Create and use master pages in Pages on iPad
Page layout templates, including book templates in landscape orientation, use master pages as starting points for each page in the document. Every page layout template has a blank master page, and book templates also have a variety of predesigned master pages with placeholder elements.
When you add a new page to your document, you choose a master page, then add your own content. Changes you make in your document don’t affect the master page.
In Edit Master Page view, you can create and design new master pages and modify the existing master pages.
Add a new master page
To create a new master page, you duplicate an existing master page, name it, then modify it. Any pages that are linked to the original master page aren’t affected.
Tap
, turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Tap the thumbnail again, then tap Edit Master Page.
Tap
at the bottom of the screen, then tap a master page you want to use as a starting point.Type a name for the new master, then tap Done at the top of the screen.
Modify the page by adding, deleting or editing text, placeholders, images, shapes and other objects.
For more information, see “Edit a master page” below.
Tap Done at the top of the screen to return to the document.
Edit a master page
When you edit a master page, any changes you make are applied to all pages that use that master.
Tap
, turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Do one of the following:
If the master page is used in the document: Tap a page thumbnail that uses the master page you want to edit, tap it again, then tap Edit Master Page.
If the master page isn’t used in the document yet: Tap
at the bottom of the screen, then tap the master page you want to edit. Tap its thumbnail, then tap Edit Master Page.
Do any of the following:
Rename it: Tap the master page thumbnail, tap Rename, then type the new name. Tap Done at the top of the screen.
Modify existing design elements: Remove any design elements on the page, or select an object, tap
, then use the formatting controls to edit it. To learn how to change the background of a master page, see Change the page background.Add images: To add a placeholder image, tap
, then tap 
. Any image you add to a placeholder in your document will have the same size and placement on the page as the placeholder image. Add text boxes: To add a placeholder text box, tap
, tap 
, tap the Basic category, then tap Text. Select the new text box, tap , then use the formatting controls to style it: add a border, choose a size and font for the text and so on. Any text you type in the text box in your document will have the same style you applied to the placeholder text box.Set how headers and footers appear on the page: With nothing selected on the master page, tap
, then turn Show Header & Footer off or on. If you don’t want the header and footer to match what’s on the previous page, turn off Match Previous Page. Tap outside the controls to close the pop-over.If you can’t see these controls, or if they’re dimmed, first turn on headers and footers for the document and check the settings for the previous page.
Tap Done at the top of the screen to return to the document.
Rename a master page
Tap
, turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Tap the thumbnail again, then tap Edit Master Page.
If it isn’t already selected, tap the thumbnail of the master page you want to rename.
Tap the thumbnail again, tap Rename, then type the new name.
Tap Done at the top of the screen, then tap Done to return to the document.
Tag objects to simplify switching master pages
You can tag placeholder items (images and text boxes) on master pages to make it easier to switch master pages in your document. The tags “tell” the content where to go when you switch masters for a page. For example, an image that’s in a placeholder with the tag “media” will automatically be populated into a placeholder in the new master that also has the tag “media”.
If you’re creating a new master page in a book template with predesigned master pages, check the other master pages to see what tags they already use, then use the same ones, or replace them with your own.
Tap
, turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Tap
, then tap Edit Master Page.Edit Master Page view opens with master page thumbnails on the left.
Tap the thumbnail of the master page you want to tag, then tap an object.
Tap
, then tap the Style tab.Scroll down, then tap Tag and type a tag.
When you’ve finished tagging objects, tap Done.
Apply a different master page
You can apply a different master page to any page in your document. See “Tag objects to simplify switching master pages” above to learn how to tag text boxes and other objects to make the switch go smoothly.
Tap anywhere in a blank spot on the page (so nothing is selected on the page), or tap its thumbnail in Page Thumbnails view.
Tap
, then tap Master.If you can’t see Master, make sure nothing on the page is selected and try again.
Tap the master page you want to use.
Adjust the content on the page as necessary to accommodate the new layout.
Reapply a master page
If you make changes to a page’s format and later want to use the original formatting of its master page, you can reapply the master page. Reapplying the master page won’t delete your content.
Tap
and turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Tap the thumbnail image of the page you want to change, then tap Reapply Master to Page.
Make any necessary adjustments to the page content.
Delete a master page
Tap
, turn on Page Thumbnails, then tap the document to close the options.Tap
, then tap Edit Master Page.If you can’t see Edit Master Page, make sure nothing on the page is selected.
In Edit Master Page view, tap the thumbnail of the master page you want to delete, tap it again, then tap Delete.
If pages in the document are linked to this master page, select a new master page for those pages in the dialogue that appears, then tap Choose.
Tap Done in the top-right corner to return to the document.
Tip: When you copy pages between documents, any master pages used by the copied pages are also included.