7 Replies Latest reply: Apr 25, 2008 11:04 AM by (Eric_Otto) RSS

    Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document

    Michael Brown12 Community Member
      I'm using IDCS3 and I am dumbfounded by what I assume is a simple thing: how to make different size master pages in one document. I have a document that is mostly 11x17 portrait, but I have need of some landscape pages, too. I know I can work sideways, but I can't imagine that is the way the program is designed. I'd like to put some letter size pages in too, anyway.

      I know this is just about as basic a feature that a page layout program can have, but I can't find how it is done. Please don't tell me to read the manual, I looked everywhere. I know it's probably simple. Thanks in advance for any advice.

      MGuilfoile
      OS 10.4.11 IDCS3
        • 1. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
          Community Member
          No, it's not a basic feature. It is not even a feature. Although there's a plug-in available from DTPTools that will allow you to mix page sizes in a single document.

          Dave
          • 2. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
            Michael Brown12 Community Member
            You have to be joking. I can't imagine how such an oversight could possibly occur in a modern application! I mean, ID is for PAGE layout. At it's most fundamental, that's all it's supposed to do. I'm sure I'm not the first person to need different page sizes in a document. In fact, it's not uncommon at all in magazines and books.

            Thanks for letting me know I can stop looking.

            MGuilfoile
            • 3. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
              Mr. Met Community Member
              It can't be too much in demand or it would've been implemented. I have a bunch of 11 x 17 templates with different size docs on them. For instance, I have a stationery template. Page one has crops, margins, slug for LH, page 2 for bus cd and page 3 for #10.

              Most printers I use would be quite annoyed if they had to break out a doc with variable page sizes into separate docs for printing.
              • 4. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
                Al Ferrari Community Member
                >Most printers I use would be quite annoyed if they had to break out a doc with variable page sizes into separate docs for printing.

                So how do printers handle the 3 item stationery template file from you? They have to break that up for each of the three items, no? Or do they image out tabloid film/plates and work from those?

                Page uniformity seems like a dubious virtue in that case. It seems that file would annoy them more than 3 separate files.

                Al
                • 5. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
                  Michael Brown12 Community Member
                  Richard,

                  Who said anything about outside printers? You might try thinking a little more broadly :-)

                  InDesign is used for far more things than publishing. It (and QXP) are the only game in town for doing the wide array of projects requiring multiple page presentation. Creating books and other bound materials is just one use. I use it to produce drawing packages for reviewing my museum graphics. I print it on an in house printer (as most do in the working world.) I noticed that Acrobat allows rotating individual pages to create PDFs that have a variety of page sizes. If it's good enough for one Adobe product, why was it not good enough for another?
                  • 6. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
                    It'sNotMyFault Community Member
                    Yeah, I'm sure it could cause major headaches for printers and pre-press houses, but this was one of my favored features in good ol' Freehand. I was REALLY hoping they would have at least incorporated this into Illustrator when they killed off Freehand. It was so nice to be able to do complete stationary packages in a single document.

                    I had a catalog mailer last week with the back cover running sideways for the mailing side. I designed the page off to the side, then rotated it 90º to put on the page. I've also created the sideways pages in a separate file and just exported a PDF from that to import into the proper document. That way when I make changes to the alternate document, I just resave the PDF and update in the proper doc. Neither solution are as elegant as having a rotated page, though.
                    • 7. Re: Different size master pages in one IDCS3 document
                      Community Member
                      --- created the sideways pages in a separate file and just exported a PDF from that to import into the proper document ---

                      You can also accomplish the same thing by placing the InDesign file instead of PDF and eliminate the step of exporting.