How to Change Page Color in Adobe InDesign

In Adobe InDesign, crafting visually stunning layouts often involves manipulating the background color of your pages. This comprehensive guide explores the two primary methods for changing page color in InDesign, empowering you to create the perfect foundation for your design.

Understanding the Nuances

Before diving into specific techniques, it’s crucial to distinguish between two interpretations of “page color” in InDesign:

1. Printable Background Color: This refers to adding a colored background that will be printed along with your design elements.
2. Document Preview Color: This alters the color of the background displayed on-screen while working on your document. This color won’t be printed in the final output.

Method 1: Adding a Printable Background Color

InDesign doesn’t offer a direct way to set a global background color for all pages. However, you can achieve a printed background by creating a colored shape that covers the entire page area. Here’s how:

1. Select the Rectangle Tool (M) from the toolbox.
2. With a spread or single page selected, drag the Rectangle Tool to create a rectangle that covers the entire bleed area. The bleed area extends beyond the page margins to account for potential trimming during printing.
3. Ensure the rectangle remains on the background layer (Layer 1 by default). You can check this in the Layers panel (Window > Layers).
4. In the Control panel at the bottom of your workspace, double-click the Fill swatch (colored square) next to the word “Fill.” This opens the Color Picker window.
5. Choose your desired background color using the color wheel, sliders, or by entering specific color values (RGB, CMYK, etc.). Click OK to confirm.

Additional Tips for Printable Background Color

• Lock the Background Layer: To prevent accidental modifications, right-click on “Layer 1” in the Layers panel and choose “Lock” from the context menu.
• Opacity Adjustments: If you desire a semi-transparent background, adjust the Opacity setting in the Control panel. This allows underlying elements to show through slightly.
• Master Pages for Consistency: To ensure a consistent background color across multiple pages, create a master page and add the colored rectangle there. Apply that master page to the desired document pages.

Method 2: Modifying the Document Preview Color

This method alters the color displayed on-screen while working in InDesign. It won’t affect the printed output. Here’s how:

1. Go to Window > Color > Swatches (or press F5). This opens the Swatches panel.
2. Locate the swatch named “Paper” within the Swatches panel. This swatch represents the color used for the document preview background.
3. Double-click the “Paper” swatch. The Color Picker window appears.
4. Select your desired preview color and click OK.

Choosing the Right Method

The method you choose depends on your desired outcome:

• Printed Background Color: Use Method 1 to create a colored background that will be part of your final printed document.
• Document Preview Color: Use Method 2 to change the on-screen background color for better visualization while working on your design. This color won’t be printed.

Additional Considerations

• Paper Color Selection: When choosing a printable background color, consider the paper type you plan to print on. Lighter colors may work better on white paper, while darker shades might be more suitable for colored paper stock.
• Readability and Contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between your text and the background color for optimal legibility, especially for printed documents.

Conclusion

By mastering the two methods outlined above, you gain complete control over page color in Adobe InDesign. You can create stunning printed backgrounds or adjust the document preview color for a more customized design experience. Remember, the chosen method depends on your specific project requirements. So, unleash your creativity and paint the perfect canvas for your next InDesign masterpiece!