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Creating base layouts and base articles for the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio

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The AI Layout Automation feature in Studio makes the process of placing articles on a layout more efficient by analyzing the available space on the pages of a layout and providing suggestions on how and where the available articles and their images can best be placed to fill the pages.

The content that the Layout Automation feature needs is derived from layouts and articles that are referred to as 'base layouts' and 'base articles'.

The following base layouts are defined:

  • A base layout. This general layout is used for the following:
  1. As a foundation for all templates for all layouts used in production. It includes all components needed for the Layout Automation feature.
  2. As the layout from which to generate Article Shapes.
  • A base layout template. A layout template created from a base layout. When a new production layout is created on which articles are placed using the Layout Automation feature, it should be based on a template that is created from such a layout.
  • A structure base layout. This layout is used as a source for dividers in blueprints for which partitions have been set up (see Setting up blueprints for the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio). Each divider is stored in a dedicated article that only contains that divider. A single layout can be used per Brand to place these articles on.

The following base articles are defined:

  • A base article template. An article template containing the components for the Category that the article is assigned to (such as news or sports). New articles that are created for that Category should be based on that template.
  • A base article with a divider for partitioned blueprints. When articles are placed on a layout using a blueprint in which partitions have been defined, they often need to be visually separated from articles placed around them by a divider such as an empty space or a line. The process of adding dividers can be automated. For this purpose, dedicated articles need to be created, each containing a specific divider.

This article explains in detail how each type of base layout and base article should be created.

Base layouts

A base layout is a general layout used for the following:

  1. As a foundation for all templates for all layouts used in production. It includes all components needed for the Layout Automation feature.
  2. As the layout from which to generate Article Shapes.

Create a layout that has the following characteristics and components:

Notes:

  • Because the base layout is used to standardize the page settings and styles of the brand, it is recommended to have only one base layout per brand. Different article shapes can be constructed in the base layout for a specific category. This approach will ease maintaining the base layout.
  • To indicate that the layout is a base layout, use a naming convention such as: 'Base_[Brand]_[Category].indd'.
Object Remarks
Page settings

Standardize the following:

  • Page size
  • Margin
  • Baseline
  • Column and row values
  • Column gutter
Styles

(Optional but recommended to ensure consistent styling when content is placed)

Create the following styles:

  • Paragraph styles
  • Character styles
  • Object styles (with a paragraph style activated)
Dividers

(Optional, include only if your blueprint requires fixed elements outside of article content.)

Create dividers between placed articles.

Note: For dividers in a partitioned blueprint, see Base articles with a divider for partitioned blueprints below).

It is recommended to place these on a dedicated layer for each variation. Dedicated layouts will be generated based on these variations.

Example: A blueprint for placing two third stories, a secondary story, and an advertisement. Dividing lines between the articles are shown in red.

Examples of different blueprints
Article Shape frames

Create frames for Article Shapes.

Take note of the following:

  • A shape will always be a square or a rectangle (either vertical or horizontal). Other shapes such as L-shapes are not supported.
  • Many shapes will need to be created, so it will take many pages to place them on.
  • Use clear and consistent Element label names such as head, intro, body, caption, quote.

Note: Multiple frames using the same label within the same story are not supported.

  • Apply Object styles with paragraph styles activated to all text frames to ensure consistent styling when content is placed.
  • Frames should align with the blueprint grid column and row.

Note: All frames must be within the layout page. Frames on the pasteboard are not supported and are ignored.
Stories

All article frames belonging to the same story must be turned into a separate InDesign Article. This is done by tagging them. The name of InDesign Article should include the story type (lead, secondary, and so on). This is taken care of by the script that is used for tagging the frame.

For details, see 'Tagging article shapes' in Setting up and configuring the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio.
Genres

(Optional) When genres are used, the name of InDesign Article should also include the genre name.

For details, see 'Tagging article shapes' in Setting up and configuring the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio.
Specials

(This feature requires Studio 11.215 or higher)

Any article that should be treated as a special (such as a weekly column or a weather report) should already be placed on the layout. This can be an empty article or InDesign Article that is filled later, or the final article or InDesign Article.

