How to Create Text Gradient with InDesign

Adobe's InDesign is used at newspapers, magazines and public relations companies. Once this software is mastered, the creativity options are vast. InDesign offers more design options than its predecessors, such as how to create a text gradient.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Create the Gradient

1. Choose the Gradient command from the swatches palette or panel.

2. Pick a name for the new swatch you want to create for a text gradient.

3. Select "Linear" or "Radial" in the Type field depending on how you want to create your text gradient. Linear will cause the gradient to graduate from one end of the text to the other. Radial will cause the gradient to expand outward in a circle.

4. Click on the left side of the gradient ramp, and then choose "Swatches" in the Stop Color field. Select the color you want to work with from the swatch list below that.

5. Repeat the step above for the right side of the gradient.

6. Change the midpoint control, which determines where the 2 colors merge.

7. Click on "OK," and then add the gradient to the Swatches palette.

Apply Gradient to Text

8. Create a text gradient by highlighting the text you want to apply the gradient to by using the Type tool from the palette.

9. Click on the Swatches palette on the right side to open it, choose "Fill" and pick the gradient swatch you want to use.

10. Adjust the gradient by choosing the Gradient tool and dragging it across your text in whatever direction you want.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also choose to fill the inside of the letters from the swatch palette and change the tint of the colors for the same palette.
• The instructions for some versions of InDesign may vary slightly.

[pjdesigns]

on 3/9/2009 The gradient fill inside text can be manipulated by selecting the Gradient option from the Window drop-down menu; this will allow the Gradient tab to appear. Double-click inside your textbox to directly select the text you are editing. Beside Type (in the gradient tab drop-down menu)-select linear so the Angle in degrees box will appear so that you can enter the exact angle you desire; 90 for example, causes the orientation to change from the default horizontal direction to a vertical gradient. Viola...Vwah-lah...Vyola...or however they say it in France; now even they'll know how to edit gradient fills for text using InDesign, up to the CS3 (Creative Suite 3) version, at least. :)

[pjdesigns]

on 3/9/2009 This doesn't explain how to manipulate gradient fills applied to text in CS3; when these instructions are followed-the textbox fills the space behind the text whilst leaving the text itself unaffected.