Leaders Magazine: Master Pages & 1st Article

Topics Covered in This InDesign Tutorial:

Master Pages, Spanning Columns, Step & Repeat, Paragraph & Character Styles

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

In this comprehensive exercise, you'll create a professional multi-page magazine layout for Leaders Magazine using provided text and images. While established publications typically use existing templates for content placement, this project takes you through the complete design process from initial setup to finished pages. You'll build a sophisticated article layout spanning several pages, complete with author photography and professional typography. Rather than getting bogged down in design decisions, we'll guide you through proven layout principles and typography choices, allowing you to focus on mastering InDesign's powerful layout tools and understanding how professional magazine workflows operate in today's publishing environment.

Setting up the Document

1. Navigate to File > New > Document and configure these essential settings:
   • Set Width to 9 in and Height to 12 in for standard magazine proportions.
   • To the right of Width, change Units to Picas for precise typographic control.
   • Start #: 20 (magazines typically don't start on page 1)
   • Ensure Facing Pages is checked to create a proper spread layout.
   • Check Primary Text Frame—this is crucial for automatic text flow and will save significant time later.
   • Set Columns to 3 and Column Gutter to 1p0 for optimal readability.
   • In the Margins section, click to unlink the margin values, then set: Top: 3p11, Bottom: 4p, Inside: 4p, Outside: 3p
   • In the Bleed and Slug section, verify all Bleed options are set to 0p since this exercise doesn't require bleed.

2. The inside margin is intentionally larger than the outside margin to accommodate the binding gutter—a critical consideration in professional magazine production that prevents text from disappearing into the spine.

3. Click Create to generate your document.

4. Access preferences through the InDesign menu (Mac) or Edit menu (Windows), then select Preferences > Units & Increments.

5. Under Ruler Units, set Origin to Page for consistent measurement reference points.

   NOTE: InDesign has automatically set your Horizontal and Vertical ruler units to Picas based on your document setup—this intelligent feature streamlines your workflow by maintaining measurement consistency.

6. Click OK to apply the changes.

7. Save your work immediately: File > Save As. Navigate to the InDesign Class folder, then the Leaders Magazine subfolder, and save as yourname-leaders.indd.

Setting up the First Master Page (The Article Opening Page)

Master pages form the backbone of professional magazine design, ensuring consistency across all pages while dramatically reducing production time. Let's create a sophisticated opening page template that will serve as the foundation for feature articles.

1. Familiarize yourself with the Pages panel interface—this will be your command center for page management:

   

2. InDesign has created a default A-Master page. While functional, it needs customization for our magazine design. Click on the master name to select it.

3. Access the Pages panel menu at the top-right corner of the panel and choose Master Options for "A-Master".

4. Retain the A prefix but rename it to 3 Col First—descriptive naming prevents confusion in complex documents. Click OK.

5. Double-click the master name to enter edit mode and begin customization.

6. You should now see a two-page spread. If only one page is visible, ensure you've double-clicked the master page name. This spread view is where you'll establish the visual foundation for your article opening pages.

Adding a Guide for the Category Type

Professional magazines use category identifiers (Interview, Travel, Business, etc.) to help readers navigate content. We'll create a precision guide system to ensure these elements align perfectly across all articles, maintaining the visual consistency that distinguishes professional publications from amateur layouts.

1. Ensure rulers are visible by navigating to View > Show Rulers if they're not already displayed.

2. Position your view to see the top portion of the left page plus the empty workspace (pasteboard) to the left of that page.

3. Drag a guide down from the top ruler and drop it precisely onto the pasteboard—not on the page itself. This technique creates a spread-wide guide that spans both pages, ensuring perfect alignment across the entire layout.

4. With the guide selected, locate the Y field in the Control panel. Enter 1p9.5 and press Return (Mac) or Enter (Windows) to position it with mathematical precision.

Resizing the Main Text Frames

The default text frames need adjustment to accommodate our specific editorial design. This process demonstrates how professional layouts balance text density with visual breathing room.

1. Ensure both master pages are visible in your workspace. Using the Selection tool , click the left page text frame, then hold Shift and click the right page frame to select both simultaneously.

2. In the Control panel, verify that the Constrain proportions button is deactivated. If linked, click to unlink the width and height values for independent adjustment.

3. Set the top left reference point in the Control panel, then apply these specifications:

   Y:

   8p8

   H:

   59p4

4. Select the Line tool to create a horizontal separator element.

5. Hold Shift while drawing to ensure a perfectly horizontal line beneath the main text box on the LEFT page. This constraint technique is essential for professional precision.

6. Select the middle left reference point in the Control panel and input these exact measurements:

   X:	3p	L:	47p
   Y:	68p5

7. Set the line width to 0.5 pt for subtle visual separation without overwhelming the design:

   

Adding the Page Number

Page numbering in professional magazines serves both functional and design purposes. Our implementation creates a cohesive footer that reinforces brand identity while providing essential navigation information.

1. Create a text frame for page numbering using the Type tool . Draw the frame anywhere on the LEFT page—precise sizing comes next.

