TOOLS

There are only a few tools here that you aren’t already familiar with. Unfortunately, how they work, in some cases, is a bit obtuse. Wherever there is a little triangle below a tool, click and hold to access other, related tools.

Selection tool (solid arrow): used to move objects, and to resize text and image frames. It’s also used to link one text frame to another.

Direct Selection tool (hollow arrow): used to adjust shapes and to size and position images within a picture frame.

Pen tool: creates lines and shapes exactly as it does in Illustrator. Behind the pen tool are the add, delete and convert point tools.

Text tool: you must select this in order to type anything. Click and drag to create a bounding box that defines the size of the text block. Or, click inside a text frame to type.

Pencil tools: draw free form lines, smooth and erase them with these tools.

Line tool: click and drag to draw lines in any direction. Use the stroke palette to specify weight, stroke type (solid, dashed, dotted, etc.), and to add graphics to either end (like arrowheads).

Frames: create text and/or picture boxes with these; InDesign doesn’t differentiate between content the way XPress does.

Shape tools: create rectangles, ellipses, and polygons. Use the various palettes to assign stroke and fill attributes. You can place text or images in shapes: remember to offset your text from the edges using Object -> text frame options (command B).

Rotate tool: select an object and rotate it with this. You can also use the transform palette to rotate elements.

Scale tool: this scales objects, as well as the contents of frames, including text! Very scary. You can use the control palette to scale objects and contents separately.

Skew tool: slant and skew objects as well as the contents of frames, including text. Use the transform palette to adjust objects and contents individually.

Free Transform tool: use this tool to modify the shapes of things one control point at a time. Again, you can distort both images and text with this tool.

Eyedropper: option click to pick up a color from an image, then click on an object to apply the color. This is a great way to select and apply a color from a photo to type!

Gradient tool: click and drag within an object that has a gradient fill to adjust the   distance and direction of the colors.

Scissors: click on the edge of an object or line to split it into separate pieces. Use the hollow arrow to move points or parts.

Handguy: use the space bar to scroll around your document. If the text tool is active, you can use the option key. Very interesting!

Zoom tool: there are a lot of faster ways to zoom in and out. Use space bar and command, or select a zoom percentage from the bottom left of the document window. Command + and command - also work.

Colors: click on the fill or stroke icon to specify a color. Use the arrows at the top right to switch fill and stroke colors. Use the fill boxes to apply recently used colors to selected objects.