An InDesign master page resembles a slide master in Microsoft PowerPoint, acting as a blueprint for the creation of document pages. Any content placed on a master page will also appear on all document pages based on that master. Master pages will typically feature headers, footers, page numbers and corporate graphics. Additionally, any guides placed on a master will be inherited by associated document pages. The two key benefits of using master pages are, firstly, that this saves you the trouble of recreating the same elements on several pages and, secondly, that they offer a mechanism for modifying and updating several document pages. Each time you make changes to a master, all document pages based on that master will also be updated.

You can create multiple master pages within the same document and you can also nest master pages by basing a new master page on an existing master. Even if you do not make use of master pages, every InDesign already contains a default master named “A-Master”. For documents with only a few pages or a single page, you will probably simply ignore the default master. However, for documents with more than a few pages, it is probably worth considering the use of master pages.

If the layout of your document is the same througout, then any master items you may need can probably be placed on the default master. To edit the default master, double-click its icon in the Pages panel (Window – Pages). Create the items you wish to appear on all pages, for example, a title at the top of the page and a page number at the bottom.

Editing the master page is no different from editing a normal page; so, to enter text, you must create a text frame. To insert a page number, position the cursor where you want the page number to be displayed and choose Type – Insert Special Character – Markers – Current Page Number. While editing the master, the letter of the master (“A” in the case of the default master) will be displayed in place of a page number. However, when you return to the document pages, the correct page number will appear on each page.

Each time you create an InDesign document, you have the option of activating “Facing Pages”. If you choose to leave this option inactive, you will find that the default master consists of a single page. This means that you cannot format left pages differently to right pages and, typically, you use this option when you plan to print only on one side of the paper. If you activate the “Facing Pages” option, your default master page will consist of two pages: one for formatting left-hand pages and one for formatting right-hand pages.

Author is a developer and trainer with a UK IT training company offering Adobe InDesign Classes as well as Illustrator training in London and throughout the UK.