You can easily crop an image in your InDesign project using Frame Shape, Pathfinder, and Scissors.
Hi! My name is Liuda. InDesign is my favorite tool for making layouts and publishing designs because there are many sophisticated tools and features that make the process easier and deliver great results.
I like to use the cropping image feature in InDesign for brochures and user guides because you get a lot of freedom to trim down the edges of a larger picture to fit a specific resolution or cut out a subject entirely from a larger frame with multiple subjects in it.
In this article, I will show you a few different methods to crop an image to get the job done in Adobe InDesign.
Let’s dive in.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- You can find the Scissors tool from the toolbar on your left.
- You can find the Pathfinder tool panel by going to Window > Object & Layout > Pathfinder.
- You can crop your image to fit in different shapes.
Method 1: Scissors Tool
Follow the steps below to crop an image to fit in a cut shape.
Step 1: Use the Selection Tool to select the image you want to crop. You can find the Selection tool (arrow tool) from the toolbar.
Step 2: Choose the Scissors from the toolbar. If you can’t find it, you can go to the overhead menu Window > Tools and choose the Scissors icon.
Step 3: Move the Scissors tool to the place you want to cut. Click directly on the stroke of the shape. Move to a different position on the shape and click directly on the stroke of the shape to cut/crop the image.
Enjoy your new image design and your new page design.
Method 2: Pathfinder Tool
You can use this method to crop an image into preset shapes in InDesign. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Open the Pathfinder panel. The easiest way to find the Pathfinder panel is to go to Window > Object & Layout > Pathfinder.
Step 2: Select the image frame you want to crop using the Selection tool (arrow tool) from the toolbar.
Step 3: Choose one of the shapes in the Convert Shape section of the Pathfinder panel. The image frame will become the new shape you choose. For example, if you choose a hexagon, your image will be cropped into a hexagon.
Enjoy your new image design and your new page design.
Method 3: Frame Shape
You can crop your image to fit in any shapes that you draw.
Step 1: Draw the shape first using the Pen tool.
Step 2: Select the image and drag the image into the shape that you just drew.
You can move the image position or crop area by double-clicking on the image and moving the image around to reposition the crop area.
Final Thoughts
You can easily crop an image in your InDesign project by using the Scissors tool, Pathfinder, or drawing a freehand shape. from the toolbar. Use the Selection tool from the toolbar to set the frame of your image. Then choose any of the tools mentioned above to crop the image.
Use the Pathfinder panel if you would like to create more common shapes. Or use the Custom Frame Shape method if you would like to create something new and impress your client.
What is your favorite cropping image technique in Adobe InDesign? Do you have any other tips for designers and writers? Let me know in the comments below.
