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This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

InDesign CC: Visual QuickStart GuideInDesign CC: Visual QuickStart Guide

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This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

InDesign CC: Visual QuickStart GuideInDesign CC: Visual QuickStart Guide

Learn More Buy

Creating Basic Shapes

You use the rectangle, ellipse, and polygon frame tools to create graphic frames into which you place images.

TIP

If another tool is visible, press the corner triangle to reveal the toolset.

To create a rectangular graphic frame

  1. Click the Rectangle Frame tool in the Tools panel blue-b.jpg.

    083fig01.jpg

    blue-b.jpg The Rectangle Frame tool in the Tools panel creates rectangular graphic frames.

  2. Drag across the page to create the rectangle.

    TIP

    Hold the Opt/Alt key to draw the object from the center.

  3. Release the mouse button when the rectangle is the correct size.

    TIP

    Hold the Shift key to constrain the rectangle into a square.

To create an elliptical graphic frame

  1. Click the Ellipse Frame tool in the Tools panel blue-c.jpg.

    083fig02.jpg

    blue-c.jpg The Ellipse Frame tool in the Tools panel creates elliptical graphic frames.

  2. Drag across the page to create the ellipse.

    TIP

    Hold the Opt/Alt key to draw the object from the center.

  3. Release the mouse button when the ellipse is the correct size.

    TIP

    Hold the Shift key to constrain the ellipse into a circle.

You can also create rectangles and ellipses by specifying their size numerically.

Using the Transformation Values?

You may notice that a label appears when you drag or create objects that contains feedback as to the position, size, or angle of the object. This is the Transformation Values cursor.

083fig04.jpg

Rather than clutter the illustrations in this chapter, I’ve turned off the Transformation Values.

But you should get in the habit of using those labels to work more precisely.

To create objects numerically

  1. Click with either the Rectangle or Ellipse Frame tools. A dialog box appears blue-d.jpg.

    083fig03.jpg

    blue-d.jpg The Ellipse and Rectangle dialog boxes let you create frames with precise width and height.

  2. Enter the width and height amounts.
  3. Click OK. The frame appears where the mouse was clicked.

To create a polygon graphic frame

  1. Choose the Polygon Frame tool in the Tools panel blue-a.jpg.

    084fig01.jpg

    blue-a.jpg Use the Polygon Frame tool to create polygon and star graphic frames.

  2. Click on the page. This opens the Polygon dialog box blue-b.jpg.

    084fig02.jpg

    Click to view larger image

    blue-b.jpg The Polygon Settings dialog box creates either polygons or stars.

  3. Enter a number in the field for the Number of Sides to the polygon.
  4. To create a star, change the amount in the Star Inset field from 0% to a higher number.
  5. Click OK. The polygon is created.

TIP

Hold the Opt/Alt key to draw the object from the center.

TIP

Hold the Shift key to constrain the width and height of the object to the same amount.

TIP

You can also drag across the page to create the polygon or star.

The Line tool lets you draw a straight line.

To create straight lines

  1. Click the Line tool in the Tools panel blue-c.jpg.

    084fig03.jpg

    blue-c.jpg The Line tool in the Tools panel creates straight lines.

  2. Position the cursor where you want the line to start.

    TIP

    Hold the Opt/Alt key to draw the line from its centerpoint.

  3. Drag to create a line.

TIP

Hold the Shift key to constrain the line to 45-degree angles.

Converting Shapes

So what if you’ve created a circle and later on realize you need a rectangle? What do you do?

Simple, you can use the Pathfinder Convert Shape commands to change an object from one shape to another. (See Chapter 7, “Points and Paths,” for more information on the Pathfinder commands.)

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