Page 46 - Adobe InDesign 2021

Tips and Tricks for Working with Layout Objects

Copying and Pasting
The standard Cut, Copy, and Paste options are available in InDesign, just as they are in most
applications. Whatever you have selected will be copied or cut to the Clipboard, and whatever is in
the Clipboard will be pasted. InDesign has a number of special pasting options in the Edit menu:

Paste. If you are pasting an object (frame, etc.), the object Paste Into. This command is
will be pasted in the center of the document window. If you available when an object is in the
are pasting text, it will be pasted at the location of the current Clipboard and another object is selected. The pasted object
insertion point; if the insertion point is not currently placed, becomes the contents of the object that is selected when you
the text is placed in a new basic text frame in the middle of choose this command.
the document window.
Paste in Place. This command pastes an object at the exact
Paste without Formatting. This command is available position as the original. If you paste on the same page as the
when text is in the Clipboard; the text is pasted using the original, you create a second object exactly on top of the fi rst.
default type formatting options (12-pt black Minion Pro, if it You can also use this command to place a copy in the exact
hasn’t been changed on your system). position as the original but on a different page in the layout.

Managing Stacking Order
The top-to-bottom order of objects is called stacking order. You can select the next object down in the stacking order by
When you have multiple stacked objects, it can be diffi cult pressing Command/Control while clicking within the area of
to select exactly what you want. Fortunately, the application the object stack.
provides a number of options to make it easier.
You can use the Object>Select submenu commands (or their
When you move the Selection tool cursor over an object, the related keyboard shortcuts) to access objects relative to their
edges of the object are highlighted. This lets you know what order in the stack.
will be selected if you click.
The Selection tool
cursor is here.
The frame edge
is highlighted.
Clicking would select
the middle object.
You can use the Object>Arrange submenu commands (or
When an object is already selected, InDesign favors their related keyboard shortcuts) to change the stacking-order
the already selected object. This prevents you from position of objects.
accidentally selecting an object higher in the stacking order
(for example, if you want to drag only the middle object).

The middle object
is selected.
The Selection tool Finally, you can use the individual item listings in the Layers
move cursor is here. panel to select exactly the object you want or to rearrange
objects in the layer stack.
Clicking would not
select the top object. Drag an item in the
panel to a new position
in the stacking order.
Watch for the regular
Selection tool cursor to Click this icon to
select the top object. select a specific object.

56 Project 1: Letterhead Design