Use grids



In Layout view, you can view (or hide) a framework of grids and guides to show the position and alignment of objects. In most work systems, a designer working with InDesign sets up the grids and guides for the publication. InCopy users can see these layout aids after an InCopy story is linked to the InDesign document.

You can create grids within InCopy. But, because InDesign grids override InCopy settings when files are linked, this feature is more useful for stand-alone documents that you publish directly from InCopy.

These grids and guides are never visible on printed or exported output. One set of rulers and grids exists per page, but a guide can exist across all pages of a spread or within only a single page.

Note: Grids, rulers, and guides are not available in Galley or Story view.

Set up a baseline grid

Use Grid Preferences to set up a baseline grid for the entire document.

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Grids (Windows) or InCopy  > Preferences > Grids (Mac OS).

  2. Specify a baseline grid color by choosing a color in the Color menu. You can also choose Custom in the Color menu.

  3. For Relative To, specify whether you want the grid to start at the top of the page or the top margin.

  4. For Start, type a value to offset the grid from either the top of the page or the top margin of the page, depending on the option you choose from the Relative To menu. If you have trouble aligning the vertical ruler to this grid, try starting with a value of zero.

  5. For Increment Every, type a value for the spacing between grid lines. In most cases, type a value that equals your body text leading, so that lines of text align perfectly to this grid.

    Baseline grid in document window

    A.
    First grid line

    B.
    Increment between grid lines

  6. For View Threshold, type a value to specify the magnification below which the grid does not appear. Increase the view threshold to prevent crowded grid lines at lower magnifications.

    Baseline grid at magnification below view threshold (left) and above view threshold (right)

  7. Click OK.

Set up a document grid

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Grids (Windows) or InCopy  > Preferences > Grids (Mac OS).

  2. Specify a document grid color by choosing a color in the Color menu. You can also choose Custom in the Color menu.

  3. Do one of the following, and click OK:

    • To put the document and baseline grids behind all other objects, make sure that Grids In Back is selected.

    • To put the document and baseline grids in front of all other objects, deselect Grids In Back.

To put guides behind all other objects, you can also choose Guides In Back in the context menu that appears when you right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) an empty area of the document window.

Show or hide grids

  • To show or hide the baseline grid, choose View > Grids & Guides > Show/Hide Baseline Grid.

  • To show or hide the document grid, choose View > Grids & Guides > Show/Hide Document Grid.