Adding Graphics to Table Cells in Adobe InDesign CC (2015 release)
You can use InDesign to create effective tables that combine text, photographs, and illustrations. By default, table cells are essentially small text frames, but you can convert a cell to a graphic cell. At that point, the cell essentially functions as a graphics frame whose dimensions are governed by the table. In this exercise, you will add photos to some of the course descriptions.
Converting cells to graphic cells
First, you will convert a selected cell to a graphic cell using the Table menu and the Table panel. Later, you will see how to automatically convert a cell to a graphic cell by placing an image.
Select the Type tool (
) and click inside the far-right cell of the table’s first body row (the row describing Art 102: Public Art Appreciation).- With the cell selected, choose Table > Convert Cell to Graphic Cell.
With the converted cell still selected, choose Table > Cell Options > Graphic to see the options for positioning a graphic within a cell.
- After viewing the options in the Graphic tab of the Cell Options dialog box, click Cancel.
- Double-click inside the far right cell in the third body row (the row describing Baking 101: Pies and Cakes).
- Choose Window > Type & Tables > Table to display the Table panel.
Choose Convert Cell to Graphic Cell from the Table panel menu.
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Placing images in graphic cells
Now, you will place images in the two cells converted to graphic cells. You will then automatically convert two text cells to graphic cells as you place images.
- Using the Selection tool (
), click inside the new graphic cell in the Art 102: Public Art Appreciation row. - Choose File > Place. In the Place dialog box, locate the StreetArt.jpg file in the Lesson12 folder.
Select the StreetArt.jpg file and click Open.
- Click inside the new graphic cell in the Baking 101: Pies and Cakes row.
- Choose File > Place. In the Place dialog box, locate the Bake.jpg file in the Lesson12 folder.
- Select the Bake.jpg file and click Open.
- Double-click the far-right cell in the Fashion 101: Design and Sewing row.
- Choose File > Place. In the Place dialog box, locate and select the Fashion.jpg file. Then, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) the Kite.jpg file to load the pointer with both the Fashion.jpg and Kite.jpg files.
- Click the loaded pointer in the last cell of the Fashion 101: Design and Sewing row.
- Click the loaded pointer in the last cell of the Recreation 101: Planning Summer Camp row.
Choose View > Screen Mode > Preview to see the final page.
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