Pages, master pages, guides and layers

PlexiiDesign works like a page-layout program. A design can have many pages. Master pages hold what repeats on every page, such as a header, a footer and the page number. Margins, columns and guides give you a grid to line things up to, and layers let you hide or lock groups of elements while you work.

Before you start

• Pages, masters, guides and layers are on every plan.
• Open a design in PlexiiDesign, or click inside a Design widget on a desk. See PlexiiDesign overview.
• A publication from the PlexiDesign page starts with four pages, margins and Master A already set up. See Start a design at the right size.

Most of these settings are in the Page layout panel. Click Layout in the toolbar, or choose Layout > Margins, columns & layers…, to open it.

Pages

The page strip under the page has a button for each page, showing its printed page number and, in small letters, the master it uses.

• Go to a page: click its button. Rest the pointer on it to see the page number and its master, such as "Page 3 — Master A".
• Add a page: click + Page at the end of the strip, or choose Insert > Page. The new page goes at the end.
• Delete a page: rest the pointer on its button and click the small ×. A design always keeps at least one page.

If you delete the wrong page, click Undo.

Facing pages

For a booklet or magazine that is printed on both sides, turn on Facing pages (spreads) in the Page layout panel, or choose Layout > Facing pages. The page strip then groups the pages in pairs as they will sit side by side, with page 1 on its own as the cover.

Page numbering

Numbering from in the Page layout panel sets the number of the first page, such as 3 for a document whose first two pages are printed separately. Page numbers in the strip and on the pages follow it.

Master pages

Anything on a master page shows on every page that uses it, underneath that page's own content. Use masters for a running header, a footer, a logo or the page number.

Edit a master

1. Open the Page layout panel and, under Master pages, click Edit next to the master. Or choose Layout > Master pages > Edit and the master's name.
2. A banner above the page says Editing, the master's name, and that changes there appear on every page that uses it.
3. Add text, shapes, pictures and lines as usual.
4. Click Done on the banner, or Layout > Master pages > Stop editing master.

On the pages, the master's content shows beneath the page's own and cannot be selected there. Edit the master to change it.

Number the pages

Put the page number on a master so every page shows its own:

1. Edit the master.
2. Choose Insert > Page-number frame. A small text frame with {#} goes at the bottom centre of the page.
3. Click Done.

Each page now shows its own number in that place. In any text frame on a master, {#} becomes the page number and {pages} becomes the number of pages, so you can write "Page {#} of {pages}".

If you choose Insert > Page-number frame on an ordinary page instead, it places that page's number as plain text, and a note says it is on this page only.

Add, rename and assign masters

• New master: click + (New master page) next to Master pages in the panel, or choose Layout > Master pages > New master page. New masters are named Master B, Master C and so on.
• Rename: double-click a master's name in the panel and type a new one.
• Choose a page's master: go to the page, then pick a master in This page uses. Choose None for a page that should show no master, such as a cover.
• Delete a master: click its bin button. Pages that used it then use no master.

New pages use the first master in the list until you choose another.

Margins and columns

Under Margins & columns in the Page layout panel:

• Top, Right, Bottom and Left set the margins, in pixels.
• Cols sets how many columns the page is divided into, from 1 to 20, and Gutter the space between them.

The margins and columns show on the page as guide lines and do not print. Elements snap to them as you drag, and text set out by Redesign follows them. See Lay out a document with Redesign.

Guides

• Add a guide: drag down from the ruler along the top of the page to add a vertical guide, or drag right from the ruler down the left side to add a horizontal guide. The guide goes where you let go.
• Remove a guide: click it.
• Remove them all: click Clear guides in the Page layout panel, which also shows how many are placed.

Elements snap to guides as you drag them.

To hide the margins, columns and guides while you look at the design, click Guides in the toolbar, or turn off Layout > Show layout guides. Click it again to show them. They never appear in an export.

Layers

Layers group elements so you can work on one part of a design without disturbing the rest, such as keeping a background picture out of the way while you place text. Every design starts with one layer, Layer 1.

Under Layers in the Page layout panel:

• New layer: click +. New layers are named Layer 2, Layer 3 and so on. Click a name to rename it.
• Hide or show: click the eye button. Hidden layers are not shown on the page and are left out of exports.
• Lock or unlock: click the lock button. Elements on a locked layer stay on the page but cannot be selected or moved.
• Move elements onto a layer: select them on the page, then click Move here next to the layer. When a design has more than one layer, the inspector also has a Layer list for the selected element.
• Delete a layer: click its bin button. Its elements move to Layer 1.

Common questions

My header does not show on one page. That page uses no master, or a different one. Go to the page and check This page uses in the Page layout panel.

I cannot select something on the page. It is either on a master page, so edit the master, or on a locked layer, so unlock the layer.

The page numbers start at the wrong number. Change Numbering from in the Page layout panel.

Something is missing from my export. It may be on a hidden layer. Show the layer and export again.

Related tasks

• PlexiiDesign overview
• Start a design at the right size
• Thread text through frames
• Lay out a document with Redesign
• Export and print a design