Grids

A non-printing, non-exporting grid can be displayed in order to help you to create interesting and well-constructed page layouts.

Grids

The grid is overlaid over your page to help you align objects. They are gray by default but can be any color you choose.

Grids default to the applied master page or spread grid settings but can be overridden by selecting a page or facing page spread and tweaking settings in the Grid and Axis Manager. Optionally, a grid can be applied to an individual page or spread which doesn't use master pages.

Grids can be automatic or fixed—the former (as default) changes the frequency of grid subdivisions as you zoom in/zoom out, the latter always keeps the grid frequency constant (irrespective of zoom level).

Grids work best when combined with snapping, in particular when the Snap to Grid option is enabled. They can be based on any document unit and will line up perfectly with rulers (when switched on).

To show or hide the grid:
Zoom Tool To adjust automatic grid spacing:

With the Zoom Tool selected, do one of the following:

At all zoom levels the grid shows as grid 'blocks' further split into grid subdivisions.

To create a fixed square grid:
  1. From the View menu, select Grid and Axis Manager.
  2. Select Basic mode.
  3. Set the Spacing and Divisions values.
  4. Click Close.
To customize grid color/opacity:
  1. From the View menu, select Grid and Axis Manager.
  2. Click the Grid lines or Subdivision lines swatch to display a pop-up panel to set the line color(s).
  3. Drag the sliders to set the opacity of either, or both, line colors.
  4. Click Close.
To create a rectangular grid:
  1. From the View menu, select Grid and Axis Manager.
  2. Select Advanced and uncheck Uniform.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Set the Spacing and Divisions for the first and second axis.
    • Select Fixed aspect ratio, set the Spacing and Divisions for the first axis and then set the Aspect ratio and Divisions for the second axis.
  4. Click Close.
To create a fixed angular grid:
  1. From the View menu, select Grid and Axis Manager.
  2. Select Advanced.
  3. From the Grid type pop-up menu, select Two axis custom.
  4. Set the Angle of either axis.
  5. Click Close.
Zoom Tool To change document units:

Do one of the following:

To preview your page without this design aid:

Do one of the following:

Presets

To make grid setup quick and easy, one of several grid presets can be chosen depending on how you plan to work (e.g., for UI design, image placement, etc.).

To select a preset:
  1. From the View menu, select Grid and Axis Manager.
  2. From the Preset pop-up menu, select a preset.
To customize a preset:
  1. From the View menu, select Grid and Axis Manager.
  2. Select a preset on which to base your new grid options.
  3. Check individual options on/off to override the current preset's options.

The options will be in effect immediately.

Presets menu To save as a custom preset for future use:
  1. Click the button adjacent to the Presets pop-up menu.
  2. Select Create preset.

The custom preset is in effect immediately.

SEE ALSO: