Changing the Size of the Pasteboard
JB wrote:
Is there a way to adjust the size of the pasteboard (horizontally)?
Before I answer that, I have to throw out one keyboard shortcut tip: Did you know that Command-Option-Shift-0 (zero) or Ctrl-Alt-Shift-0 fits the entire pasteboard in the document window? Isn’t that cool? Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s tackle the problem.
First of all, you know you can change the height of the pasteboard (in case that little tiny amount above and below the page isn’t enough) in the Guides & Pasteboard pane of the Preferences dialog box. Just change the Minimum Vertical Offset.
But that’s not what you want; you want to expand the width. There is a clunky way to do this:
- Choose File > Document Setup
- Change the document width to be larger (like twice as big)
- Click OK
- Place an object on the far left and far right of the pasteboard (using that shortcut we learned above helps!)
- Now change Document Setup back to the original page width.
- When you click OK, you’ll notice that the pasteboard width stays expanded. Now you can delete those dummy objects and the larger pasteboard will remain.
There’s a more elegant, way, but it requires buying a plug-in: The Page Control plug-in from dtptools.com lets you adjust the pasteboard size to whatever you want.
Note that for many people, the issue is how to make the pasteboard size smaller, not larger! For example, every now and again, I still hear about people who get really huge pasteboard sizes. Often this is because there is an object hiding way out there somewhere (I don’t know how the object got out there… something went terribly wrong somewhere). Fit the pasteboard in the doc window, then press Command-A/Ctrl-A. If you see an object selected way out there, then delete it or move it. If you don’t, then move to the next spread and try again.
If there are no objects way out there, you can try to reduce the pasteboard size in one of a couple of ways.
- Try changing the page orientation (landscape to portrait, or vice versa) in File > Document Setup. Click OK and then set it back again.
- If that doesn’t work, save the file as INX (File > Export, then choose InDesign Interchange format). Then open that INX file. That often gets rid of weirdness like that.
One of those usually works for me. Anyone else have ways that have worked for them?
hey david, thanks for the shortcut tip - cool indeed!
Throughly answered, I believe.
On a side note: Did you ever notice that your paste board gets bigger when you add size to your slug. If I make the slug 100mm (it only goes to 154.1 mm) on the outside margins of my facing pages document, the pasteboard increases in height! I don’t think it gets wider, but it’s a quick way to increase the height of your pasteboard without going to the preferences. Removing the slug also reduces the height of the pasteboard.
Cool or weird?
thank you so much! this will save me a lot of frustration and whining.
There’s an additional way to change the width of the pasteboard. It’s not as flexible as David’s tip, but it is a bit faster. Create a Master Page with 3 (or more) pages. You don’t actually have to apply this Master Page to any pages in your document.
Wow, thank you Michael! I can’t believe I didn’t think of that one. Excellent.
Great tips from both of you, David and Michael — so thanks!!!
this ” secret ” it really cool …thanks a lot David.
I am having a similar problem using InDesign CS on a Mac G-4.
I have been working in the same InDesign file all week and all of a sudden the pasteboard became very long vertically. I would like to view all the pages in thumbnail size, but the pasteboard is preventing me from doing so. I have tried all the solutions already mentioned and none of these are working for me.
My InDesign CS version is not allowing me to change the verticle in preferences under guidelines and pasteboards.
Anyone else encountered this problem?
Thanking you in advance for a solution.
I’ve been working with 10 files in InDesign (all part of the same book) on my PC. I was able to change the starting page number of each file without problem, except for a file in the middle. When I changed the starting page number in that one file, the vertical pasteboard became HUGE. When I use the undo command, the old starting page number returns, and the pasteboard also returns to normal. I had no other files open at the time. I also tried quitting InDesign and reopening but same thing. I haven’t tried renumbering using the book feature yet since I’m not at that point with updates.