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InDesign is the perfect software program for any business or designer. It is also beneficial for editors of magazines, newspapers, and books.

There are so many features available in InDesign, including hundreds of templates. You can also edit your documents by layering objects, text, and shapes.

Finally, you can learn how to make a grid in InDesign. This feature helps you stay organized to achieve a clean result for your project. Learn more about making grids in the step-by-step guide below.

How to Create a Grid in InDesign | Step-by-Step Guide

This step-by-step guide can help you learn how to make a grid in InDesign. There are two types of these documents available, and there are several methods you can use to complete the process. You can also add a specified number of rows or columns in this valuable software.

What is InDesign?

InDesign is a publishing app made by Adobe. It is beneficial for any industry, and you can share your creations via digital or print format.

InDesign is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, and you can download it on any computer. You will have access to Adobe Fonts and Templates when using the software program.

What Can You Create in InDesign?

As mentioned, there are several templates you can use for your creations in Adobe InDesign. When you open a new project to learn how to create grids in InDesign, you can search for templates.

Type the type of document you want to create in the search bar. You will soon see loads of results to help you with your project.

Some of the most popular templates let you create flyers and brochures. Other options include magazines and newspapers. Some individuals even use InDesign to craft the design of their books.

Quality of Creations

No matter the type of design you want to create, your finished work will be high quality. Do not worry about blurriness or graininess when sharing or printing your project.

When exporting your project, you can edit the resolution of your document. This feature further enhances its quality.

Two Types of Grids

When you learn how to make a grid in InDesign, you will find information on two different types. Each version is best for digital documents rather than prints.

Baseline Grids

A baseline grid looks like a sheet of notebook paper in Adobe InDesign. It is best for aligning columns in your document.

Book, magazine, and newspaper writers use baseline grids in Adobe InDesign most. They enjoy organizing their text in a cohesive manner. Learn how to set up a baseline grid yourself in the steps provided below.

  1. Open a new document in Adobe InDesign.
  2. Click on the “Edit” menu on your Windows computer. You will press “InDesign” on a Mac.
  3. Press “Preferences.”
  4. Click “Grids.”
  5. Choose the color of your grid.
  6. Mark where you want your grid to begin. You can choose between the top of the page or margin.
  7. Type any value that offsets the grid. You need the margins.
  8. Choose how wide you want the spacing between grid lines in the “Increment Every” field.
  9. To avoid crowding your grid lines, type a value in the “View Threshold” field.
  10. Press “Ok.”
Open a new document in Adobe InDesign how to create guides in indesign
Press Preferences how to make a grid in InDesign how to add rows in indesign
Choose the color of your grid how to make a grid in InDesign
You can choose between the top of the page or margin
Type any value that offsets the grid You need the margins
To avoid crowding your grid lines type a value in the View Threshold field Press Ok

Document Grids

You can also learn an InDesign grid layout for document grids. This format is best if you want more control over objects in your document.

Many graphic designers or business owners prefer to use document grids. They have better control over making a well-designed flyer or brochure. Learn how to make grids in InDesign in this manner with the steps below.

  1. Open a new document or template in InDesign.
  2. Click the “Edit” menu on a Windows computer or the “InDesign” menu option on a Mac.
  3. Press “Preferences.”
  4. Click “Grids.”
  5. Choose the color of your document.
  6. Set spacing between the horizontal lines by entering a value in the section labeled “Gridline Every in the Horizontal.”
  7. Give a value to the “Subdivisions” section to clean up the horizontal lines.
  8. Provide a value in the “Gridline Every in the Vertical” section to change the spacing between vertical lines.
  9. Give a value in the “Subdivisions” section for vertical lines.
  10. Select “Grids in Back” to keep the lines behind all other objects.
  11. Deselect “Grids in Back” to bring the lines to the front of your document.
  12. Press “Ok.”
Open a new document in Adobe InDesign how to create guides in indesign
Press Preferences how to make a grid in InDesign how to add rows in indesign
Choose the color of your grid how to make a grid in InDesign
Set spacing between the horizontal lines by entering a value in the section labeled Gridline Every in the Horizontal
Give a value to the Subdivisions section to clean up the horizontal lines
Provide a value in the Gridline Every in the Vertical section to change the spacing between vertical lines
Select Grids in Back to keep the lines behind all other objects
Deselect Grids in Back to bring the lines to the front of your document how to make a grid in InDesign

Differences and Similarities in the Two Types of Grids

There are several similarities and differences between the two types of grids. This information was briefly mentioned above, but you can learn more in the list below.

  • Baseline grids cover only your document or the spread. Document grids show on the entire workspace.
  • Baseline and document grids do not get assigned to a parent.
  • You can only assign the baseline grid to a layer. The document grid goes behind any guides or objects only.

Layout Grid InDesign

Most individuals begin their projects by learning how to make a grid in InDesign. These features help keep your documents organized to ensure you have an attractive file in the end.

It is reasonable to stray from the grids you create. Creativity is yours! Do not let learning how to make grids in InDesign wear you down in your design process.

Grid Methods

Several methods are available to learn how to make a grid in InDesign. Some are very complex, while others are perfect for beginners.

You can make grids using built-in tools on InDesign to start. You can also build these features manually. Learn more about how to make a grid in InDesign below.

Preset Details Command

The first method you can use to make grids in InDesign is the Preset Details Command. Follow the below steps to make your grids this way.

  1. Open Adobe InDesign on your computer.
  2. Press “Create New” to start a new document.
  3. Look for the section labeled “Preset Details” on the right side of the page.
  4. Type the number of columsn you want your document to have in the “Columns” field.
  5. Press “Create.”
  6. When the document opens, you will see four grids. You have to manually add horizontal lines.

