How can I create an embossing effect using Adobe® InDesign®?

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Want to create the look of blind embossed type? It’s easy with InDesign to create the effect utilizing the Drop Shadow and Feather options. This technique can be used to make your headlines really pop.

To create the embossed look, the type must have both a shadow (black) and a highlight (white). Place the type on background that is either a shade of gray (use on black & white or four-color pages) or a color (use on a four-color or spot color pages).

Take your headlines from this Original gray heading
to this Heading embossed

or this Heading CMYK embossed

Create a color

  • Open one of your files or open the Herff Jones template
  • Create your color using the Swatches palette
  • Black and white pages
    • Use a tint of Black
  • *Four-color pages
    • Select a color from the Herff Jones Your Colors booklet or a Pantone® 4-Color Process Guide
    • Create the process color
  • *Spot color pages
    • Select a color from the Herff Jones Your Colors booklet or a Pantone® Formula Guide
    • Create the spot color
  • The process color mix used in the example is C100 M70 Y0 K0.
  • For further instructions on creating colors in InDesign, check out How do I create colors in Adobe® InDesign®?

*The use of color on your pages may incur additional charges. Please check with your Herff Jones Sales Professional before using this technique on your pages.

Create a Background on the Page

  • Select the Rectangle Tool
  • Draw a rectangle covering all or part of the page
    • Draw the rectangle on the Master pages for the background to appear on every page in your file
  • Fill it with your color using the Swatches palette
  • For instructions on applying color to your pages, check out How do I apply color to my pages in Adobe® InDesign®?

Create the text

  • Click on the Type Type tool Tool
  • Draw a text box on the background
  • Type the word(s) you want to appear embossed
  • Set the font and point size
  • Place the type on top of the background, if it isn't already there

Duplicate the Text Block

  • Click on the Selection Selection tool Tool
  • Click on the text block
  • Go to Edit > Duplicate
  • Move the duplicate text block onto the Pasteboard to use later

Edit-duplicate

Change the Text Color

  • Open the Swatches Palette, if it isn't already open
  • Click on the Fill icon, if it is not selected
  • Click on the the Type Tool
  • Highlight the original word(s)
  • In the Swatches palette, click on the same color swatch used for the background
  • Your text will seem to disappear

Highlight text

Create a Drop Shadow

  • Click on the Selection Selection tool Tool
  • Select the text frame containing your word(s).

Click to select

  • InDesign CS4 and CS3: Go to Object > Effects > Drop Shadow or use the Effects panel and choose Drop Shadow from the panel menu
  • InDesign CS2 and CS: Go to Object > Drop Shadow
  • Click on the Drop Shadow and the Preview check boxes
  • Adjust the Opacity and Offsets fields if needed
  • Click OK.
  • In the example, the Opacity was set to 75%, the X Offset is 0p4 and Y Offset 0p4

InDesign CS2
Drop Shadow dialog box

InDesign CS34 and CS3
Effects-Drop Shadow dialog

Create the Highlight

  • Click on the Selection tool,
  • Click on the duplicate word(s) and drag them from the Pasteboard onto the document

Drag duplicate

  • Click on the Type tool
  • Highlight the duplicate word(s)
  • Click on the Paper swatch in the Swatches palette.
  • The text will turn white.

Click Paper swatch

Feather the Highlight

  • Click on the Selection tool
  • Click on the duplicate word
  • InDesign CS4 and CS3: Go to Object > Effects > Basic Feather or choose Basic Feather from the Effects panel menu
  • InDesign CS2 and CS: Go to Object > Feather.
  • Click on the Feather and the Preview check boxes.
  • Adjust the Feather Width as needed
  • This filter will soften the edges of the word(s)
  • In the example, the Feather Width was 0p3.

InDesign CS and CS2
Feather

InDesign CS4 and CS3
InDesign CS4 Feather dialog box

Move Highlighted Text into Place

  • Click on the Selection Tool
  • Click on the highlighted duplicate word(s) text box
  • Move the text box on top of the original text box
  • Move the text box slightly above and to the left of the original word
    • The Up, Down, Left and Right Arrow keys may be helpful in positioning the type
  • Go to Object > Arrange > Send Backward
    • This will move the highlighted text behind the original text but in front of the background
  • You may have to repeat this step
  • This technique can also be used on shapes: squares, rectangles and ovals, created in InDesign

Send backward

Finished page

Finished page