InDesign

Set baseline grids for a text frame

In some cases, you might want to use a baseline grid for a frame rather than for the entire document. Use the Text Frame Options dialog box to apply a baseline grid to a text frame. When you set up a baseline grid for a text frame, note the following:

  • The document baseline grid doesn’t appear behind or in front of text frames that use their own baseline grids.

  • If Grids In Back is selected in Grids Preferences, then the following is the baseline drawing order: frame-based baseline grids, frame grids, document-based baseline grids, and layout grids. If Grids In Back is not selected, then the following is the baseline drawing order: document-based baseline grids, layout grids, frame-based baseline grids, and frame grids.

  1. If you want the baseline grid to apply to all frames in a thread (even if one or more threaded frames do not include text), place the insertion point in text, choose Edit > Select All, and then apply the baseline grid settings in the Text Frame Options dialog box.
  2. Choose View > Grids & Guides > Show Baseline Grid to display all baseline grids, including those in a text frame.
  3. Select the text frame or place the insertion in a text frame, and then choose Object > Text Frame Options.
  4. Click the Baseline Options tab.
  5. Under Baseline Grid, select Use Custom Baseline Grid, and do any of the following:
    Start
    Type a value to offset the grid from the top of the page, the top margin of the page, the top of the frame, or the top inset of the frame, depending on what you choose from the Relative To menu.

    Increment Every
    Type a value for the spacing between grid lines. In most cases, type a value that equals your body text leading, so that lines of text align perfectly to the grid.

    Color
    Select a color for the grid lines, or choose (Layer Color) to use the same color as the layer on which the text frame appears.

If you can’t see the baseline grid in a text frame, choose View > Grids & Guides > Show Baseline Grid to make sure that baseline grids aren’t hidden. If the baseline grid still doesn’t appear, check the threshold for viewing baseline grids in the Grids section of the Preferences dialog box. To see the grid, you might need to zoom in on the frame or reduce the threshold level.