Master Pages

Adobe InDesign

What are Master (Parent) Pages?

Similar to a template, Master Pages (now renamed to "Parent Pages") allow you to create a consistent look for all the pages in your document. A Master Page provides a template for other pages, with shared layout, guides and setup. Saving you heaps of time.

Master pages are located in the Pages palette, above all the other pages.

If you're experiencing issues trying to edit something on a page, it's because it is located on the Master Page and you will need to edit the Master Page.


How to apply a different Master Page

Some of our templates have multiple Master Pages. To find out which Master Page has been applied, you can view this at the top centre of each page in the Pages Panel.

  1. Open the Pages palette (Window > Pages)
  2. In the Pages palette select the page that you wish to change (You may have to double-click a couple of times here to make sure InDesign has selected the correct page)
  3. Right-click > Apply to Master Pages
  4. Under Apply to Master select the Master Page that you wish to apply (A-Master, B-Master, C-Master etc) and then the page that you wish to apply it to.

How to apply a blank page

If you don't want any Master pages applied at all:

  1. Open the Pages palette (Window > Pages)
  2. In the Pages palette select the page you wish to change (You may have to double-click a couple of time to make sure InDesign has selected the correct page)
  3. Right-click > Apply to Master Pages
  4. Under Apply to Master select None.

However, keep in mind that on a blank page none of the document setup and guides will carry across. That is because they have been set on the master pages.

Override Master Page items

Master page items have a dotted line for a frame edge. To override these items:

  1. Hold down two modifier keys on your keyboard: (Mac: Cmd + Shift) (Windows: Control + Shift)
  2. Hold down these two keys and click
  3. This will release the element
  4. InDesign overrides that object and pulls it off the Master Page, and the frame becomes a document page item.
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