Gain insights into the differences between Story, Galley, and Layout Views, valuable knowledge for anyone seeking a career in layout design or editing. Learn how to customize each view for your specific needs, and how to set your preferred view as the default.
Key Insights
- Galley View displays both visible and overset text, allows customization of the font/size, and shows line numbers.
- Story View also shows both visible and overset text but does not show accurate line breaks. The font/size is customizable in this view as well.
- Layout View provides a realistic page layout with fonts, images, and colors. However, it only shows visible text and not the overset text.
- In both Galley and Story Views, the font displayed is not accurate to the final layout. It is set in the Galley & Story Appearance toolbar.
- The default view is Story view, but this can be changed to either Galley View or Layout View in the View menu when no documents are open.
- The Galley & Story Appearance toolbar, located at the bottom left of the screen, allows you to change the font, size, line spacing and more for Galley and Story views.
Explore the different aspects of Galley, Story, and Layout views in this comprehensive guide, with detailed instructions on setting the default view and customizing the Galley and Story Appearance toolbar.
This exercise is excerpted from past InCopy training materials and is compatible with InCopy updates through 2021. To learn current skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and graphic design, check out our graphic design classes in NYC and live online.
Story, Galley, & Layout Views
Galley View
Shows text visible in layout as well as overset text that cannot be seen in the layout.
Shows accurate line breaks.
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Can customize the font/size using the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and in:
Mac: InCopy > Preferences > Galley & Story Display Windows: Edit > Preferences > Galley & Story Display Shows line numbers.
Notes can be viewed inline in the text.
The font shown here is not accurate to the final layout. It is set in the Galley & Story Appearance toolbar (see the instructions at the end of this reference).
Story View
Shows text visible in layout as well as overset text that cannot be seen in the layout.
Does NOT show accurate line breaks.
-
Can customize the font/size using the toolbar at the bottom of the screen and in:
Mac: InCopy > Preferences > Galley & Story Display Windows: Edit > Preferences > Galley & Story Display Notes can be viewed inline in the text.
The font shown here is not accurate to the final layout. It is set in the Galley & Story Appearance toolbar (see the instructions at the end of this reference).
Layout View
Shows actual page layout with fonts, pictures, colors, etc.
Shows visible text only. Overset text cannot be seen in this view.
Notes are viewed using the Notes panel (Window > Notes).
Type styling is what you would see in a final printed layout.
Setting the Default View
The default view is Story view, but if you’d like to change it:
Close all documents.
Go into the View menu and choose your preferred view (Galley View or Layout View).
The next time you open a document, it will open in that view.
The Galley & Story Appearance Toolbar
Located at the bottom left of the screen, the Galley & Story Appearance toolbar lets you change the font, size, line spacing, etc. used for the Galley and Story views.
It’s shown by default, but if you ever need to re-open this toolbar, go to Window > Galley & Story Appearance.