The Type, Pencil, Smooth, Erase and Line Tools

Another tutorial exploring InDesign basics. Not many InDesign users might actually use these tools, as these perform functions which are more related to illustration. Designers will probably do most of this in Illustrator, but it doesn’t hurt to know that one can count on these functions while working InDesign too.

The type Tool

Look at your Tools palette and you will see that this tool has a flyout window. The hidden tool in the flyout is called Type on a Path Tool. This tool does… what it says. Select this tool and click on a path, et voliat! You can type on that path.

Let’s go back to the “ordinary” Type Tool. You can use it mainly in two ways:

1. With the Type Tool selected, draw a frame of the desired size. (or a box - InDesign Help likes calling them text frames, while Quark users and probably users of other Desktop Publishing software like calling them text boxes). Now click inside the frame and start typing.
2. You can type inside any shape by clicking inside it with the Type Tool.

The Pencil Tool

You use this tool as if you were using a real pencil and paper. I don’t really use this tool, but it can come in handy. Here are a few things you might want to know while you are using this tool.

If you simply want to draw an open path, just click on the Pencil Tool and, with the left mouse button pressed, drag it around the page. Release the mouse button when you have drawn your shape. If you have made a mistake and you want to undo it, just press Control + Z (Windows) or Command + Z (Mac Os), or go to Edit > Undo (name of command you have just used). This Undo command works with just about any action you perform in InDesign and you can undo everything up to the point you have opened your document. However, in that case, instead of using so many undos it is much faster to just go to File > Revert. You will go back to the last time you have saved your document. (To save a document go to File > Save or File > Save as if you want to save your document with a different name or in a different folder.)

If you want to draw a closed path, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac Os) while you drag your Pencil Tool around and once you release your mouse button, InDesign will close the path you have just drawn.

You can also join two paths. First select the two paths, then select the Pencil Tool. Then start dragging your pencil tool with the mouse button pressed from one path to the other. While you do that make sure you hold down Control (Windows) or Command (Mac Os). Once you have finished joining the two paths release the mouse button and the Control or Command key. Now you have one path.

The Smooth Tool

The Smooth Tool makes paths smoother as the name itself says. Paths can bee too jagged and have too many anchor points especially if you have used the Pencil Tool to create them. The Smooth tool often will take away some of these anchor points and will smooth your paths, while keeping their shape as close to the original as possible. You just select your path with the Direct Selection Tool, then you select the Smooth Tool and then drag it along the part of the path you want to smooth out.

The Erase Tool

The Erase Tool allows you to erase parts of paths which you no longer need. You cannot use this tool with text paths, i.e., paths on you which you typed using the Type on a Path Tool.

Here is how you use it: First select a path with the Direct Selection Tool, then select the Erase Tool. Now drag your Erase tool, with your mouse button pressed, along the part of the path you want to erase (not across the path). Release the mouse button and you are done!

The Line Tool

This tool is used to draw straight lines. Select the Line Tool, then click on any point on your page. Hold down your mouse button and drag your mouse. Release your mouse button. To have a line which is perfectly horizontal hold down Shift while you drag your mouse horizontally. This also works for vertical lines.

[1] Previous | [2] Next

[3] InDesign, [4] software tutorials