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Michael buelens
Michael buelens
Participant
May 2, 2023
Answered

FEATURE REQUEST: Master Page Swatch - Section Swatch

  • May 2, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 474 views

Feature Description:
When we layout brochures, product catalogs and other lengthy documents often colorcoding is used to differentiate between chapters or sections in the document. Example: Chapter/Section 1 has blue headers and objects, Chapter/Section 2 has green headers and objects, Chapter/Section 3 has blue headers and objects. Today we have to create different (Based On) styles for these chapters or work with Character styles on top the Paragraph Styles.
That's why I came up with Master page and section Swatches which would eliminate the need to create different styles completely. Bare with me:

In the master options dialog users would be able to set a color for that master. Same for the Numbering & Sections dialog > See Image01 and Image02

The Swatch Panel would feature two new default swatches named [Master] and [Section] > See Image03

Now when type has character colour or an object has fill or stroke colour set to [Master] the text or object would dynamically change when it is placed on a page with a different master applied to it. So for instance on pages with A-Master applied the object or text would adopt the colour set in Master page options and on pages with B-Master the text or objects would adopt the colour set in the options for B-Master. See Image04

I think this would be a very useful feature in long documents.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi @Michael buelens:

 

Interesting idea, and I love the edited dialog boxes. 😊

 

In the meantime, you might consider setting up your long documents as individual chapters, or sections, and then pull them together into an InDesign book. This will allow you to define a primary color for each chapter and use it on the tabs, in the paragraph styles and in the character styles—one primary color per chapter. If it needs to change, you edit the swatch in one chapter and all items using it will update. You can sync settings in a book file, so if a font changes, for example in the document titles, you can simply sync the paragraph styles (leaving the color definitions alone.) 

 

~Barb

1 reply

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 2, 2023

Hi @Michael buelens:

 

Interesting idea, and I love the edited dialog boxes. 😊

 

In the meantime, you might consider setting up your long documents as individual chapters, or sections, and then pull them together into an InDesign book. This will allow you to define a primary color for each chapter and use it on the tabs, in the paragraph styles and in the character styles—one primary color per chapter. If it needs to change, you edit the swatch in one chapter and all items using it will update. You can sync settings in a book file, so if a font changes, for example in the document titles, you can simply sync the paragraph styles (leaving the color definitions alone.) 

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
Michael buelens
Michael buelensAuthor
Participant
May 2, 2023

Hi!

I've used a book setup before and applied this trick with a swatch per
document and then uncheck the sync swatches option in book sync options.
I think my idea would work very well in lots of one doc long documents 😉

Met vriendelijke groeten,

*Michael Buelens*

 

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