Liquid page rules overview

Alternate layouts allow multiple versions of a document to be stored in a single InDesign file. Each layout can have a different size or orientation while sharing content across layouts. Liquid layouts control how page elements adjust when layout dimensions change. Instead of manually repositioning elements, you can apply rules that control how objects scale, reposition, or resize, helping preserve layout structure.

Used together, these features support efficient multi-format design workflows and consistent output across variations.

How liquid page rules work

Liquid page rules define how objects respond when a page’s size or proportions change. Only one rule can be applied per page, but rules can vary from page to page.

Use liquid page rules to adapt content for different output sizes, including when creating alternate layouts or resizing existing pages.

Types of liquid page rules

InDesign provides four liquid page rules:

• Scale: Resizes all content proportionally, maintaining relative positions. It may introduce gaps if the aspect ratios differ. Best suited for simple, graphic-heavy layouts.
• Re-center: Keeps content size unchanged and centers it as the page resizes. This is useful when elements must remain fixed in size.
• Guide-based: Uses liquid guides to control how content and whitespace adjust. Text reflows, and image frames resize without distortion. This is suitable for structured, multi-element layouts.
• Object-based: Defines resizing and positioning for individual objects, including fixed or relative relationships to page edges. It offers the most control for complex layouts with mixed behaviors.

Liquid page rules and alternate layouts

Liquid page rules work with alternate layouts to adapt content when creating new page size variations. The selected rule determines how elements adjust to the new dimensions. This reduces manual effort by allowing a single layout to generate multiple formats (such as tablet portrait, tablet landscape, and phone variations) with minimal adjustments.