At first, it appears that the only way to make a new master page is to choose New Master from the Pages palette flyout menu. But there are faster ways! For example, Command/Ctrl-click on the New Page icon at the bottom of the Pages palette to add a new blank, default-named master. Want to customize the name or base this master page on another master? Use Command-Option-click/Ctrl-Alt-click — that tells InDesign to open the New Master dialog box.
You can also make a new master page by duplicating one you already have. Our favorite way to duplicate a master page (or a document page, for that matter) is to Option/Alt-drag the page icon, dropping it in an empty area of the Master Page section of the palette. (Press the mouse button down before you add the Option/Alt key when duplicating a master page or else you’re telling InDesign something else: to apply the master page to the currently selected pages in the document!) You can also duplicate pages with the Layout > Pages submenu.
Here’s another method to duplicate a master page: right-click (or Control-click with a one-button mouse) on a master page icon and choose Duplicate from the context menu. Those context menus are so helpful, especially in palettes!
But here’s the kicker: If you’ve already laid out a document page, you can turn it into a master page by dragging that page’s icon in the Pages palette up into the master page area of the palette. Fast, easy, efficient.
This article was last modified on December 18, 2021
This article was first published on July 26, 2006
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