T: +49 1577 444 2437 | E: mail@fearghal.co.uk

Blog

Posted:
September 14, 2011
Comments:
0

ACE Indesign 1:6 Use Layers To Organise The Structure Of A Document

Series: ACE Indesign CS5.5

Section One:  Laying Out A Document

Use Layers to organize the structure of a document (scenarios include naming, arranging, and managing objects and groups)

Layers are an extremely useful tool in any design application. We touched on them briefly in Adobe Indesign 1:3 Work with Master Pages, but to put it simply, its best to think of layers as old animation transparencies. You place bits of information on each one and place them one on to of the other to build up the big picture.

Layers Panel

Naming Layers

First of all i guess we should create some layers. There are a few ways to open and name the layer, choose one of the following:

  • Use the “Create New Layer” button  at the bottom of the Layers Panel. Then double-click the layer to open the Layer Options dialogue.
  • Use the Panel Options Menu at the top of the Layers Panel to create a new layer and open the Layer Options. Or Opt (Mac) / Alt (Win) Click the Create New Layer Button.
  • Cmd (Mac) / Ctrl (Win) + Create New Layer will place the layer below the selected layer. (Default is above), then double-click the layer.
Arranging / Managing Layers & Groups

To move layers up and down, and in turn the contents of the layer to the foreground or background, it’s as simple as drag and drop. There are a few other things that should be known about layers though.

 

  • The Layers can turned on or off by toggling the Eye icon on the right of the image. Hidden layers are literally hides objects from view, they won’t print either.
  • Layers can also be locked or unlocked by toggling the Lock Icon. Locking a layer means you cannot move any items on that layer.
  • The layer with the Fountain Pen Icon (Navigation in this case) is the active layer, any objects created will be on this layer.
  • If you select an object, a coloured box will appear and show the layer that item is on. (See Images Layer) Click and drag this box to move the items to a different layer without moving their position on the page. A really useful feature if you realise you have drawn on the wrong later for the past hour.
A note worth mentioning here: In Indesign CS5 the double-click behaviour changed. When you double-click on an image, instead of switching to the direct selection tool, Indesign now selects the content of the frame while keeping the regular Selection Tool active. Double clicking a group selects the item that you have double clicked, making it easier to edit the contents of a group.
That should cover the use of layers when organising a document. It really is best to play around with these tools to get the hang of them.
←
→