Using InDesign

Getting Started | Working With Text | Working with Graphics | Exporting to PDF

Working with Text

Creating Text

Click and drag with Text tool to create a text box (also called a text frame). Then type, or copy and paste text from another application (such as Word).

Formatting Text

To change the formatting of text, first select the text, then change the values in the Character and Paragraph palettes. To display these palettes, choose Window menu > Type & Tables > Character and Window menu > Type & Tables > Paragraph.

Change character formatting such as font, size, and line spacing using the Character palette. To change paragraph attributes such as justification, indents, and spacing between paragraphs, use the Paragraph palette.

Moving and resizing text frames

Click on the Selection tool () in the Toolbox.

To resize text frame, click and drag the text frame handles with the Selection tool. To move the text frame, drag the edge of the frame with the Selection tool

Adding bullets to paragraphs

To add a bullet to a paragraph, click in the paragraph, then click on the paragraph palette menu button to open its palette menu. Choose Bullets and Numbering...

In the Bullets and Numbering dialog box, choose Bullets from the List Type dropdown menu, and enter values for the other options in the dialog box. Then click OK.

Working with Paragraph Styles

It is not necessary to use paragraph styles, but they can help you to ensure that the formatting of your text and headings is consistent throughout the poster.

To Create Paragraph Styles:

Format a paragraph the way you want.

Choose Window>Type & Tables > Paragraph Styles

Choose New Paragraph Style from the Paragraph Styles palette menu.

Enter a name for the style In the New Paragraph Style dialog box, and make any additional changes you want to the paragraph style.

Click OK.

To apply a style to a paragraph:

Click anywhere in the paragraph. Then click on the style name in the Paragraph Styles palette.