Author | Jackie
Understanding how to use Pages and Master Pages is fundamental to designing a digital planner. Pages after all hold the content of your planner.
I think the most important aspect of Pages in Affinity Publisher for digital planner designers is understanding Master Pages.
Once you understand the logic of Master Pages, using pages becomes easy.
So, how do you work with all types of pages in Affinity Publisher?
Pages Panel
In the default layout, the Pages Panel docks on the left of the screen.
If you can’t see the Pages Panel because you’ve customised your workspace, you can open the Pages Panel from: Window – Pages.
The Panel comprises two sections: Master Pages and Pages. You can click the arrow to scroll open each section and view the page thumbnails inside.
In the top-right corner of the Panel you can see a hamburger menu. Here, you can change the size of the thumbnails for master pages and pages in the Panel.
Affinity Publisher | Pages panel
Master Pages
What are they?
Master pages are templates for pages. They are essential when working with large documents like a digital planner.
You can ‘apply’ a Master page to any number of pages in a document. If you make a change to a Master page, that change will ripple through the document in a matter of seconds.
If you are buying templates to help you create digital stationery, I would strongly recommend you contact the seller to make sure their templates have been created with a Master Pages foundation. It will save you a lot of time!
Panel Options
To Add a Master Page:
- click on the +Page symbol to open the Add a Master panel
- name the new Master
- set the size and page orientation
- the new master will be added to the bottom of the list of Master Pages
To Duplicate a Master:
- double click on the Master Page you want to duplicate
- click on the 2-page symbol to Duplicate Selected Master
- this makes a copy and puts it directly underneath the selected master
To Delete a Master:
- double click on the Master Page you want to delete
- click on the bin symbol
- the Master will be deleted
Affinity Publisher | Master Pages Menu
Using Masters
For a Master Page to work, it needs to be ‘applied’ to another page. This ‘connects’ the page content and any change you make on the Master will then be reflected on any pages that particular master has been applied to.
You can apply a Master page by:
- dragging and dropping it onto a page you have displayed in the workspace
- dragging and dropping it onto a page thumbnail in the Pages Panel
- right-clicking on the Master you want to use and choosing Apply Master…
I would suggest you:
- use the drag-and-drop method when you want a single Master Page applied to a page
- use the right-click and apply method when you want to multiple Masters on a page
This is because the drag-and-drop method replaces what is already there and the apply method adds to what is there.
Moving Masters
You can change the order of the Master Thumbnails by clicking-and-dragging a thumbnail up and down the list of Masters. You will see a blue line appear to the left or right of the other thumbnails. Let go when the blue line is where you want to drop the page.
Renaming Masters
To rename a Master, right-click on the thumbnail and choose Spread Properties. Choose the Label tab and enter the new name.
Affinity Pubisher | Renaming and Moving Master Pages
Pages
What are they?
These are the pages that will actually be exported and appear in your final PDF planner. For a digital planner, these will be single pages not facing pages (as you would find in a book).
Your pages can be categorised by their content. For a digital planner you will usually have:
- monthly, weekly and daily pages, making up the bulk of your planner
- one-off pages like the cover or a dashboard
- month cover pages that include hyperlinks to individual weeks and days
- section cover pages for niche content, notes, or for users to add to themselves
- with the exception of the cover, most of these pages will have hyperlinked tabs or menu ‘buttons’
Panel Options
To create or edit a Section:
- right-click on the Thumbnail of the first page in the section
- choose Start New Section… this opens the Section Manager
- you can also access the Section Manager by clicking on the Bookmark symbol at the top of the Pages section of the Pages Panel
- here you can name the section and restart the page numbering
- you can edit a Section’s settings and open the Section Manager by right-clicking on the Thumbnail and choosing Edit Section…
Affinity Publisher | Creating and Editing Page Sections
To Add a Page:
- click on the +Page symbol to open the Add Pages panel
- choose the number of pages, whether they go before or after the existing page, and which Master you want to apply to the page(s)
To Duplicate a Page:
- click on the 2-page symbol to duplicate the existing page
- the page will be added directly below the page you duplicated
- this is a useful way to add pages when you want to keep the same Master page(s)
To Delete a Page:
- double click on the Page you want to delete
- click on the bin symbol
- the Page will be deleted
Affinity Publisher | Pages Menu
Using Pages
Apply and Clear Master
You can also apply and remove Master pages by right-clicking on a single Page and choosing Apply Master… or Clear Masters
The Apply Master Panel lets you choose and apply Masters to specific pages.
You can also choose to replace existing Master(s) or add additional Master(s) to a page.
Affinity Publisher | Apply Master Options
Moving Pages
You can drag and drop pages into a new order by clicking on the page and dragging until you see a blue line appear alongside the new page location.
Let go of the page and it will be dropped into its new location.
Master Pages and Pages in Affinity Publisher
Although design software isn’t always intuitive when you first open it, I hope you can see that managing Master Pages and Pages is actually quite straightforward.
One way to learn how to use pages and to feel more comfortable editing them is to start your digital planner design using a template.
Make sure the template has been designed with a Master Page foundation.
It is always easier to change something that exists than it is to create something from scratch. Once you feel confident working with a template, you will find creating your own Pages and Masters so much easier.
The Make Your Own Digital Planner course was designed specifically with that in mind.
Make Your Own Digital Planner with Templates & Affinity Publisher
The course uses templates and step-by-step instructions to help you produce your first digital planner in a matter of hours!
You can see what’s included in the course and take a closer look at the templates and lesson content on the Make Your Own Digital Planner Course page.
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