Templates are useful tools for creating multiple documents that adhere to a standard layout. Knowing how to set up an InDesign template will save you time and improve your workflow efficiency.

Steps

  1. 1
    Purchase Adobe InDesign if you do not already own it. Follow the on-screen instructions for installing InDesign on your computer and restart your computer if necessary.
  2. 2
    Familiarize yourself with InDesign's workspace and available user resources.
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  3. 3
    Open Adobe InDesign.
  4. 4
    Open the InDesign document you want create a template from by selecting File>Open from the Control panel at the top of your workspace.
  5. 5
    Select File>Save As.
  6. 6
    Navigate to where you would like to save your file and enter a file name.
  7. 7
    Select InDesign Template from the Save As drop-down menu (Format for Mac) and click Save.
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Method 1
Method 1 of 1:

Creating an InDesign Template From a New Document

  1. 1
    Open a new InDesign file by selecting File>New>Document and specifying the settings for your new document.
  2. 2
    Create text frames. These are where your text will be imported.
    • Select the Type tool from InDesign's Toolbox, which is located at the left-hand side of your workspace.
    • Click an insertion point in your document. Click and drag with your mouse to draw your text frame.
    • Use InDesign's Select tool to move your text box to its proper location.
    • Repeat these steps for each text frame you wish to create.
  3. 3
    Create placeholder shapes. These are places where you will later place photos and other graphic elements.
    • Select the Ellipse, Rectangle or Polygon tool from InDesign's Toolbox.
    • Click an insertion point in your document. Click and drag with your mouse to draw your shape.
    • Use InDesign's Select tool to move your shape to its proper location.
    • Repeat these steps for each placeholder shape you wish to create.
  4. 4
    Select File>Save As.
  5. 5
    Navigate to where you would like to save your file and enter a file name.
  6. 6
    Select InDesign Template from the Save As drop-down menu (Format for Mac) and click Save.
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Things You'll Need

  • Computer

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 10 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 152,613 times.
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Co-authors: 10
Updated: February 2, 2023
Views: 152,613
Categories: Adobe InDesign
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