If you’ve just installed Adobe InCopy, your first impression might be that it looks a lot like Microsoft Word — but it’s much smarter under the hood. InCopy is designed not just for writing but for collaborating with designers and managing stories inside professional publishing workflows.
This guide walks you through the InCopy interface, introduces its three editing views, and explains how each one fits into a real editorial project.
🖥️ The InCopy Interface at a Glance
When you launch InCopy, you’ll notice that the layout feels familiar — menus on top, toolbars below, and panels to the right.
But every element in this interface is built to keep text, layout, and workflow perfectly in sync.
Here’s what you’ll find:
🔹 Menu Bar
At the top — your central control hub for commands like File, Edit, Type, View, Window, and Help.
🔹 Toolbars and Controls
The Control panel just below the menu bar changes depending on what you’re editing — text, tables, or assignments. It’s where you adjust font, size, alignment, spacing, and color.
🔹 Panels
On the right-hand side, you’ll find the Assignments, Styles, and Notes panels — the backbone of your InCopy workflow.
You can open or close panels under Window > [Panel Name].
🔹 Status Bar and Info
At the bottom, the Story Info bar provides character counts, copyfit indicators, and status updates (like who has a story checked out).
đź‘“ The Three InCopy Views Explained
Unlike most text editors, InCopy gives you three different ways to view your story — each suited for a specific task.
1. Story View
A pure text environment that hides layout distractions.
- Ideal for writing and editing.
- Displays line numbers, style tags, and tracked changes.
- Helps editors focus entirely on content without layout interference.
💡 Pro tip: Turn on “Show Hidden Characters” to catch extra spaces and paragraph breaks.
2. Galley View
Galley View looks similar to Story View but adds copyfit information — showing how much space your text will take up in the InDesign layout.
- Displays overset text warnings (when the copy is too long).
- Shows exact line endings and column breaks.
- Perfect for tightening or expanding text during final edits.
It’s the preferred mode for production editors balancing word count and design.
3. Layout View
Layout View mirrors how your story fits into the actual InDesign layout — complete with columns, images, and text frames.
- Great for contextual proofreading and checking flow.
- You can preview the design and see how your changes affect composition.
- Some design elements are locked (so you don’t accidentally move them).
Layout View bridges the gap between text and design — showing how the final publication will really look.
🔄 Switching Between Views
You can switch views quickly from the bottom-left of your document window or via:
View → Story/Galley/Layout
Each view remembers its own zoom and display settings, so you can jump between them smoothly during editing.
⚙️ Customizing Your Workspace
Every editor works differently — and InCopy lets you personalize your setup:
- Window → Workspace → Advanced Editing gives you a professional starting point.
- Drag and dock panels wherever you like.
- Save your layout via Window → Workspace → New Workspace.
A clean and familiar workspace improves focus and reduces errors.
🧩 Why Understanding the Views Matters
The three-view system is one of InCopy’s biggest strengths.
Instead of choosing between text-first or layout-first editing, you can do both — switching seamlessly based on your role or task.
This flexibility is what makes InCopy a true editorial powerhouse in the Adobe ecosystem.
đź’° Try Adobe InCopy for Free
Ready to explore InCopy’s interface yourself?
Get a 7-day free trial through Adobe Creative Cloud and experience professional editing tools built for teamwork.
👉 Start your free trial of Adobe InCopy here
✏️ Final Thought
The more you understand InCopy’s workspace, the more efficient you become. With just a few minutes of setup and exploration, you’ll discover how its views, panels, and controls fit perfectly into a modern editorial workflow.
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