Frames in InDesign

In InDesign, a frame is the box that something goes in. Frames and paths are very similar, except a path is a bit more versatile. Frames have a few properties:

• Stroke
• Contents: (one of the following)
• Graphic: (one of the following)
• Picture
• Solid Color
• Gradient
• Transparent
• Text
• Unassigned

Yes, that's right. A frame can have either a picture, text, or nothing inside of it. And you're thinking, "That makes it pretty versatile, doesn't it?" And it surely does. In fact, the frame is the basis of almost every object in InDesign. The text tool, the rectangle tool, the elipse tool, placing a picture - they're all frames. They just have different properties. For example...

• The text tool creates a frame with the content set to "text".
• The rectangle tool creates a frame with the content set to "unassigned".
• The ellipse tool creates a frame with the content set to "unassigned" and with the primary path smoothened symmetrically.
• Placing text gives you a frame with the content set to "text" and with your text inside.
• Placing a picture gives you a frame with the content set to "graphic" with your picture inside.

Knowing this, you can infer that almost any object can be transformed into almost any object just by changing the properties of the frame. This is almost completely true. The only common object that can't be transformed to and from other objects is the vertical and horizontal line. Other than that, you can make other objects out of pretty much any object. The ellipse is kind of hard, though, because you have to do it mathematically.

Normally, you wouldn't convert objects to other objects, because you don't have to. You have the tools palette that will give you what you want right off the bat. The purpose of this explanation is to reduce how often you have to start over with a new object. For example, if you wanted to overwrite a screen with a picture, you don't have to start over with a new frame. You could place the picture, and when the placing icon comes up, select your target frame, and the picture would overwrite your screen.

Viewing or Changing Frame Contents

This is with regard to the Graphic/Text/Unassigned property of frames that was being discussed earlier.

1. Select the arrow tool .
2. Select the object you would like to examine.
3. In the menus, choose Object -> Content. The resulting submenu shows you the current content of the frame.
4. To change the content, select a different item in the menu that you just looked at.

Done!

Resizing and Cropping Frames

To resize or crop frames:

1. Select the arrow tool .
2. Select the object you would like to resize or crop.
3. Drag any of the handles to resize or crop the frame.
• Holding shift and command when you let go of the mouse will scale proportionally.
• Holding command when you let go of the mouse will scale with no regard to proportions.
• Holding shift when you let go of the mouse will crop proportionally.
• Holding no keys at all when you let go of the mouse will crop with no regard to proportions.

Done!

Resetting the frame size after cropping

Setting the size of the frame to the full width of a picture after cropping the picture is very easy.

1. Select the arrow tool .
2. Select the object you would like to reset.
3. In the menus, select Object -> Fitting -> Fit Frame to Content.

Done!

If you looked where that menu item is, then you probably also noticed a few other similar items. Here is everything in the fitting menu:

• Object -> Fitting -> Fit Content to Frame
• Object -> Fitting -> Fit Frame to Content
• Object -> Fitting -> Center Content
• Object -> Fitting -> Fit Content Proportionally

They all do exactly as they imply.