Fitbaseline is a calculator that distributes the baseline grid over your document height:
Fitbaseline will evenly distribute the baseline over the document by adding or subtracting a small amount of space to approach your desired baseline as close as possible. Before the age of printing, scribes calculated a baseline that fitted the page perfectly.
This animation gives an impression of the concept:
Fitbaseline for Adobe InDesign is a script that automatically calculates and applies a fitted baseline based on your desired baseline.
In addition, Fitbaseline can synchronize your document grid to the newly calculated baseline. This means that it aligns the vertical grid to your baseline and distributes the horizontal grid over your document’s width, based on either the same interval (a square ratio), the golden ratio, or the ratio of your document.
Ultimately, Fitbaseline can snap your margins to the new grid.
We have tested the script extensively in Adobe InDesign CC on Mac, but it should work in Adobe InDesign CS4 or higher on both Mac and PC.
Fitbaseline for Adobe InDesign is € 10,00 excl. VAT.
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In Adobe InDesign, open the Scripts panel. This panel can be accessed by opening the Window menu and choosing Utilities → Scripts. In Adobe InDesign CS4, Utilities is called Automation.
In this panel you will see two folders: application and user. Right-click on one of the folders and choose Reveal in Finder (Mac) or Reveal in Explorer (PC). You should now be in the scripts folder.
Extract the contents of the Fitbaseline.zip into this folder and restart InDesign. Fitbaseline should now be available to you by choosing Fitbaseline from the Layout menu.
Why should I use Fitbaseline?
Using a grid that fits your document precisely provides order and clarity to your design’s process and outcome.
How can I access Fitbaseline?
After installing Fitbaseline, you can access its functionality via Layout → Fitbaseline
Why don’t I see the baseline grid?
Make sure you enabled your baseline grid by choosing View → Grids & Guides → Show/Hide Baseline Grid. If this is enabled and you still don’t see a baseline grid, make sure you’re viewing the document on a zoom level of 75% or closer.
Why don't I see the document grid?
Make sure you enabled your document grid by choosing View → Grids & Guides → Show/Hide Document Grid.
Why does my document grid have so many guides?
Document grids have a default setting of 8 subdivisions. You can change the amount of subdivisions in Preferences → Grids. Personally, we often disable them by setting their amount to 1.
Can I get a refund?
No. All sales are final.
Am I entitled to support?
No. But if you have a problem, shoot us an e-mail and maybe we can help you out.
Concept and design by Theo van Beurden & Bauke van der Laan