*** From the Archives ***
This article is from January 29, 2007, and is no longer current.
Free InDesign Templates
Where can you find over twenty folders full of professionally-designed publication templates created in InDesign?
On your hard drive, if you have InDesign CS2 (the only version that comes with templates). (Edit: We’ve secured permission from Adobe to offer them for downloading on our own site. See their descriptions and links on our Free InDesign Templates page. )
The easiest way to find them and preview them is from within InDesign. You’ll need to re-open the InDesign Welcome screen (which you stopped from automatically appearing long ago) by choosing Welcome Screen from the Help menu, and when the splash screen appears click the New from Template button.
What happens next is a bit of surprise; Adobe Bridge starts up and shows you the contents of your InDesign Templates folder. Didn’t know you had a templates folder, did you? It was installed automatically with InDesign.
The InDesign Templates folder contains a bunch of Collections (saved Bridge searches) and further down, 21 subfolders with names like Menus, Presentations, Newsletters, and Forms. Double-click one of the folders or one of the Collections, and Bridge shows you thumbnails of the templates it contains.
If you change the view to Filmstrip (from the View menu in Bridge) you can investigate each template page by page without having to actually open them. In the screen shot above I’m looking at page 1 of a 2-page newsletter template in Bridge. The “Business Sets” folder I’m browsing contains six sets of branded business collateral for a total of 48 templates! Double-clicking a template opens an untitled copy of it in InDesign.
Even if you’re not the type to use a template, they’re great for investigating how a savvy InDesign user might put together a piece. The files contain interesting uses of custom colors and blends, and all make intelligent use of layers, guides, paragraph and character styles. Linked images are embedded, but you can use the Unembed command in the Links palette menu if you want to open them up in Photoshop or Illustrator.
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Yes, the templates are really helpful.
I found them a few months ago since they are not installed in the program folder.
Great suggestion to look at the templates for examples of how InDesign can be used – I hadn’t thought of that before, and will definitely suggest that in an InDesign seminar I’m teaching in Feb. Thanks!
Yup, Roanoke, and don’t forget you can use the custom settings in the templates as source material for actual projects.
In your working project, choose Load Swatches from the Swatches palette menu, or Load All Styles from the Paragraph Styles palette menu, and in the resulting dialog box double-click the template that has the assets you want to import.
If you didn’t save template as a new InDesign doc it’s a little hard to find the template folder on your hard drive. So, while in Bridge it’s a good idea to save the templates folder as a Favorite. That way you can click the Adobe Dialog button in the Open/Save dialog box and the Templates folder should be one of the favorites on the left.
If you need to find the folder manually, on the Mac it’s at [hard drive] > Library > Application Support > Adobe > Templates > InDesign. I know there’s an equivalent path in Windows.
Windows path is:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Templates\InDesign
How does one change Bridge’s background color to Black??
You can change Bridge’s background color via a black/white slider in Preferences > General, right at the top. The black background looks sharp, doesn’t it.
Couldn’t find them. Could not open “Welcome Menu” through Help. Was not a choice. I searched my entire computer for indt files and can’t find a one. Help?
Theresa, what version of InDesign are you running (2.0? CS1? CS2?) and what platform are you on?
I used CS2 for my post but didn’t check if the same feature was available for earlier versions. It’s the only reason I can think of why you wouldn’t see the Welcome screen not appearing under the Help menu.
Can’t find it in CS 3.0.1
The welcome screen is not an option in the HELP menu
Oscar and Theresa, I found a computer over here with CS1 installed, and you’re right, templates aren’t available with that version (neither is the Welcome Screen). Sorry about that … I’ll edit my post to add that it’s a CS2-only feature. Thanks for calling it to my attention!
At the opening screen of CS2, when I try to open “new from template,” the template folders appear. For example, I can see the “Brochures” folder. I click on it and an “untitled” folder appears. Then when I try to click on something, the message “no items to display with current filter” comes up. In preferances I set the indt to associate with Indesign 4 or my CS2 version. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your advice and help. MCS
Milton, that alert (“no items to display with current filter”) leads me to believe that you’ve set Bridge to only show you certain thumbnails (“3 or more stars” e.g.) and hide others. If this is the case, you should be seeing the word “Filtered” appear at the top of the Bridge window, to the right, next to the New Folder button.
To fix it, click on the little triangle to the right of the word Filtered and choose Show All Items from the dropdown menu. Now you should be able to see all the templates thumbnails, and the word Filtered changes to Unfiltered.
is the template included in the trail version too for CS2?
Thanks it’s gonna be a great timesaver!
i’m looking to create a menu and selected one from the template folder. how do i change the standard colors to swatches of my choice?
So the templates DON’T come with the latest (CS3)?
