Master page items reside on the Default layer on layout pages. With regard to layers, master page items have the following characteristics:

• If you apply a master page to a layout page, the items on the master page will affect only the Default layer of that layout page.
• Items added to the master page are placed behind any items that have been added to the Default layer on a layout page.
• Master page items residing on the Default layer may be moved to another layer, but those items will no longer be master page items.