Piano & Voice Layout Problems

Dorico
1

I’m using Dorico Elements 6. I cannot adjust the full score layout for piano & voice. I would like to have 3 systems on page 1. I have opened the Layout Options window but cannot figure out how to make the necessary adjustments. Is there a good tutorial about setting up layouts?

Send In The Clowns.dorico (1.9 MB)

2

To change just this frame just need to select an item on page one and an item on page two to include in your selection and perform the Make Into Frame function:

Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 11.17.39 am
Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 11.17.39 am1571×963 181 KB

You have made many manual staff spacing changes and so it will look odd to start with. Just reset the staff spacing.

Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 11.18.50 am
Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 11.18.50 am1566×1295 282 KB

Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 11.19.51 am
Screenshot 2026-04-25 at 11.19.51 am1094×1295 128 KB

3

If you want three systems on all pages then you need to adjust the Casting Off settings (in Layout Options):

4

Thanks for your reply.

5

I have followed your suggestions but still have not been able to move the first 3 bars at the top of page 2 into the space on page 1. Maybe that space is too small?

Send In The Clowns.dorico (1.9 MB)

6

If I remove all your frame/system breaks, reset things back to factory defaults (and hide the flow heading in layout options), everything fits at three systems per page…
Send In The Clowns-edit.dorico (1.6 MB)

(Also, I notice you have used 9 downstem voices! - if you rationalise these you will not get all those unnecessary rests in the piano LH.)

7

Thanks for adjusting the systems. How do I rationalize the downstem voices?

8

First view>notes and rest colours>voice colours, so you can what is where. Then make a broad selection and right-click>filter voices, then either use V (to cycle it through the other voices), or use right-click>voices>change voice… (to move it to a specific voice directly).

9

Thanks again. Obviously you are a “Pro” with Dorico. I will have a look at the Rationalization method, which seems to be an “Advanced” skill that you have used before. Wow!!

10

You can always avoid creating all those extra voices in the first place!

During note entry, you create a new voice using shift-V, but having created (say) two voices you move note entry between them just using V (no extra voices will be created).

11

I’m trying to condense this layout with 4 systems on page 2-4. Is that possible given the dimensions of the current Layout?

Send In The Clowns.dorico (1.9 MB)

12

Will this do?

Jesper

Send In The Clowns Edited.dorico (1.6 MB)

13

No, because first of all you have specified a fixed number of systems (3) per frame. And with size 3 it’s impossible to get 4 systems on one page. To accomplish that you have to reduce the size to size 6 which is reasonable for a vocal score in my opinion.

My suggestion: Remove all system and frame breaks, also all manual staff and note spacing. Further reduce the page and music frame margins slightly.

Send In The Clowns_Edit.dorico (1.9 MB)

Jesper was faster :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

14

Yes, but yours looks better. (but I removed page overrides)

Jesper

15

That’s great thanks.