InDesign Part 2: Custom Shapes

1. InDesign
Practice #2

2. Create a Document:
Create an A4 sized
new document.
When the new
document panel
opens, select “page
size: A4” from the
dropdown menu.
Make the “bleed” 3 on
all sides.

3. Fancy Frames
Draw a circular
frame on your
document using
the “Ellipse Frame
Tool”

4. Fancy Frames
Select “File” from the
top menus and then
select “Place” from
the dropdown options.
Pick any image bigger
than 1MB to place in
your circle frame.
Note: you need to make sure you
have the frame selected before
you can place an image inside!

5. Fancy Frames
Hold your cursor over
the image until you
see a circle appear in
the center.
Click and drag on the
circle. You
should be
able to move
your image
within the
frame.

6. Fancy Frames
Use the “Fitting”
options and your
ability to move the
image around inside
the frame to place the
image where you
want it.

7. Fancy Frames
Make your image
transparent by using
the opacity slider on
the top toolbar.
Opacity Slider

8. Fancy Frames
Right click your
image and select
“Effects”
Now select “Drop
Shadow.”

9. Fancy Frames
Make the drop shadow bigger by increasing the size.

10. Fancy Frames
Click “Ok” to close the
effects box.
Check out how your
drop shadow looks…

11. Fancy Frames
Experiment with other effects to see how they work.
Remember, click the “W” key to view your
document in preview mode.

12. Fancy Frames
Rotate your image by
selecting the frame
and hovering your
cursor over one of the
corners until you see
a curved arrow icon.
Drag your image to
the left or right.

13. Custom Shapes
Select the “Pen” tool.
Click on your
document to draw the
first corner point of
your shape. Click
somewhere else to
draw a line…

14. Custom Shapes
Close your shape by
selecting your first
point again.

15. Custom Shapes
With your new shape
selected, click on
“File” and “Place.”
Select an image to put
inside your shape.
Use the “Fitting”
options to position
your image.

16. Custom Shapes
Select the “Pen” tool
again, and click on the
lines of your shape.
This allows you to add
“anchor points” on the
custom frame which
you can drag to create
curves.

17. Custom Shapes
Woohoo! Look at your
new curvy shape!

18. Custom Shapes
Experiment by
creating different
shapes.

19. Custom Shapes
Now, try using the
“Pencil” tool.
This allows you to
draw a freehand
shape.

20. Custom Shapes
Now, try using the
“Pencil” tool.
This allows you to
draw a freehand
shape.
Good luck!

21. Duplicating
To make an exact
copy of a shape,
select the shape, then
click and hold on the
shape. As you hold,
push the “option” key,
and drag away from
your shape.

22. Duplicating
Magic!