Frames

A Frame is a rectangular container for empty space, text or pictures in the score. It can be one of three types:

• Horizontal: Used to create a break in a particular system. Can contain one or more text objects and/or images.
• Vertical: Inserted above a system or appended to the last system. Can contain one or more text objects and/or images.
• Text: Inserted above a system or appended to the last system. Can contain one text object only.

Horizontal frame

A horizontal frame is used to create a break in a system. For example, you can:

• Create a coda, with an adjustable gap separating it from the rest of the score (as in the example below).
  
• Create an offset at the beginning of the score, where there is no staff name to perform the same function.
• Create an adjustable right margin at the end of a system.
• Create space for some text or image(s).
• Create a space between a 'historical incipit' and the beginning of the modern edition.

Insert/append horizontal frame

See Create a Frame (below).

Adjust width of horizontal frame

Use one of the following methods:

• Click (double-click prior to version 3.4) the frame and drag the handle to the right or left.
• Select the frame and adjust "Width" in the Inspector.

Add text or image to horizontal frame

• To add text: Right-click on the frame and select Add → Text.

• To add an image: Right-click on the frame and select Add → Picture.

Vertical frame

A vertical frame can be inserted above a system or appended to the last system. It can contain one or more text objects and/or images. The height is adjustable and the width equals the system width.

It can be used, for example, to:

• Create an area at the head of a score for Title/Subtitle/Composer/Lyricist text etc. (see below).
• Create a title page (see below).
• Add single- or multi-column lyric text (at the end of a score).
• Create subtitles and other annotations between systems.

Insert/append vertical frame

See Create a Frame (below).

Adjust height of vertical frame

Use one of the following methods:

• Click (double-click prior to version 3.4) the frame and drag the handle up or down.
• Select the frame and adjust "Height" in the Inspector.

Edit vertical frame properties

Selecting the frame allows you to adjust various parameters in the Inspector:

Top Gap: Adjusts distance between frame and element above.
Bottom Gap: Adjusts distance between frame and element below.
Height: Adjusts height of the frame.
Left Margin: Moves left-aligned text objects to the right.
Right Margin: Moves right-aligned text objects to the left.
Top margin: Moves top-aligned text objects downwards (see also Format → Style... → Page).
Bottom Margin: Moves bottom-aligned text objects upwards (see also Format → Style... → Page).

Add text or image to vertical frame

• To add text: Right-click on the frame, select Add, and choose one of the text options.

• To add an image: Right-click on the frame and select Add → Picture.

You can create as many objects as you like within a frame. Their positions can be adjusted independently by dragging or, more accurately, by altering the offset values in the Inspector. To format text objects, see Text editing and Text styles and properties.

Insert horizontal frame in vertical frame

• Right-click on the frame and select Add → Insert Horizontal Frame.

The horizontal frame is automatically left-aligned and fills the entire vertical frame. To right-align it:

1. Reduce the width of the horizontal frame.
2. Deselect the frame then drag it to the right. To restore left-alignment, drag the frame to the left.

"Title" frame

A vertical frame is automatically created at the beginning of a score, showing the title, subtitle, composer, lyricist etc., when you fill in the information fields provided on page 1 of the New Score Wizard.

If the score does not have a vertical frame at the beginning, you can create one as follows:

1. From the menu, select Add → Text → Title/Subtitle/Composer/Lyricist;
2. Type the desired text;
3. Press Esc, or click on an empty space, to exit.

Text frame

A Text frame looks like a vertical frame, but is specialized for text input: one text object is allowed per frame. The height automatically expands to fit the content and there is no height adjustment handle.

A text frame can be used, for example, to:

• Create lyric text at the end of a score.
• Create subtitles and other annotations between systems.
• Create and insert an empty [blank] page anywhere in the score, including at the beginning.

Insert/ append text frame

See Create a Frame (below).

Edit text frame properties

Selecting the frame allows you to adjust various parameters in the Inspector:

Top Gap: Adjusts distance between frame and element above.
Bottom Gap: Adjusts distance between frame and element below.
Height: Not applicable to text frames.
Left Margin: Moves left-aligned text objects to the right.
Right Margin: Moves right-aligned text objects to the left.
Top margin: Moves top-aligned text objects downwards.
Bottom Margin: Moves bottom-aligned text upwards.

Create a frame

Insert a frame into the score

From the menu:

1. Select a measure;
2. From the menu select Add → Frames → Insert Horizontal/Vertical/Text Frame.

From a measure:

1. Right-click on a measure;
2. Select Add → Insert Horizontal/Vertical/Text Frame.

From a palette:

See Apply symbols from a palette.

Append a frame to the score

• From the menu select Add → Frames → Append Horizontal/Vertical/Text Frame.

Delete a frame

Use one of the following:

• Select the frame boundary and press Del.
• Select the frame boundary, then right-click on the frame and select Delete.

Apply a break

System, page or section breaks can be applied to frames as well as measures. Use one of two methods:

• Select a frame and click (double-click prior to version 3.4) a palette break symbol (for example, in the Breaks & Spacers palette).
• Drag a break symbol from a palette onto a frame.

See also

• Text Properties: to put a visual frame (border) around text.
• Insert measures: to insert measures before a frame.

External links

• How to add a block of text to a score (MuseScore HowTo)
• How to create a blank or title page at the beginning of a score
• Page Formatting in MuseScore 1.1 - 1. Frames, Text & Line Breaks [video]