Create Guides Command

This process involves learning how to InDesign show margins. You have to fit your grids to the edges of your document when using the steps below.

  1. Open InDesign on your Mac or Windows computer.
  2. Click “Create New” when the software launches.
  3. Look for the section labeled “Preset Details” on the right.
  4. Keep the number of columns at “1.”
  5. Press “Create.”
  6. Wait for the document to open.
  7. Look for the section labeled “Master Page.”
  8. Choose “A-Master” in the list of available options.
  9. Click on “Layout” in the menu at the top of the screen.
  10. Press “Create Guides.”
  11. Enter how many rows or columns you need.
  12. Change the width of the gutters. A higher number will make your grid look less crowded.
  13. Select “Fit Guides to Margins” in the “Options” section.
  14. Press “Ok.”

You can make changes to your grid at any time using this method. Go to the “Layout” menu, followed by “Create Guides” again. Check the box next to “Remove Existing Ruler Guides,” followed by “Ok.”

Create Grids Manually

Finally, you can learn how to show grid in InDesign manually. This method is the most complex, making it best for experts on the software. Use the steps below to manually make grids in InDesign.

  1. Open the InDesign tool and press “Create New.”
  2. Go to the “Preset Details” section on the right.
  3. Check the field next to “Facing Pages.”
  4. Leave the column number at “1.”
  5. Press “Create.”
  6. Go to the “Master Page” section and choose “A-Master.”
  7. Look for the rectangle frame tool in the toolbar.
  8. Drag the rectangle to fit the entire left page. It should touch the top and left edge of the document.
  9. Right-click on the rectangle and press “Duplicate.”
  10. Drag and drop the new rectangle to the right side of the page. Make it touch the top of the page and the right side.
  11. Click on the first rectangle. Press “Edit,” followed by”Copy.”
  12. Click on “Edit,” followed by “Paste in Place.”
  13. Change the width to the length of the whole document.
  14. Drag guide lines from the rulers on the top and left of the page.
Open the InDesign tool and press Create New how to create guides in indesign
Go to the Preset Details section on the right how to make a grid in InDesign
Leave the column number at 1 how to make a grid in InDesign
Go to the Master Page section and choose A-Master how to create grids in indesign
Drag the rectangle to fit the entire left page It should touch the top and left edge of the document
You can choose between the top of the page or margin
Drag and drop the new rectangle to the right side of the page Make it touch the top of the page and the right side
Click on the first rectangle Press Edit followed by Copy how to make a grid in InDesign
Click on Edit followed by Paste in Place how to make a grid in InDesign
Drag guide lines from the rulers on the top and left of the page how to make a grid in InDesign

How to Create Guides in InDesign

You can also learn how to create guides in InDesign. This process helps make evenly spaced lines in a matter of minutes. Learn how to create guides InDesign by following the information in the list below.

  1. Open a new document in InDesign.
  2. Choose the layer you need a guide for in the “Layers” panel.
  3. Click on the “Layout” menu.
  4. Press “Create Guides.”
  5. In the sections labeled “Number,” select how many rows and columns you need. It is easier to work with even numbers.
  6. In the “Gutter” section, choose the spacing between your lines.
  7. Click “Margins” in the “Fit Guides To” section to keep your guide in the margins.
  8. Click “Page” in the “Fit Guides To” field to keep your guide in the edges of the page.
  9. Press “Preview” to see your changes.
  10. Click “Ok.”
Open a new document in InDesign how to make a grid in InDesign
Choose the layer you need a guide for in the Layers panel
In the sections labeled Number select how many rows and columns you need It is easier to work with even numbers
In the Gutter section choose the spacing between your lines how to make grids in indesign
Click Margins in the Fit Guides To section to keep your guide in the margins
Click Page in the Fit Guides To field to keep your guide in the edges of the page
Press Preview to see your changes Click ok how to add rows in indesign

How to Add Rows in InDesign

You can learn how to add rows in InDesign to any grid or table you insert. The steps required are easy for any user, as shown below.

  1. Open a new project in InDesign by pressing “Create New” after you launch the software.
  2. Click where you want the row to be to create an insertion point.
  3. Press the menu labeled “Table.”
  4. Click “Insert,” followed by “Row.”
  5. Enter how many rows you want to add.
  6. Specify if you want the new row before or after the current one.
  7. Press “Ok.”
Open the InDesign tool and press Create New how to create guides in indesign
Click where you want the row to be to create an insertion point
Click Insert followed by Row how to make a grid in InDesign
Enter how many rows you want to add how to make a grid in InDesign

How to Add Columns in InDesign

Finally, you can learn how to add columns in InDesign. The steps are similar to adding rows in the program. Learn how to make columns in InDesign with the steps outlined below.

  1. Click on your screen for where you want the new column.
  2. Click on the menu option labeled “Table.”
  3. Press “Insert,” followed by “Column.”
  4. Enter how many columns you want to include.
  5. Specify the location for the column.
  6. Press “Ok.”
Click where you want the row to be to create an insertion point
Click Insert followed by Row how to make a grid in InDesign
Enter how many columns you want to include how to make a grid in InDesign how to create grids in indesign
Specify the location for the column Press Ok

Create a Grid in InDesign

Any InDesign user can learn to make grids. You can use the baseline or document formats to achieve the results you want for your project.

When learning how to make a grid in InDesign, use one of three methods. The “Preset Details” command lets you insert vertical lines, while the “Create Guides” command makes basic grids that adhere to your margins. You can also manually insert these lines using the rectangle tool.

InDesign lets you edit your guides at any time with the Layout menu. You can also adjust the number of columns and rows in your grid with the “Table” features.

Start designing today, using grids to get a perfectly symmetrical result.

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