Datasheet

Working with graphics
31Lesson 1, InDesign CS4 Essential Skills
1
Understanding layers
Layers help you organize the images and text in your layout. Layers are like transparent sheets
of cellophane lying on top of each other. If you put an object on a layer that is below another
layer, you can see the object as long as there aren’t any objects directly above it, regardless of
how many layers are on top of it. Layers can also be used to create di erent versions of projects,
or di erent variations of projects, such as those versions being sent to di erent audiences or
created in di erent languages.
Layers also allow you to place text and graphics on separate layers, making it easy to proofread
text without looking at graphics. Here you’ll see how layers can be used in this manner:
1 Navigate to page 2 using the Pages panel, then choose View > Fit Spread in Window to
display the entire spread in the workspace. This command displays pages 2 and 3 together.
2 Press the Layers button ( ) in the panel docking area to open the Layers panel.
The Layers panel.
If you have closed a panel instead of placing it in the docking area, you can access it from the Window
menu. For example, you can choose Window > Pages. The list of available panels is also determined by
the current workspace. To access all panels, choose the Advanced workspace.
3 In the Layers panel there are three layers: Text, Graphics, and Background content. Press
the visibility icon (
) next to the Text layer. The content becomes hidden when you
disable its visibility, and all the text is temporarily hidden because the text has been
placed on this layer. Press the visibility icon again to show the contents of the Text layer.
4 Turn the visibility of the Graphics and Background Content layers on and o to see the
items that are on each of these layers.
InDesign layers are document-wide. When you create a layer, it is available on every page in
the document, including the master pages. When you hide or show a layer, you are making an
adjustment that impacts all pages in the document.
5 In the Pages panel, double-click page 1.
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