Instant InDesign: Designing Templates for Fast and Efficient Page Layout

Basic Elements of a Template

A template is a mechanism, and like all mechanisms is most easily understood when broken down into its component parts. Each part can then be focused on and mastered separately. Like every other mechanism, a template is constructed from its smallest part to its most complex assembly. Each part plays a unique role. The parts then work together to serve the template as a whole. The purpose of each part is best understood by maintaining reference to the overall purpose of a template—to facilitate efficient page production while maintaining a consistent design.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the elements that compose a template and the roles of each. Since the detail of a template can be quite comprehensive, ...