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Adobe InDesign CS2

The InDesign Toolbox

The InDesign Toolbox contains all of the selection, drawing, and viewing tools for creating and manipulating text and objects. This document will familiarize you with the tools in the Toolbox.

return to topDisplaying the Toolbox

To maximize your work space, you can toggle between a hidden and visible Toolbox.

  1. From the Window menu, select Tools
     NOTE: A check mark will appear next to Tools when the Toolbox is displayed.
 Tools Box

return to topAccessing Hidden Tools

Many tools are hidden beneath others on the Toolbox. Any button displaying a small arrow in the bottom right corner contains hidden tools.

  1. To access hidden tools, click and hold the mouse button over a tool
    The button's hidden tools menu appears.
    Hidden Tools

  2. Select the tool you want to use
    The selected tool becomes the active tool and is displayed in the Toolbox.

return to topInDesign Toolbox

This table describes each available tool and its function.

Tool

 Function Description
Adobe Online Button Adobe Online Opens the Adobe InDesign CS2 website.
Selection Tool Selection Tool Selects lines, shapes, graphics, and text boxes. Selected objects can be moved, resized, and have their attributes changed.
NOTE: To resize objects proportionally, press and hold [Shift].
Direct Selection Tool Direct Selection Tool Selects objects within objects, such as individual points on a path and objects inside groups or inside other objects.
Pen Tool Pen Tool Creates precise, smooth lines using anchor points.
Add Anchor Point Tool Add Anchor Point Tool Adds anchor points to an existing pen selection.
Delect Anchor Point Tool Delete Anchor Point Tool Deletes anchor points from an existing pen selection.
Convert Direction Point Tool Convert Direction Point Tool Toggles the direction point on an existing pen selection (corner point or curve point).
Type Tool Type Tool Selects text or designates insertion point for adding text.
Type on a Path Tool Type on a Path Tool Enters and edits text on a path.
Pencil Tool Pencil Tool Draws hard-edged freehand strokes on an image.
Smooth Tool Smooth Tool Progressively smoothes a path with each pass.
Erase Tool Erase Tool Erases line segments and points.
Line Tool Line Tool Creates straight lines.
Rectangle Frame Tool Rectangle Frame Tool Creates an empty rectangular placeholder.
Ellipse Frame Tool Ellipse Frame Tool Creates an empty elliptical placeholder.
Polygon Frame Tool Polygon Frame Tool Creates an empty polygonal placeholder.
Rectangle Tool Rectangle Tool Draws a rectangle.
Ellipse Tool Ellipse Tool Draws an ellipse.
HINT: Hold the [Shift] key while drawing an ellipse to draw a circle.
Polygon Tool Polygon Tool Draws a polygon.
Rotate Tool Rotate Tool Rotates objects to the specified angle.
Scale Tool Scale Tool Resizes an object.
Shear Tool Shear Tool Skews an object.
Free Transform Tool Free Transform Tool Allows you to drag an object to alter its scale, rotation, and location.
Eyedropper Tool Eyedropper Tool Samples formatting attributes from one area and allows you to apply them to another.
Measure Tool Measure Tool Calculates the distance between any two points in the work area.
Gradient Tool Gradient Tool Applies or changes the gradient (a gradual transition between two colors).
Button Tool Button Tool Creates buttons.
Scissors Tool Scissors Tool Cuts paths or points.
Hand Tool Hand Tool (Panning) Repositions a page on-screen for optimal view.
Zoom Tool Zoom Tool Magnifies or reduces the area of the page on-screen.
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