In other words: any article that is already placed on a layout at the time the layout is opened in the Layout Automation dialog is treated as a special.
Fenders

Fenders are objects that keep reserved space (such as that for a divider between articles) clear from having articles placed on it.

For more information, see Creating fenders for the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio.

Base layout templates

When a new production layout is created on which articles are placed using the Layout Automation feature, it should be based on a template that is created from a base layout so that layouts are created that are consistently the same and contain all the basic characteristics and components for use in the Layout Automation feature.

Using a base layout, turn it into a layout template. Take note of the following:

  • Strip out any components from the template that do not apply to how the template is going to be used, such as pages and layers. The end result should be a layout with the required empty pages, but with the created styles.
  • The blueprint area should be empty; it should not have any placed frames (with the exception of placed articles that act as specials, see above). Placing frames is taken care of by the Layout Automation feature.
  • Fixed elements such as logos, folios, and recurring graphics can be included. These are not touched by the Layout Automation feature.
  • To indicate that the layout is a base layout template, use a naming convention such as: 'Base_template_[Brand]_[TemplateName]' where [Brand] is the Brand name and [TemplateName] is the name of the layout template.

Example: 'Base_template_BrandA_ProductPage'.

Structure base layouts

Structure base layouts hold dividers for use in a blueprint for which partitions have been set up (see Setting up blueprints for the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio).

These dividers are made available in the form of articles that only contain a divider (see Base articles with a divider for partitioned blueprints below).

The layout and the article to use is referenced in the Divider rule in the AILA Management Console in Studio Server.

Structure base layouts should be saved in the same Brand as the layouts on which the Layout Automation places articles. It does not matter in which Category, Section, or Status they are in, this is not checked. However, it is practical to create a dedicated category for house style objects for it so that they can be easily found and managed.

To indicate that the layout is a structure layout, use a naming convention such as: 'Structure_[Brand]_[LayoutName].indd'.

Base article templates

Create an article template that is representative for the Category that it is aimed for (such as News or Sports).

New articles that are created for that Category should be based on that template.

Base articles with a divider for partitioned blueprints

Info: This feature requires the AILA Studio Server plug-in 2.3.x or higher, in combination with Studio 11.225 or higher.

For fillers, specials, and advertisements, the defined area in a blueprint can be partitioned to give the Layout Automation service the freedom to fill it in different ways. For example:

  • By using one placement that takes up the full space.
  • By using two placements where one takes up 3/4 of the space, and the other one the remaining 1/4.
  • By using two placements that take up the space equally.

These placements could be only fillers, only specials, or only advertisements, or any combination of these three, depending on the selection made in the Blueprint editor for the partitioned area.

To visually separate fillers, specials, and advertisements from neighboring placements within the partition, a horizontal or vertical divider can be automatically added in the form of empty space and / or a line or graphic.

These dividers are made available in dedicated articles that are placed on a structure base layout and referenced in 'Divider rules' as part of the blueprint setup.

To create such an article, follow these steps:

Step 1. In InDesign on a dedicated structure base layout, create the divider. This can consist of a fender, a line or image, or a combination of a fender and a line or image.

Notes:

  • Add a fender when the design of the placements has no space for the divider. The fender then creates the required space.
  • Fenders are currently only supported for vertical dividers, not for horizontal ones.
  • It does not matter on which layer the article is placed; this is not checked by the Layout Automation.

Step 2. Turn the objects into an InDesign Article and give it a name that clearly states its purpose. It is referenced when defining a Divider rule.

Example: For an white space that is 6 millimeters wide: 'White w=6mm'.

Revisions

  • 1 September 2026: Renamed the article from 'Creating base layouts for the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio'.
  • 1 September 2026: Updated the introduction with references to base articles.
  • 1 September 2026: Re-written section 'Structure base layouts'.
  • 1 September 2026: Added section 'Base article templates'.
  • 1 September 2026: Added section 'Base articles with a divider for partitioned blueprints'.

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