Yes, InDesign CS3 comes with templates, too. (Though perhaps not with the trial version.)
Ashley: You should be able to change the colors in your template in the Swatches panel. Just double-click on a color to change it.
There are also other free templates on the Web. For example, check out these: https://www.stocklayouts.com/
Templates were first included with CS Pagemaker Edition. The welcome screen is more comprehensive in CS3, but yes the templates are there (it’s the folder button at the bottom of the Create New list) and launches into Bridge just as in CS2.
Hi guys,
I’m having a bit of trouble opening the templates in CS2. When I click on the “new from template” button on the welcome screen nothing happens. Furthermore, when I try to access the templates directly from C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Templates\InDesign the files appear to be empty. Can someone tell me what I’m doing wrong? Many thanks.
Joe, did you purchase only InDesign or the entire Suite (IL and PS too)?
Maybe they only come with the Suite; I’m not sure.
i don’t found these template in indesign CS2 !!
can you send to me the Folder contain all Templates to Add to my program
with best regards
Art, can you choose File > Browse? That should also open Bridge, and you should be able to find them there.
Unfortunately the Browse command or icon doesn’t get you there … They drop you somewhere in your Home/MyDocs folder, and the templates are “further up” where all users can access them.
In Windows XP the ID CS3 template folder is in My Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > Common Files > Adobe > Templates > InDesign.
On Mac OS X (10.4) they’re in Mac HD > Library > App Support > Adobe > Templates > InDesign.
I don’t recall if we ever got it settled whether or not the free ID templates come with the standalone product or only with the Suite.
Thanks! Very useful.
Hi, I have InDesign CS3 and cant find the newsletter templates everyone has been talking about earlier. Can someone give me the window path? Thanks so much!
I found it difficult to locate these templates until I was told that installation puts them exactly where no-ones going to look for them. Try this for the template folder: My Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > Common Files > Adobe > Templates > InDesign.
Why don’t Adobe make sure they install in the Adobe directory rather than the Common Files folder!!
i want indesign templates and designs
Hi last week i made one product launching catalouge. Then i made pdf file with Hig res outline flatnerpresetts (Acrobat 4). I placed photoshop file in indesign including shadow, transperency.. Finally printed catalouge. Shadows and transperencies are broken. Anyway to making pdf file with high res outline flatner presets with acrobat 6 or later? Please give an idea.
Rajesh, no, Acrobat 6 file format does not flatten files. Transparency is saved, and you then control the flattening at print time from Acrobat. Perhaps something was wrong in Acrobat’s print dialog box? Your comment has nothing to do with templates, though. Perhaps do a search on our site for other flattener or transparency posts?
I created a template using InDesign, I am wondering if anyone here know if you can edit a template and automatically update all the files that uses that template in the future. Thanks.
I’m wanting to create a template in InDesign and then save it to be used by someone who doesn’t have the Creative Suite package. I had been thinking Word but I’m not having any luck figuring it out. Any ideas? Thanks.
Jenny, here’s a good article Anne-Marie wrote at creativepro.com about making templates from ID for MS Word users.
Does anyone know of any other free templates for InDesign? I tried the one mentioned above – stocklayouts.com but they now charge $99 per template.
Thanks for the guidance! I was able to find them on my CS2.
To the poster who can’t find Bridge – double check the bottom of your screen in the programs field by the Start line – my Bridge was hiding down there.
I’m using an InDesign CS2 template. I need to edit the template for my use. The lines highlight but when I try to change them a padlock shows. I’ve gone to info and it’s not locked. Short of creating a new template from scratch is there any way to unlock an existing template?
This is very helpful – thank you. I am working on a new newsletter/brochure today, and this info is so timely!
please send me one pokect of templates.Thanks?
Regarding using CS2 InDesign templates, when I click on the graphic elements, they won’t highlight and I can’t change them. The layers are not locked. How do I change the template? I can’t even change the color! Thanks so much!
Not sure if someone said templates are only in CS2 and are not in CS3. They are:
Open a predesigned template
Choose File > New > Document From Template.
In Adobe Bridge, double-click the folder (such as Flyers or Catalogs) that contains the type of template you want to open.
Double-click the template file.
Thank you very much
Creo que este tipo de ayuda siempre beneficia a abrir nuevas visiones cuando te encuentras tan saturado
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
No comments. Plz provide me this file. I would like to view your design. Then comment will be there.
How to connect to Database using the indesign where i should use photo, name (Example ID card of employees)
I am working with CS 3.0.1 and am in need of a template for a 32 page catalog we want to create. Finished size will be 8.5 x 17 folded to 8.5 x 11. are there any templates out there I can get for this need? Any help would be appreciated.
