About Document Layout

Pages, layers, and master pages are a common element of all types of Canvas X Draw documents.

Pages

All Canvas X Draw documents can contain multiple pages. Here, “pages” is used as a general term for elements that make up a document.

• Publications can have single or facing pages.
• Illustrations have pages, called “sheets,” which are single-sided.
• Presentations have pages, called “slides,” which can be displayed in sequence as “slide shows.”
• Animations have pages, called “frames,” which form animation sequences for animated GIF files.

In the Document Layout palette, pages are at the top level of the layout hierarchy, followed by layers, groups, and objects.

The Layout area in Canvas X Draw represents a document page. Page and layer controls are located at the bottom of the screen. The current page is shown in the Page menu and the Page Navigator palette.

Layers

A layer is a transparent level that objects are placed on. On a page you might have one or more layers. You can use layers to organize similar objects together. For example, you might use one layer for text and another layer for objects. By default, when you place or draw objects on a page, they are placed on a single layer. Layers can help you work efficiently. You can organize objects on layers, and you can display, print, and save layers individually.

In the Document Layout palette, a page’s layers are listed after the page name. Objects are listed after the layer they are on. A new page has one layer (Layer #1). You can add layers to any page, including master pages.

You can save time by sharing layers in a document. A shared layer is similar to a master page. As with a master page, objects on a shared layer appear on every page where the shared layer is applied. You can update multiple pages by editing a shared layer.

Document Layout palette

Master Pages

Master pages are available in Publication documents. Similar elements called “master slides” are available in Presentation documents, and “master frames” are available in Animation documents.

Master pages are pages used as a master or background for other pages. The objects on the master page can appear on every page in a document. For example, if you wanted to add a logo to every page in your document, you could create a master page with the logo, and then apply the master page to your other pages. If the logo is changed or updated, you can simply update the master page, rather than having to update every page of your document.

In the Document Layout palette, the master page is listed under each page where the master page is visible. The main master page is at the top of the list. As with other pages, you can use one or more layers on a master page. By selectively hiding layers on the master page, you can control the master page's appearance throughout a document or on selected pages. The master page at the top of the layout list can be locked.