How do I apply color to my pages in Adobe® InDesign®?

When applying colors to text, objects or graphics, make sure to use process colors on four-color pages and spot colors on spot color pages. Do not add color to pages that will be printed in black & white only. If you are unsure what type of page you are working on, ask your yearbook adviser.

*Choose your colors from a Herff Jones Your Colors chart or a Pantone swatch book. Do not choose a color by viewing it on a computer monitor.

For instructions on how to create colors in InDesign, click How do I create colors in Adobe® InDesign®?.

Apply color to text

To change the text color

• Create text with text tool
• Highlight the text with the Text tool
• Open Swatches palette
  • Click on the Fill icon to bring it to the front
  • Click on a color in the palette
  • The text will change to that color

To add a colored stroke

• Highlight the text with the Text tool
• Open Swatches palette
  • Click  on the Stroke icon to bring it to the front
  • Click on a color in the palette
• To change the stroke size, open the Stroke palette
  •  Weight: Choose a stroke size from the pop-up menu

Apply colors to page elements: shapes, lines, etc.

To change the Fill

• Select the object with the Selection tool (black arrow)
• Open Swatches palette
• Click on the Fill icon to bring it to the front
• Click on a color in the palette
• The fill will change to that color

To add a colored Stroke

• Select the object with the Selection tool
• Open Swatches palette
  • Click  on the Stroke icon to bring it to the front
  • Click on a color in the palette

To change the stroke size, open the Stroke palette

•  Weight: Choose a stroke size from the pop-up menu

Apply color to grayscale graphics

• If your graphic is not in grayscale mode, use your graphics program to change it to grayscale. Save a photo or graphic as a TIFF file.

To change the fill of the frame

• Select the frame with the Selection tool
• Open Swatches palette
  • Click on the Fill icon to bring it to the front
  • Click on a color in the palette
• The background of the frame will change to that color

To change the stroke color of the frame

• Select the frame with the Selection tool
• Open Swatches palette
  • Click  on the Stroke icon to bring it to the front
  • Click on a color in the palette
• To change the stroke size, open the Stroke palette
  •  Weight: Choose a stroke size from the pop-up menu

To change the graphic color

• The graphic must be a grayscale graphic saved as a TIFF file
• Select the graphic with the Direct selection tool (white arrow).
• Open the Swatches palette
• Click on the Fill icon to bring it to the front
• Click on a color in the palette
• The graphic will change to that color

To use a tint or screen of the color

• Click on the Tint: pop-up menu and select a value.

Photo colored and the frame filled with a color .

Graphic colored, frame filled with a color and a stroke added.