Text Wrap

  • Insert an image over text
  • Go  to the window menu, Click on text warp (Ctrl + Alt + W)
  • Select the required option from text warp panel
    •        No text warp
    •        Warp around the bounding box
    •        Warp around object shape
    •        Jump object
    •        Jump to next column
  • Select the third option to wrap the text around the object. It is better if the imported image has some transparency or alpha channel applied to it.
  • In the Contour Options type, select either Alpha Channel or Detect Edges to wrap the text around the image.

Anchoring Objects

Anchored objects tell InDesign to keep the positioning of the object while moving the other objects around it. To do this, first, we must anchor the object.

  • Select the object and cut it (Ctrl + X)
  • Then use the Text tool
  • Place the cursor in the required position of the cut object
  • Paste the object (Ctrl +V)
  • You will notice that the object is now placed on top of the text.

To restore it back to its original place,

  • Select the object
  • Go to the Control Panel and select the Leading value to Auto as shown. This will allocate as much area as required by the object.
  • You will see the object being properly inserted. If you change the text above or below the object, the object also flows along with the text as it is now anchored or in-line with the text.

 To place on the required place

  • Select the object with a selection tool
  • Press Alt key and click on Anchor symbol of a selected object
  • Anchored object options dialog box appears
  • Change position to custom, now you can place an image as your required place

Duplication

There are many ways to duplicate objects in InDesign but the simplest way is to press Alt and drag the object to create a duplicate. You will notice that the object is duplicated in exactly the same proportions as the original.

  • Go to the Edit menu
  • Select Duplicate to duplicate the object with the same offsets.
  • Hold down Shift+Alt and drag the object to duplicate with the same alignment as the original.

Rotation

It is very easy to rotate an object within InDesign. You can either use the Rotate tool on the toolbar or use the rotate option in the Control Panel. The rotate options allow you to also specify the precise angle of rotation and also the axis of the rotation. The preset rotate options in the Control Panel allow you to rotate the object at 90° angles.

You also flip the images vertically or horizontally using the Flip Horizontal and Flip Vertical icons below the rotate icons.

  • Select object
  • Go to the object menu
  • Click on transform
  • Click on rotation
  • Transform Again (Ctrl + Alt +4)

Scaling

There are many ways to scale objects in InDesign. You can use either the Free Transform tool or the Selection tool from the toolbar.

Click the Free Transform tool and select the edge of the object and drag it to scale to the desired size. You can hold down the Shift key while dragging to constrain the proportions.

You can also use the Selection tool for the same effect. However, for proper scaling, you have to press Shift+Ctrl to scale proportionally.

Skew

It is easy to skew the image or object to the precise required value. A straightforward way is to use the Shear X Angle command in the Control Panel and enter a desired skew angle.

You can also use the Shear tool in the toolbar to skew an object. Select the Shear tool and click within the object to set a reference point. Then simply turn the object till you get the desired skew angle.

Mirroring or Flipping

Select the image or object to flip and click the Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical in the Control Panel.

It is important to pay attention to the reference point at the far left of the Control Panel to ensure that the image does not go off the document.

You can also flip using Alt and clicking either the Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical button in the Control Panel. This makes a duplicate of the image while flipping.

  • Select an object using a selection tool
  • Select Rotate/scale/shear tool from toolbar
  • Set reference point at the required position from where you want to flip the object
  • Press Alt key from keyboard and clicking either the Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical button in the Control Panel