2. Switch to the Selection tool to access positioning controls in the Control panel.

   TIP: When the text cursor is active, press Escape (Esc) to quickly switch to the Selection tool —a time-saving technique used by production professionals.

3. Set the top left reference point and apply these precise coordinates:

   X:	3p	W:	47p
   Y:	68p11	H:	1p3

4. Activate the text cursor by clicking in the frame with the Type tool .

5. Insert dynamic page numbering via Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. This intelligent feature automatically updates as pages are added or rearranged.

6. InDesign displays the page number as A on master pages—this represents the actual page number when applied to document pages. Add a space and type LEADERS after the marker.

7. Select all text including the page number marker.

8. Apply professional typography: 9 pt Minion Pro Regular with All Caps formatting for authoritative, readable footer text.

9. Save your progress—maintaining regular saves prevents data loss and allows you to revert to stable versions if needed.

Duplicating Everything onto the Opposing Master Page

Professional magazine design requires mirror-image layouts for left and right pages, with careful attention to binding considerations. This process demonstrates how to efficiently create symmetrical designs while maintaining proper margins for different page positions.

In facing-page documents, master pages function as two-page spreads. InDesign intelligently applies the appropriate master page (left or right) based on page position, automatically adjusting inside margins to accommodate binding. This system ensures consistent design while addressing the physical realities of print production.

1. Ensure the Selection tool is active for precise object manipulation.

2. Select the horizontal line beneath the main text box, then Shift-click the page number box to select both elements. Note that the main text frame already exists on the right page.

3. Access Edit > Step and Repeat and configure these duplication settings:

   Repeat Count:	1
   Vertical Offset:	0p
   Horizontal Offset:	55p (54p page width + 1p additional inside margin compensation)

4. Click OK to execute the duplication.

5. Clear all selections by choosing Edit > Deselect All for better workspace visibility.

6. The right page footer requires mirror formatting. Select the right-page text and apply right alignment for visual balance.

7. Select only the word LEADERS and cut it using Cmd+X (Mac) or Ctrl+X (Windows).

8. Position the cursor before the A and paste, creating the sequence LEADERS A for proper right-page formatting.

Importing & Placing the Text

Now we transition from master page design to actual content placement. This process demonstrates professional text handling techniques and reveals InDesign's intelligent content management capabilities.

1. Navigate to your document's first page (page 20) by double-clicking it in the Pages panel.

2. Notice how this page automatically inherits the left master page design. The A indicator on the page thumbnail confirms its connection to the "parent" A Master, demonstrating InDesign's efficient template system:

   

3. Navigate to File > Place and configure the import:
   • Ensure Show Import Options is unchecked at the bottom (Mac users may need to click Options first).
   • From the InDesign Class folder, navigate to Leaders Magazine and select article-worldbank2pgPicciotto.txt.
   • Your cursor now contains the loaded article. Click into the main text box to place the content.

   InDesign's Smart Text Reflow feature automatically added pages to accommodate the entire article—useful for book production but problematic for controlled magazine layouts. Let's adjust this behavior.

4. Undo the text placement using Cmd+Z (Mac) or Ctrl+Z (Windows).

5. Access preferences through the InDesign menu (Mac) or Edit menu (Windows), then select Preferences > Type.

6. Uncheck Smart Text Reflow to regain manual control over page creation—essential for precise magazine pagination. Click OK.

7. The article should still be loaded in your cursor. If not, repeat the File > Place process for article-worldbank2pgPicciotto.txt.

8. Click into the main text box to place the article. This time, the layout maintains single-page integrity, allowing for precise content management.

Setting up the Baseline Grid

Professional typography requires mathematical precision to ensure text alignment across columns and pages. The baseline grid serves as an invisible foundation that maintains consistent line spacing and creates the visual harmony that distinguishes professional publications from amateur layouts.

While designers typically establish baseline grids after finalizing type specifications through testing and refinement, we'll implement a proven grid system that aligns with our predetermined typography choices.

1. Access the grid preferences: InDesign menu (Mac) or Edit menu (Windows) > Preferences > Grids.

2. Configure the Baseline Grid with these precise specifications:

   Start:	4p1
   Relative To:	Top of Page
   Increment Every:	11 pt (matching our body text leading for perfect alignment)

3. Click OK to establish the grid foundation.

   The grid remains invisible until text is configured to use it—this will occur when we apply paragraph styles to our content.

4. Save your progress to preserve this crucial typography foundation.

Styling the Headline

Typography hierarchy forms the backbone of effective editorial design. Our headline treatment establishes visual dominance while maintaining readability—a balance that requires careful attention to font selection, sizing, and spacing relationships.

1. Using the Type tool , select the opening sentence: The World Bank: Myths and Priorities—this serves as our primary headline.

2. Access character formatting in the Control panel (click the Character options button if paragraph options are displayed):

   Font:	Adobe Garamond Pro Regular (located under G in the font menu)
   Size :	51 pt
   Leading :	57 pt

3. Switch to Paragraph formatting in the Control panel and apply these layout specifications:

   Align:	Center
   Space After :	4p0
   Span Columns :	Span All