Column Guides in PageMaker - Easy Guide

This guide explains column guides in PageMaker. It uses short sentences. It is friendly to beginners. Yet it covers enough detail for intermediate users. You will learn when to use guides. You will learn how to set them. You will learn how to edit and lock them.

Why column guides matter

Columns help you control text flow. They make a page look neat. They are useful in newsletters, brochures, and magazines. Columns also help position graphics. PageMaker adds guide lines to the page. These guides behave like margin lines. They help you set equal widths and gutters.

Quick overview — what you can do

• Create up to 20 columns per page.
• Set the gutter (the space between columns).
• Apply columns to master pages for consistency.
• Make equal or custom-sized columns.
• Lock guides to avoid accidental moves.

How to set column guides (step-by-step)

Follow these steps. They work on a publication page or on a master page.

1. Turn to the page or master page where you want columns.
2. Choose Layout > Column Guides from the menu.
3. If your document uses facing pages, you can set left and right pages separately.
4. Type the number of columns you want.
5. Enter the gutter width — the space between columns.
6. Check Adjust Layout if you want existing text and graphics to move to the new layout.
7. Click OK. PageMaker creates equally spaced columns inside the margins.

Custom column sizes

PageMaker creates equal-width columns by default. But you can make custom sizes. To do that, use the Pointer tool. Click a column guide. Drag it to a new location. Release the mouse button. The guide moves. The two lines that form the gutter move together. Existing text and graphics are not changed automatically by dragging. If you want content to snap to new columns, use the Adjust Layout option when creating columns.

Moving and locking column guides

After you set guides, you can still move them. Drag guide lines to change column widths. When you are happy, lock the guides to avoid mistakes.

• To lock or unlock guides, choose View > Lock Guides.
• Locked guides cannot be moved by accident.

Gutters and folding

A gutter is the white space between columns. It keeps text from colliding. For brochures, increase the gutter near folds. This gives extra room for folding and makes the final piece look better.

Columns versus margins — a clear difference

Margins are edges around the printable page. PageMaker draws them in blue. Column guides can split the page vertically. Column guides appear as pink lines. Use margins for safe printable space. Use columns for content flow and layout structure.

When to use column guides

Use column guides when you design any of the following:

• Newsletters and bulletins.
• Brochures and flyers.
• Newspapers and long articles.
• Catalog pages and directories.

Advanced tips

• Create up to 20 columns when you need a grid-like layout for lists or tables.
• Use the Grid Manager (Utilities > Plug-ins > Grid Manager) for exact column widths over a custom area.
• Set different column counts on left and right pages for creative spreads.
• Always preview or print a test page to check gutters and fold areas.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Forgetting to set columns on the master page when a consistent layout is needed.
• Making gutters too small — text can appear cramped or run into other columns.
• Locking guides too early — you might need more adjustments later.
• Assuming dragging a guide will reflow text — it usually does not unless you used Adjust Layout earlier.

5 FAQs about Column Guides in PageMaker

Conclusion

Column guides are a simple but powerful tool in PageMaker. They make layouts neat. They speed up work on multi-column documents. Use master pages for consistent designs. Use gutters to protect space for folding. Lock guides when you finish. Follow the steps above and you will make better page layouts in less time.