Hi there!
In this video we’ll be talking about borders and shading in InDesign, so let’s get started.
We’re going to start with inserting a border, and for that, you can just place your cursor
anywhere in the paragraph you’d like to add a border to.
Now go to the top right corner of the toolbar above, and click the burger menu, and select
‘paragraph borders and shading’ option.
You’ll find two tabs on top, so since we’re interested in inserting a border, ensure that
you are on that tab.
Also check the preview box, and then the border box, to activate the settings.
From the type dropdown, you can select the style of the border you’d like added to
your paragraph.
I’m going to let it remain to the default setting.
Let’s update the color of our choice.
Let’s also increase the offset, cuz at this point it’s too close to our text.
You can even select the corner size and shape to style the border, so let’s first unlink
it, because I don’t want to style all four sides.
Now focus on the top right corner of the border.
First I’m going to choose a style, so let’s pick ‘inverse rounded’ from here.
Since the border has come very close to my text, let’s increase the offset, a notch,
and then hit okay.
So that’s how you can play with the settings, and add borders, and style them as per your
requirement.
Another thing you can do with this is add it to a paragraph style, so let’s select
the text within the border, and go to window, and then styles, and select paragraph styles.
Click the small plus button at the bottom of the paragraph styles panel to create a
new style, and then double-click, and rename it ‘1st paragraph.’
Also, from the ‘based on’ dropdown, select ‘no paragraph style’, as we are not basing
it on any preset style, and hit okay.
Now the best part about this is, I can apply the same border without even going to the
‘borders and shading’ option.
All I need to do is place the cursor anywhere in the paragraph I’d like this border added,
and then click the paragraph style we created, and voila, the border is added with the same
settings.
Alright!
Let’s move to another page, and we’re going to try shading this time, so place the
cursor anywhere in the paragraph, and head to the same burger menu on the top right corner
of the toolbar above, and select ‘paragraph borders and shading’ option.
This time let’s move to the ‘shading’ tab.
Now pick a shading color of choice.
If the color is too dark, you can lower the opacity from the tint option, so let’s lower
it to 50%.
Much like earlier, increase the offset a bit, so that the shading is not too close to the
edge of the text.
Let’s unlink the corner size and shape, as we have room only at the bottom right corner
of the shading.
Actually let’s move the menu to the left.
You see that space, that’s where we’ll add a shading style, so let’s pick one from
the dropdown here.
Perfect!
Now to drag the corner inward, let’s increase the size of the corner, and it shall move
inward, and that’s how our paragraph looks after styling the corner, so let’s hit okay.
Now let’s move to another page.
This time we’ll try a different sort of creativity with shading, so let’s place
our cursor in the first paragraph here, and go to the paragraph borders and shading option.
Let’s switch to shading tab.
Let’s pick a different color this time, and also lower the opacity to 50%.
Also increase the overall offset, just a tiny bit.
Now what we’re planning to do is push the shading towards the left, in such a way that
it doesn’t cover the text at all, so let’s unlink the offset settings.
Now instead of increasing the offset, let’s decrease the offset of the right side of the
shading, so as to have it touch the extreme left.
Now let’s increase the left offset, a notch to make the rectangle wider.
Now that the rectangle is wide enough, let’s push it a little further to the left, so that
it doesn’t touch the text.
I think this much is good enough, so hit okay.
Now the best part about this is, when you add text to the first paragraph, and it jumps
to the next line, the rectangle will also jump with it to maintain the design.
So let me copy the second paragraph, and then paste it at the end of the first paragraph,
and there you go, the text jumps, and so does the stylized rectangle.
Now let’s try one last creativity with our shading here.
Let’s move to another page, and place the cursor anywhere in the first paragraph, and
then go to paragraph borders and shading option.
Let’s switch to the shading tab, and select a color of choice.
Let’s reduce the opacity to 70%, and then increase the overall offset, just a tiny bit.
Now unlink the offset option, and increase the left offset all the way to the edge of
the page, and then hit okay.
Alternatively, you can increase the right offset as well, to touch the spine, should
you want to.
I’m going to let it as it is.
To view it in the preview mode, hit ‘W’, and that’s how this shading style is going
to look, once printed.
Alright guys!
That brings us to the close of this session, and I shall see you in the next one momentarily.
Good bye!