I don’t even have a templates folder in the common files folder. I do have InDesign Cs2, but I must of lost the templates folder somewhere along the way. Where is a good site that has FREE template for InDesign CS2. I’m needing various styles of brochure templates ranging from simple bi-fol and tri-folds to more complex, booklet-like for a very high end look. Please email me your help, thank you.
The templates are also in CS4 as well. Simply choose New From Template under the File menu. Bridge will open.
Stocklayouts allows you one free trial download. Look for the tab near the top of the page.
Does anyone have or know where I can find templates for my school newspaper? I am the adviser and am in charge of putting it together in InDesign CS4. I would love something a little funky that still looks like a newspaper.
I want to do custom page layouts in CS3 indesign.
I’m fine with the custom sizes etc, but i want to know if there is a way to do custom shapes. e.g maltese cross, basically i want to prodece varied net shapes for packaging etc and the facing uniform pages format doesn’t really allow for this?
Any help would be great
Thanks in advance
Robbie
The internet is truly a GOOD thing. I’ve been using indesign for ages and I had no idea there were templates there – DOH!!
I opened some of these templates, and at first glance, they are GREAT! Oh, wait, at second glance, they’re NOT IN ENGLISH! I barely passed foreign language classes… HELP!
Don’t be thrown by the fake Latin text, it’s the same as the text ID uses for Type > Fill with Placeholder Text. The important stuff that won’t change, like style names, are all in English.
[…] Link to InDesign’s Free Templates […]
These templates save time and effort and especially for beginners
thenks
I need some temple for newsletter in indesign about art gallery
thanx
but from where can i get the link ?
thank verymuch
very nice
Holy cow, all this time and I had no idea they were there. Thanks so much!!!
AMAZING
Thank you so much
I found this website by search about “indesign template”. Luckily I found it. I’m a new user for indesign and this will help me a lot. Thanks
I have a question: Does CS5 come with templates? If so, where can you find them?
Great question, Carrie! The answer is: No! Adobe removed the ID templates from InDesign and the Creative Suite. Very frustrating.
so there is no way to add get them for CS5?
Just upgraded to Master Suite CS5 and completely disappointed that the InDesign Templates have been removed! They were so handy for a quick idea to build on. As we upgrade straight from the Adobe site we do not have the older disks to pull the templates folder from previous versions. Is there anywhere you can download that folder from?
I want free teplate from book layout.
Thank
Wow. I had no idea indesign had that many templates in the program. I will definitely be referencing some of these in the future. Thanks!
I currently have CS3 installed but need to get to the templtes mentioned above that came with CS2. I still have the discs, but cannot find the template files? Any suggestions for me without my having to reinstall CS2?
thanks
I have opened the InDesign Manual template, and while I can change text, I can not change any of the color or graphics. Nothing appears to be locked.
Pls help! Where can I find newsletter template in CS5. I really need that. CS5 only offers document, book, library but not Form template that I saw in the CS3 or 4. :(
Ditto Van on Dec 14. Are the templates now only offered in the Premium Design package, or is there a way to access them in CS5? [Many thanks]
@Van and Mark: They’re not in CS5 at all. We’re working with Adobe on some way to make them available to InDesign users, but nothing is for sure at this time.
I recently upgraded to InDesign CS5 from CS4. In the latter, I had constructed a chapter template for my book I am working on. Now I can’t find it anymore and the command NEW/FROM TEMPLATE is gone. Where in my MacPro could this file possibly be found and how can I upload it for making further chapters in my book?
@Emil: The New from template feature (no longer in CS5) is not required to open a template you have saved on your disk. You can just use File > Open. To find it, search your disk for a file that contains “.indt” (that’s the file extension for templates, usually)
I’ve also recently upgraded from CS4 to 5 and I wanted to use some of the templates that were available in CS4. How can I get copies of the templates?
One thing the template folders don’t contain is a folder template! :)
Beverly, post your email addy (with asterisks) and i’ll help you out.
Let this be a warning to anyone who’s going to delete CS1-CS4 when moving to CS5: Save the stock templates folder first before deleting the app, otherwise they’ll be deleted for you.
The easiest way to save the folder is to choose New from Template from the File > New menu in pre-CS5 versions. That’ll open up the template folder in Bridge. Then in Bridge, navigate one folder higher than the current view so that the Content pane has a folder called Templates, right-click on the Templates folder and choose Reveal in Finder/Reveal in Explorer (or, just look at the breadcrumb trail/path to the Templates folder and go there manually in your OS).
Once you’ve got the folder selected in the Finder/Windows Explorer, copy and paste it onto your desktop or something. Then you can go ahead and delete the old version of InDesign. CS5 doesn’t have a New from Template command, but as David says, you can just choose File > Open and navigate to your duped templates folder. A good tip is to navigate to it in Bridge and make it a Favorite, that way it’ll be easy to get to in CS5 via the MiniBridge panel.
