Adobe InDesign CS2
Adding Fill and Stroke to Objects
InDesign allows you to adjust the border of an object or fill objects with color. The border of an object is referred to as the Stroke within InDesign. For information on drawing objects, please refer to Drawing Objects with InDesign. This document explains how to add fill and stroke to objects.
Adding Stroke
Changing the stroke of an object is a simple way to add style to a document.
-
If the Stroke palette is not already displayed, from the Window menu, select Stroke
The Stroke palette appears.
NOTE: A palette is displayed if a checkmark appears next to its name.
-
Using the Selection Tool
, select the object you want to add the stroke to -
To adjust the thickness of the stroke, from the Stoke palette, in the weight text box, type the desired weight
OR
Using the nudge buttons, select the desired weight of the stroke -
To specify the location of the stroke relative to the object's edge, from the Align Stroke section, select Center
, Inside
, or Outside
-
From the Type pull-down list, select the desired Stroke type
NOTES:
If Dash is selected, a set of options appears to let you create custom gaps.
If you do not see the type of stroke you selected, increase the stroke's weight.
Adding Stroke Color
You can change the color of the stroke using the Swatches Palette or the Color Palette. After applying a color, you can change its opacity.
Adding Stroke Color: Swatches Palette
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If the Swatches palette is not already displayed, from the Window menu, select Swatches
The Swatches palette appears.
NOTE: A palette is displayed if a checkmark appears next to its name.
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From the Swatches palette, select a color
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Click and drag the swatch over the stroke you want to color
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Release the mouse button
The stroke changes to the color you selected from the Swatches palette.
Adding Stroke Color: Color Palette
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If the Color palette is not already displayed, from the Window menu, select Color
The Color palette appears.
NOTE: A palette is displayed if a checkmark appears next to its name.
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Select the object
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In the Color palette, select Stroke
-
Adjust the color parameters appropriately
OR
From the Color Spectrum, select the desired color
HINT: To select a different color mode (LAB, CMYK, or RGB), use the MENU button
Changing the Opacity of the Stroke
-
Using the Selection Tool
, select the object -
In the Color palette, select Stroke
-
If the Transparency palette is not already displayed, from the Window menu, select Transparency
The Transparency palette appears.
NOTE: A palette is displayed if a checkmark appears next to its name.
-
To set the opacity for the stroke, in the Opacity text box, type a value
OR
Click the Opacity arrow and drag the slider bar
Adding Fill
To add color to a document, you can fill the inside of objects with colors.
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If the Color palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Color
NOTE: A check mark appears next to Color when the Color palette is displayed. -
Using the Selection Tool
, select the shape you want to fill -
In the Color palette, select Fill
-
Adjust the color parameters appropriately by sampling the desired color from the Color Spectrum
OR
Move the sliders for each color until the desired Fill color is achieved
The object is filled with the selected color.
HINTS:
To select a different color mode (LAB, CMYK, or RGB), use the MENU button.
Preview the color in the selected object as you change the color parameters.
Removing Fill
-
If the Color palette is not displayed, from the Window menu, select Color
The Color palette appears.
NOTE: A check mark appears next to Color when the Color palette is displayed.
-
Using the Selection Tool
, select the object to remove fill from -
In the Color palette, select Fill
-
From the Color Spectrum, click NONE
