upper right corner of the inspector to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Release Child Page.

The current page is no longer based on a master page. Any objects from its former master page are pasted onto the current page. One group of objects is created for each layer that contained objects.

To show or hide master pages in the Library panel:

1

Choose Window > Library.

2

Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Library panel to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Show Master Pages.

This command toggles between showing and hiding master pages. A check mark before the menu item indicates that master pages are visible (the default).

To import a master page:

1

Click the triangle in the upper right corner of the Library panel to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Import.

2

In the Open dialog box, navigate to locate the folder from which to import the master page.

3

Click the file name, and click Open.

4

Select the master page from the Import Symbols dialog box (Shift-click to select multiple pages), and click Import.

The lower pane of the Library panel displays the imported master page.

To export a master page:

1

In the Library panel, click the triangle in the upper right corner to display the Options pop-up menu, and choose Export.

2

Select the master pages you wish to export, and click Export.

3

In the Export Symbols dialog box, navigate to locate the folder to which to export the symbol.

4

Enter a file name for the master page, and click Save.