I’m very disappointed that CS5 doesn’t have the templates. A friend taught me how to use hers before I ordered my own copy, but apparently she had an older version and so nothing she taught me applies now and I’m super lost.
Any and all help with where to find free templates is appreciated as I was expecting to rely heavily on those to get me started.
What was Adobe thinking?
I am still working with CS4, and very grateful that this version has the templates. I was wondering how I was going to pull off building this newsletter in a shorter amount of time than I would normally like! Thanks!!
I’ve just been starting working in ID (CS5), and haven’t got an older version of the program to save templates from. Is there any way that I can get templates? What about downloading? Is that safe? Recommended websites?
I’m afraid that InDesign without templates will be a bit to difficult for me in the beginning, I need something to get me started… Maybe I shouldn’t have bought this software…
I hope someone can help me:-)
Thanks so much for this tip. I found my CS2 discs, but realized CS4 has the templates installed too. This post has really been helpful, even years later!
does anybody knows how pre design a “dummy” layout for a proyect like a neswpaper or a magazine? its urgent, please if any can help, i would apreciate it
Good templates
good good good
thanks
Thank you so much
thanks it’s really goooooooooood
Hi, I can’t seem to open the templates from my CS4. I have been able to view them on Bridge but when i try to open the template files, it just appears as a badly pixelated PDF. I tried to open it from the Common Files folder and found the templates but they all appear as a thumbnail with the filename : Newsletter1.indt and file type as INDT File. When I click on the file, an error message pops up: F:\Templates\en_US\InDesign\6.0\Newsletters\Newsletter1.indt is not a valid Win32 application.
Can some one tell what I can do to fix this up? I really need to use the newsletter template!
Thank you all…
thank
graciassss
For the life of me I can’t figure out how to read the responses to the posts in this forum. I’m logged in as a member, and I can see that this topic has been active since 2007 but was most recently commented to on July 15, 2011. Because I can’t see the responses, I can’t find the answer to my question.
Specifically, I’m trying to locate where I can download the Templates folder from the old InDesignCS4. I recently purchased CS5 and have searched for hours looking for somewhere to access those templates. The other “free templates” sites just don’t have what I’m looking for. It’s the newsletter templates that I’m after. Can someone help me?
@celkins: Adobe did not ship them for CS5 so there has been no place to get them. Fortunately, we’ll have some very good news about this to share in the next day or two… stand by!
You can check InDesign Templates in:
https://stockindesign.com/
Books | Newsletters | Catalog
Finally! These templates are available once again here: https://creativepro.com/indesign-templates
Thank you so much for your effort wrestling these templates from Adobe. They will be such a resource for the ID community. I couldn’t find them anywhere, and I’m glad that they now are part of the Indesign Secrets site.
thank you indeedy!
thank
How do I create a legal size newsletter? Are there any templates for this? I have it done in a four page letter size, but want to shrink it to a 2 page legal.
Just been searching for my old templates since upgrading to CS 5 (the New from template command has gone) and eventually found them:
/Library/Application Support/Adob/Templates.
For some reason searching for .indt file only turned up two files.
thank
Found your blog while I was searching for templates – thank you for the great info! (Had a giggle at the foreign language post … (: ) I will use your blog again and tell others.
This site has free indesign templates and some for a very small fee – as little as $1 – https://www.bestindesigntemplates.com. There is also RSS so it’s easy to keep track when new free files are added.
[Editor’s note: This comment was written by someone at this company.]
COOL STUFF ANNE MARIE. I WAS LOOKING FOR INVITATION TEMPLATES THIS MORNING AND SEARCHED THE NET AND FOUND YOUR SITE. I FOLLOWED IT AND OPENED MY TEMPLATES. I AM USING CS2.
LOL.
Nice themes, thank you for help
Thank you for help
simpatico
Hi,
I’m finishing up my degree in communication and only have 2 more classes after this one. It’s indesign, and I’m lost. Does anyone know a site that has a detailed- step by step of the indesign process. I can’t even get a good start. I do ok on MSWord, but this is beyond me. Please help!!!!!!!!!!
Jenny
Best solution is to buy the Lynda.com InDesign cs6 (or whatever version you’re using) and learn the software. It’s fast and intuitive. You should be able to get up and running in a few weeks provided you own Adobe’s software. Go Luck.
Can I find wedding invitations templates in InDesign CS6?
If so; where?
I have a newspaper template for InDesign at: https://graphicriver.net/item/old-style-newspaper-template/5068743
It’s not free but it’s not expensive either! Thanks!
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