Change the page background in Pages on iPad
You can add a colour, gradient or image to the background of individual pages and to the background of master pages.
Change the background of individual pages
In a word processing document, changing a page background also changes the background for all the pages in its section. To change just one page, make that page its own section and then change its background. In a page layout document, you can change the background of any single page.
Tap
, turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Tap the page thumbnail of the page you want to change.
This action selects the page and deselects anything selected on the page. (If text or an object on the page is selected, you won’t see the page background controls.)
In a page layout document, you can also just tap an empty spot on a page to see the background controls.
Tap
, then tap the Section tab (in a word processing document) or the Page Layout tab (in a page layout document).Tap Background, then choose one of the following fill types:
A colour or gradient designed to go with the template: Tap Preset, swipe left or right to see all choices, then tap a colour.
Any colour: Tap Colour, then tap a colour. You can also swipe left to the colour wheel, then drag the slider around the wheel to choose any colour. To preview colours on the page, touch and hold a colour, then drag across the grid. Release your finger to select a colour.
A two-colour gradient fill: Tap Gradient, tap Start Colour or End Colour, then tap a colour or swipe left to use the colour wheel. To switch the gradient direction, tap Flip Colour. To change the gradient angle, drag the Angle slider.
An image: Tap Image, tap Change Image, then choose or take a photo.
When you’ve finished, tap anywhere on the page to dismiss the controls.
Change the background of a master page
In page layout documents, you can change the background of a master page. Any page that uses that master page updates to match.
Tap an empty space on any page in your document.
Tap
, tap Page Layout, then tap Edit Master Page.In Edit Master Page view, tap
, tap Background, then do one of the following:Use a colour or gradient designed to go with the template: Tap Preset, swipe left or right to see all choices, then tap a colour.
Use any colour: Tap Colour, then tap a colour. You can also swipe left to the colour wheel, then drag the slider around the wheel to choose a colour. To preview colours on the page, touch and hold a colour, then drag across the grid. Release your finger to select a colour.
Use a two-colour gradient fill: Tap Gradient, tap Start Colour or End Colour, then tap a colour or swipe left to use the colour wheel. To switch the gradient direction, tap Flip Colour. To change the gradient angle, drag the Angle slider.
Fill with an image: Tap Image, tap Change Image, then choose or take a photo.
When you’ve finished, tap anywhere on the page to dismiss the controls.
For more information about the fill options, see Fill shapes and text boxes with colour or an image.
Note: If you can’t see the background or master page controls, make sure your document is a page layout document and not a word processing document. Then make sure nothing on the page is selected.