The fastest way to change a page background

Open the Pages panel on the right side of your screen — if you do not see it, go to Window > Pages. Right-click the page thumbnail you want to change and select Master Pages > Edit Master. This opens the master page where the background lives. Draw a rectangle that covers the entire page, fill it with your chosen color, and send it to the back by right-clicking and selecting Arrange > Send to Back. When you exit the master page, all pages using that master will now have the new background.

If you only want to change one page, not the whole document, you can skip the master page. Instead, draw a rectangle on that single page, make it the size of the page, fill it with color, and send it to the back. This method is faster for one-off changes but means you have to repeat the step for each page if you change your mind later.

Key Takeaways

  • The master page method changes the background for all pages using that master at once, so you only set it up once.
  • You must send the colored rectangle to the back, or it will sit on top of your text and images and block them.
  • The Pages panel is where you access master pages — it is on the right side of the screen by default.
  • For a single page, you can skip the master and draw the rectangle directly on that page instead.

Using the master page method for consistency

The master page is the template that controls the look of multiple pages at once. When you edit a master page, every page assigned to that master updates automatically. This saves time if you have a 20-page document and want all pages to have the same background color.

To edit a master page, open the Pages panel, right-click your page, and choose Master Pages > Edit Master. You will see the master page layout open in the center. Draw a rectangle using the Rectangle Tool (press M on your keyboard), then drag it to cover the entire page. With the rectangle selected, open the Color panel (Window > Color) and click the fill color swatch to choose your color. Right-click the rectangle and go Arrange > Send to Back so it does not cover your content. Click the page thumbnail in the Pages panel to exit the master and return to your document.

If you have multiple master pages in your document, you can give each one a different background color. This is useful when you want different sections of your document to have different looks — for example, a title page with one color and body pages with another.

Changing the background on a single page

If you only need to change one page, you do not have to touch the master. Click on the page you want to change in the Pages panel to make sure it is active. Use the Rectangle Tool to draw a shape that covers the entire page, then fill it with color using the Color panel. Send it to the back so your text and images sit on top of it.

This method is quicker for a one-time change, but if you later decide to change that background color, you have to edit the rectangle on each page individually. For documents with many pages, the master page approach is more efficient because you change the color once and it updates everywhere.

Choosing and explore colors

InDesign gives you several ways to pick a color. The Color panel lets you click a color swatch or type in specific values if you know them. The Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) shows saved colors from your document or a color library. If you have a brand color or a specific shade you need to match, the Swatches panel is where you store it so you can use it consistently across pages.

To explore a color to your rectangle, make sure the rectangle is selected, then click a color in the Color or Swatches panel. You can also double-click the fill color swatch (the small square at the bottom of the toolbar on the left) to open a larger color picker. If you want the background to be transparent instead of a solid color, set the fill to None by right-clicking the rectangle and choosing Fill > None.

Fixing a background that covers your content

If you created a colored rectangle but it is sitting on top of your text or images instead of behind them, the rectangle is not sent to the back. Select the rectangle, right-click it, and go Arrange > Send to Back. If that does not work, try Arrange > Send Backward a few times until the rectangle moves behind your content.

Another way to fix this is to use the Layers panel (Window > Layers). In the Layers panel, you can drag the rectangle layer below the layer that contains your text and images. This gives you precise control over what sits in front and what sits behind.

Removing or changing a background you already set

To remove a background, select the colored rectangle and press Delete. If the background is on the master page, you have to go back into the master to delete it — right-click the page in the Pages panel, choose Master Pages > Edit Master, select the rectangle, and delete it.

To change the color of an existing background, select the rectangle and pick a new color from the Color or Swatches panel. The change takes effect when ready. If you want to change the background on multiple pages at once, edit the master page instead of editing each page individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an image as a background instead of a solid color?

Yes. Instead of drawing a rectangle and filling it with color, place an image on your page or master page using File > Place. Resize it to cover the page and send it to the back. This works the same way as a colored rectangle.

Why does my background color not show up when I export to PDF?

Make sure the rectangle is actually on the page and sent to the back. If it is on the master page, check that your pages are assigned to that master. Export settings can also affect this — in the PDF export dialog, make sure View is set to include the page content.

How do I make the background a gradient instead of a solid color?

Select the rectangle, open the Gradient panel (Window > Gradient), and click a gradient type. You can then adjust the colors and direction of the gradient using the Gradient panel controls.

Can I have different background colors on different pages without using master pages?

Yes. Draw a rectangle on each page individually and fill each one with a different color. This takes longer than using master pages, but it works if you only have a few pages or if each page needs a unique background.