In the previous lesson, we set up the new document for the color palette eBook in Affinity Publisher. Now we will start building the master pages for the cover and two-page spread. First, we will work on the left side of the two-page spread and duplicate that for the other page. Finally, we will build the cover master page.

1. In the Master Pages panel, we will build the template on Master A. Right-click on the thumbnail in the Master Pages panel and choose Spread Properties. In the window, click the Label tab. Rename the master to Inner Page Spread. (see screenshot)

Now, double-click the thumbnail, to display the master two-page layout in the workspace.


2. Select the Rectangle tool. In the Context toolbar, set the Fill color to White and the Stroke to Null. Drag a rectangle over the entire left page. In the Layers panel, name this layer BG for background.


3. In the Transform panel, set the Width to 612 and the Height to 792. Set the X and Y to zero. (see screenshot)


4. Select the Picture Frame Rectangle tool and draw a picture frame at the top of the canvas. In the Transform panel, set the Width to 612 pixels and the Height to 400 pixels. This will display the source image edge-to-edge on the page. (see screenshot)


5. In the Layers panel, this layer will already be named Picture Frame.

Adding a grid overlay will help us place the other design elements.


6. From the top menu, click View - Grid and Axis. In the Basics tab of the Grid and Snapping Axis window, set the Spacing to 36 and the Divisions to 1. Set the grid line color to red. (see screenshot) Click View - Show Grid.

Now we will add the circle and text for one color swatch at the left of the page.


7. Select the Ellipse tool and draw a small circle on the canvas. Set the Fill color to EBEBEB and the Stroke to Null.


8. In the Transform panel, set the Width and Height to 72 px, the X position to 36 px and the Y position to 432 px. (see screenshot)


9. In the Layers panel, name this layer Color.


10. Select the Artistic Text tool. In the Context toolbar, set the Font to Arial, the Font Size to 12 pt, the Font Color to Black and the Alignment to Left Align. Add the text Hex #000000 below the circle. If you will be adding the color code by hand, add just Hex. (see screenshot)


11. In the Transform panel, set X to 36 and Y to 514 for this text box.


12. In the Layers panel, this layer should be named Hex #000000.

Now we will duplicate the text box for the RGB color code text.


13. In the Layers panel, right-click on the Hex layer and choose Duplicate.


14. Select the bottom Hex layer and rename it to RGB.


15. On the canvas, drag the new layer below the Hex layer. In the Transform panel set X to 36 and Y to 540.


16. Select the new text layer on the canvas and change the text to R 000, G 000, B 000. For those who wish to write the code by hand, just add RGB. (see screenshot)

Now let's reorder the layers in the Layers panel and group them together.


17. In the Layers panel, select the Color layer and drag it to the top. Select the Color, Hex #000000 and RGB layers. Right-click and choose Group. Rename the Group layer to Swatch 1 (see screenshot)


18. Drag the Swatch 1 layer under the Picture Frame layer. (see screenshot)

The last design element is the page number. There is a built-in feature in Publisher that will place the current page number on each page.


19. Click on the canvas at the bottom left corner with the Artistic tool. From the menu, click Text - Insert - Fields - Page Number. (see screenshot)

You will see a pound sign added to the page. This pound sign will not display on the eBook pages. You will see the current page number for each page instead.


20. With the pound sign selected, name this layer Page No. Drag the layer under the Swatch layer.


21. In the Transform panel, set X to 36 and the Y to 720. (see screenshot)

Save your work.

INDEX Color Palette Book Template Affinity Publisher - Series Index

Screenshots used by permission of Serif (Europe) Ltd. This article is not endorsed by Serif Ltd.