Page 27 - CS6_ID_Look_Inside

The Control Panel in Depth

The Control panel is one of the most versatile, productive tools in the InDesign workspace, combining all of the most
INDESIGN FOUNDATIONS means different options are available depending on what is selected in the layout. Finally, it is customizable, which means
common formatting options into a single, compact format across the top of the workspace. It is context sensitive, which
you can change the options that are available in the panel.

It is also important to note that the options available in the Control panel might be limited by the active workspace, as well
as by the width of your monitor or Application frame.

Essentials Control panel when a graphics frame is selected:

Essentials Control panel when a text frame is selected:

Essentials Control panel when text is selected:

Essentials Control panel when text is selected, using a 13-inch laptop monitor:

When anything other than text is selected (or nothing is selected), the Quick Apply
panel Options menu includes options for controlling the position of the button
panel (top, bottom, or floating), as well as how transformations affect
selected objects: Click here to
open the panel
• Stroke Styles. This opens a dialog box where you can edit or define Options menu.
custom styles for lines and object strokes.
• Clear Transformations. Choosing this option resets an object to its
original position (including rotation).
• Dimensions Include Stroke Weight. When checked, width and height values include the object width as well as the
defined stroke width. For example, if this option is checked, a square that is 72 points wide with a 1-pt stroke would be
73 points wide (using the default stroke position that aligns the stroke on the center of the object edge).
• Transformations are Totals. When checked, transformations such as rotation are cumulative for the frame and the
frame contents. For example, an image frame is rotated 10°…
– When Transformations are Totals is checked, the image in the frame also shows 10° rotation; you can change the
content rotation to 0° to return the image (but not the frame) to horizontal.
– When not checked, the image in the frame shows 0° because the content is not rotated relative to its container. You
have to rotate the content –10° to return it to horizontal without affecting the frame’s rotation.
• Show Content Offset. When checked, the Control panel shows X+ and Y+ values for a graphic placed within a frame
when the actual graphic (not the frame) is selected.
• Adjust Stroke Weight when Scaling. When checked, resizing an object changes the stroke weight proportionally.
For example, resizing an object with a 1-pt stroke to 50% results in a 0.5-pt stroke.
Choosing Customize in the panel Options
menu opens a dialog box where you can define
the available options in the panel; anything with
a checkmark will be available when it’s relevant
to the selection in the document.

Clicking the Quick Apply button (to the left
of the panel Options button) opens a special
navigation dialog box. This feature enables you
to easily find and apply what you want (menu
commands, user-defined styles, and so on) by
typing a few characters in the text entry field, and then clicking the related item in the list.

Project 1: Letterhead Design 37