- Getting started
- Adding graphics from other programs
- Comparing vector and bitmap graphics
- Managing links to imported files
- Updating revised graphics
- Adjusting display quality
- Importing and sizing graphics
- Editing placed pictures
- Working with dropped backgrounds
- Importing native Adobe graphic files
- Using subject-aware text wrap
- Filling type with a graphic
- Using an InDesign library to manage objects
- Exploring on your own
- Review questions
- Review answers
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Filling type with a graphic
A striking design element is to fill a headline or just one accent letter with a graphic, such as photograph or vector art. Next, you’ll learn this technique.
Navigate to page 2. Select the Type tool (
) in the Tools panel or press the T key. In the Layers panel, select the Graphics layer.Draw a large text frame just to the left of the Flower-Title graphic (mostly in the pasteboard) and type a capital letter A. Then press the Esc key.
Using the Character, Control, or Properties panel, choose Myriad Pro for the font and Bold for the style. Enter 150 for Font Size. If you see a plus sign in the lower right of the frame after you change the font size, drag the frame handles to make the text frame large enough to contain the large letter.
Press Esc so that the text frame is selected, and then choose Type > Create Outlines. InDesign changes the font to a vector graphic. Letters like this capital A become compound paths where you can see the background image through the triangle that forms the inner part of the letter.
Set Fill Color (
) to [None] in the Swatches, Control, or Properties panel.Choose File > Place. In the lower left of the Place dialog box, deselect Show Import Options. Select the file Blue-Hydrangea.psd, and double-click to place the image. The letter is filled with the image, excluding the cutout of the triangle in the center of the letter.
Hover your pointer over the letter frame and click the content grabber.
In the Control or Properties panel, set the reference point to the top center (
) position, set the scale to 200% by using the menu or by typing in the value, and then click the Flip Horizontal button (
).Click the content grabber again and drag the image to position it within the letter as you wish.
Move your pointer away from the content grabber and drag the frame to the right and above the red Flower-Title graphic. Then choose Object > Arrange > Send To Back.
Notice that the letter graphic moves behind the garland graphic but that it’s still in front of the background image. This is because the Arrange commands move objects within a layer and not between layers. The image behind the letter graphic is on a different layer (Background photos) that is under (behind) the Graphics layer.
Choose Edit > Deselect All, and then choose File > Save.
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