What are the essential InDesign tools for creating consistent layouts?

1 Master pages

Master pages are one of the most powerful features of InDesign, as they allow you to apply common elements and formatting to multiple pages in your document. You can create different master pages for different sections or purposes, such as covers, headers, footers, page numbers, or backgrounds. To create a master page, go to the Pages panel, click on the New Master icon, and name your master page. Then, drag and drop the elements you want to include on your master page, such as text frames, images, or shapes. You can also adjust the margins, columns, guides, and grids on your master page. To apply a master page to a document page, simply drag and drop the master page icon onto the document page icon in the Pages panel. You can override the master page elements on a document page by holding down Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Command+Shift (Mac) and clicking on the element.

2 Paragraph and character styles

Paragraph and character styles are another essential tool for creating consistent layouts in InDesign, as they allow you to define and apply formatting attributes to text elements. Paragraph styles affect the entire paragraph, such as font, size, alignment, spacing, or indentation. Character styles affect specific characters within a paragraph, such as color, bold, italic, or underline. To create a paragraph or character style, go to the Paragraph Styles or Character Styles panel, click on the New Style icon, and name your style. Then, adjust the formatting options in the Style Options dialog box. To apply a style to a text element, select the text and click on the style name in the panel. You can also use the Eyedropper tool to copy and apply styles from one text element to another.

3 Object styles

Object styles are similar to paragraph and character styles, but they apply to non-text elements, such as images, shapes, or frames. Object styles can include attributes such as fill, stroke, effects, size, position, rotation, or text wrap. To create an object style, go to the Object Styles panel, click on the New Style icon, and name your style. Then, adjust the formatting options in the Style Options dialog box. To apply a style to an object, select the object and click on the style name in the panel. You can also use the Eyedropper tool to copy and apply styles from one object to another.

4 CC Libraries

CC Libraries are a convenient way to store and access assets that you use frequently in your InDesign projects, such as colors, graphics, text styles, or logos. You can create and manage your own CC Libraries, or use shared libraries from other Adobe apps or services. To create a CC Library, go to the CC Libraries panel, click on the Create New Library icon, and name your library. Then, drag and drop the assets you want to include in your library, such as colors, images, or text styles. You can also use the Add Content menu to add assets from other sources, such as Adobe Stock, Adobe Capture, or Adobe Fonts. To use an asset from your CC Library, simply drag and drop it onto your document, or click on the asset name in the panel.

5 Layout adjustment

Layout adjustment is a useful tool for resizing or reconfiguring your document layout, without affecting the alignment or spacing of your elements. Layout adjustment works by adjusting the margins, columns, and guides of your document, and then moving and resizing the elements accordingly. To enable layout adjustment, go to the Layout menu, and select Layout Adjustment. Then, check the Enable Layout Adjustment box, and choose the options you want to apply, such as preserve width, height, or inter-object spacing. To adjust your layout, go to the File menu, and select Document Setup. Then, change the page size, orientation, or margins of your document, and click OK. You will see that your elements are automatically repositioned and resized to fit the new layout.

6 Alternate layouts

Alternate layouts are a handy tool for creating different versions of your document layout, for different purposes or formats. For example, you may want to create an alternate layout for a mobile device, a tablet, or a different print size. To create an alternate layout, go to the Pages panel, click on the Create Alternate Layout icon, and name your alternate layout. Then, choose the options you want to apply, such as page size, orientation, or layout rule. InDesign will create a new set of pages in your document, based on your original layout, but with the new options applied. You can then modify or customize your alternate layout as you wish, without affecting your original layout.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?