Create and edit master pages

Use master pages to repeat design and layout elements on multiple pages in a publication. Using master pages for these common elements gives your publication a more consistent appearance and allows you to create and update these elements in one place, rather than changing them on each publication page.

Create or edit master pages

You can create a new master page from scratch or duplicate an existing master page, which you can then edit to change just those elements that you want to be different.

If you set up your publication to be viewed as two-page spreads, you should use two-page master pages. If you set up your publication to be viewed as single pages, you should use single-page master pages.

You can also Change a single-page master page to a two-page master page, or Change a two-page master page to a single-page master page.

1. To view the current master pages in your open publication, click View > Master Page.

2. Begin to edit the master page in the master page window by adding elements such as headers and footers or page numbers.

3. Click Close Master Page to go back to publication view.

Note: Elements added in Master Page view can't be edited in the publication, so it's best to use master pages for elements such as headers and footers, page numbers, borders, and other design elements you don't want to change from page to page in your publication.