When your data source isn't 100% consistent, this trick will automatically remove unwanted lines in your merged documents.

You don't have to limit your designs to use just the few basic shapes you can draw in InDesign. Here's how to alter shapes to make just about anything you might need.

Keylines are important things to include in your InDesign file when you have items that are going to be cut out using a die form, or if you need to set up folding lines, perforation lines, and the like. Keylines show clearly where the paper should be cut, folded, or perforated, so you can avoid costly mistakes […]

Learn how to choose the Display Performance settings you need in InDesign.

With the Eyedropper tool you can quickly sample and apply all kinds of formatting for objects. Just select an object whose formatting you want to change and press the keyboard shortcut I to switch to the Eyedropper (if you get the Color Theme tool by mistake, just press I again to get the Eyedropper). Then […]

When you export a file to PDF (Print) or IDML, InDesign begins the process in the background. On the front of the program it can look like nothing is happening. But there’s a small sign that something is going on, as InDesign displays a new icon in the Application Bar. What’s also great about this icon is that you can click it to […]

When you open InDesign you are greeted with a few default swatches, styles, and other things already pre-loaded into the panels. Unfortunately, the default swatches you get aren’t the most inspiring or useful set of colors you could have at your disposal. So let’s see how to change that default set for the better, and how to include […]

When you use File > Place you are given a dialog box with a choice to Show Import Options. Tip: Hold down Shift when opening a file and Import Options automatically opens without having to select it. Import Options allow you to control certain aspects of the placed file, including cropping, visible layers, image proxies, color profiles, […]

Working as both a designer and prepress specialist, I receive a lot of files that I wish were built better, smarter, and with intelligence working in the background. All of which can be accomplished with strategic use of the Based On feature for styles. A lot of people do not use this fantastically time saving function, […]

InDesign has a pretty limited set of Stroke Options (Figure 1) compared to her sister, Adobe Illustrator, and of course you can make custom strokes (Figure 2), which is pretty limited, dull and boring! There are extremely fun hidden InDesign Secret Strokes, which can be found here and look like these: But what if you […]