Adobe InDesign CS5 - Illustrated

Unit F:Working with Layers

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to: Place an object on a layer Change layer options Create a new layer Duplicate a layer Lock and hide a layer Move an object to another layer Change layer order

Placing an Object on a Layer

New InDesign documents Start out with an empty layer, named

Layer 1, on the Layers panel• Placed as a page item on Layer 1• Each additional item is placed on Layer 1, but

on one level higher than the last

Expanding layers Allows you to view all objects and the

order they are stacked

Placing an Object on a Layer

Figure F-1: Viewing the rectangle frame on Layer 1

Placing an Object on a Layer

Figure F-2: Layers panel

Changing Layer Options

Layers on the Layers panel Each has a unique selection color

assigned to it Selection color is the color of the

bounding box that appears around selected objects on that layer

Naming layers Layer names can be changed Helpful to describe a layer’s content

Changing Layer Options

Figure F-3: Layer Options dialog box

Changing Layer Options

Figure F-4: Selecting the map image

Creating a New Layer

Two ways to create new layers: Click Create new layer button on the

Layers panel Click Layers panel list arrow

• Then click New Layer

New Layer dialog box Identical to Layer Options dialog box

Creating a New Layer

When you have more than one layer in an InDesign document Arrange commands are applied only to

page items on the currently active layer• Send to Back, Bring to Front, Send

Backward, and Bring Forward

Creating a New Layer

FIGURE F-5: Viewing the Current Store Locations layer

FIGURE F-6: Location of first green circle

Creating a New Layer

Figure F-7: Copying the green circle

Figure F-8: Four current store locations

Duplicating a Layer

Duplicating a layer Choosing a layer in the Layers panel and

creating an exact copy of the layer and the objects on it

Duplicated layers Can be renamed and objects can be

removed, modified, or added Will have the same name as the layer

that used to create it, followed by “copy”• Also assigned the same selection color

Duplicating a Layer

Figure F-9: Duplicate layer on Layers panel

Duplicating a Layer

Figure F-10: Repositioned circle

Duplicating a Layer

Figure F-11: Positioning the dark blue circles

Locking and Hiding a Layer

You can lock and hide an entire layer or individual page items Locking protects the layer or items from

being moved, selected, or deleted• Objects on locked layers cannot be selected

Hiding can help focus on one layer without being distracted by others• Also helps to see what the document would

look like without the objects on that layer, without having to delete them

Locking and Hiding a Layer

Figure F-12: Hidden Future Store Locations layer

Locking and Hiding a Layer

Figure F-13: Locking the map item on the United States Map layer

Locking and Hiding a Layer

Figure F-14: Viewing the locked page item

Moving an Object to Another Layer

Existing page items can be moved from one layer to another To move an object to a new layer:

• Select the object on the page• Drag the Indicates select items icon in the

Layers panel to a new layer

Merging layers Objects on each of the layers that are

merged become objects on a single layer

Moving an Object to Another Layer

Figure F-16: Selected circle

Moving an Object to Another Layer

Figure F-17: Moving the <circle> page item to the Flagship Store Locations layer

Moving an Object to Another Layer

Figure F-18: Viewing the Flagship Store Locations layer

Changing Layer Order

Order of layers on the Layers panel Identical to vertical stacking order of

InDesign objects on the page• Top layer represents top object(s)• Bottom layer represents bottom object(s)

To change the order of layers, drag the layer to a new location in the panel• Release the mouse button when a black line

appears above the layer you are dragging to

Changing Layer Order

Paste Remembers Layers command Located on Panels options menu Used to paste layers into a document

• Useful if you plan on using the same layer structure in another document

Changing Layer Order

Figure F-19: Placed starburst graphic

Figure F-20: Moving the Opening layer

Changing Layer Order

Figure F-21: Repositioned starburst

Changing Layer Order

Figure F-22: The finished map