Working with layers
Before you begin creating and modifying objects, you should understand how layers work in InDesign. By default, every new InDesign document contains one layer (named Layer 1). You can rename this layer and add more layers at any time as you work on a document. Placing objects on different layers lets you organize them for easy selection and editing. In the Layers panel, you can select, display, edit, and print different layers individually, in groups, or all together.
Tip
Turn on Paste Remembers Layers, found in the Layers Panel flyout menu. When you copy and paste items to a different page or a different document, the layer structure remains intact rather than all items pasting onto the topmost layer.
About layers
Think of layers as transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. When you create an object, you can place it on the layer of your choice, and you can move objects between layers. Each layer contains its own set of objects.
The Layers panel (Window > Layers) displays a list of a document’s layers and lets you create, manage, and delete layers. The Layers panel also lets you display the names of all objects on a layer and show, hide, or lock individual objects. Click the triangle to the left of a layer name to alternately display and hide the names of the objects on the layer.
The order displayed in the layer panel is the stacking order in the file. The topmost layer in the panel is the topmost layer in the file, and so on. The objects within each layer follow the same logic. One way to move an object in front of (above) or behind (below) another object is to move it up or down in the Layers panel.
By using multiple layers, you can create and edit specific areas or kinds of content in your document without affecting other areas or kinds of content. For example, you can drag-select and move items on one layer without affecting other items, such as selecting and moving text boxes without moving the backgrounds. Another example: If a document prints slowly because it contains many large graphics, you can use one layer for only the text in the document; then, when it’s time to proofread the text, you can hide all other layers and quickly print only the Text layer. You can also use layers to display alternate design ideas for the same layout or different versions of an advertisement for different regions.
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The 04_Objects.indd document has two layers. You’ll experiment with these layers to learn how the arrangement of the layers and the placement of objects on layers can affect the design of your document, and you’ll add a new layer.
Click the Layers panel icon or choose Window > Layers to open the Layers panel.
If the Text layer is not selected in the Layers panel, click to select it. The layer is highlighted to indicate that it’s selected. Notice that a pen icon (
) appears to the right of the layer name. The pen icon indicates that this layer is the target layer, and while it’s selected, anything you import or create is placed on this layer.Click the small triangle to the left of the Text layer name. All the groups and objects on this layer are now displayed below the layer name. Use the panel’s scroll bar to view the names in the list, and then click the triangle again to hide them.
Click the eye icon (
) to the far left of the Graphics layer name. All the objects on the Graphics layer are hidden. The eye icon lets you hide or display individual layers. When you turn off the visibility of a layer, the eye disappears. Click the empty box again to display the layer contents.Use the Zoom tool (
) to zoom in on the dark blue frame on the front page (page 1).Using the Selection tool (
), move the pointer within the Yield sign graphic. Notice the blue frame edge on the graphics frame. This blue border indicates that the frame is on the Text layer, which has been assigned a blue color. A transparent doughnut shape, otherwise known as the content grabber, is displayed in the center of the frame. When you move the pointer within the content grabber, it changes to a hand. TipFrames are also called “Containers” and the graphic within “Content.” You can choose the content when you have the container selected and vica versa: go to Object >Select.
Now move the pointer within the circular graphics frame below the Yield sign. Notice that this frame’s edge is red, the color assigned to the Graphics layer.
Move the pointer back to the frame with the Yield sign, make sure the arrow pointer is displayed, and then click within the graphics frame to select it.
In the Layers panel, you’ll notice that the Text layer is selected, and a small blue square appears to the right of the layer name. This indicates that the selected object belongs to this layer. You can move objects from one layer to another by dragging this square between layers in the panel.
TipTo see the position of the Yield sign in the Graphics layer relative to other objects in the layer, expand the Graphics layer by clicking the triangle to the left of the layer name. The topmost item in the list is the topmost item in the layer.
In the Layers panel, drag the small blue square from the Text layer up to the Graphics layer, and then release the mouse button. The image now belongs to the Graphics layer and is now the topmost object on the top layer. Notice that the small square in the Layers panel turns red, corresponding to the layer color.
Note that the Object > Arrange commands operate within each layer, and not between layers. To see this in action, choose Object > Arrange > Send To Back. The Yield sign does not move behind the blue background as you expect. This is because the Yield sign is on the Graphics layer, which is above the Text layer that contains the blue box. Now move the small red square in the Layers panel back to the Text layer and choose Object > Arrange > Send To Back again. Now the Yield sign moves behind the blue box because they are on the same layer. To move the Yield sign back to the Graphics layer, choose Edit > Undo twice.
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Creating and reordering layers
Click the empty layer lock box to the left of the Graphics layer to lock the layer.
Choose View > Fit Spread In Window.
Next, you will make a new layer and move existing content to it.
At the bottom of the Layers panel, click the Create New Layer button (
). Because the Graphics layer was selected when you created the new layer, the new layer is positioned above the Graphics layer in the Layers panel.
TipYou can also rename a layer by selecting the layer in the Layers panel and then clicking its name.
Double-click the name of the new layer (Layer 3) to open the Layer Options dialog box. Change the name to Background, and click OK.
In the Layers panel, drag the Background layer to the bottom of the layer stack. A horizontal line appears when you move the pointer below the Text layer, indicating that the layer will be moved to the bottom when you release the mouse button.
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Move items to the Background layer
Now you’ll move the background colored boxes to the Background layer and lock that layer so that you can work with objects on the Text and Graphics layers without accidentally selecting or moving the backgrounds.
Choose View > Fit Spread In Window. Click the light blue background on the left-hand page with the Selection Tool (
).In the Layers panel, drag the blue square down from the Text layer to the Background layer.
Navigate to the next spread (pages 2–3) by clicking the Next Spread arrow in the lower left of the document window.
Select both the green box on the left and the blue box on the right by dragging a small area starting in the pasteboard above where the two boxes meet, down and across a small section of each box. This is a quick way to select multiple items while being careful not to select too many items.
In the Layers panel, drag the blue square down to the Background layer, moving both items to the Background layer at the same time.
Click the lock box to the left of the Background layer.
Choose File > Save.