Last week I kicked off a series of beginner InDesign tutorials, to help you learn the basics, even if you’ve never used InDesign, like ever ever ever. Here’s a roundup of some of the other beginner InDesign tutorials we’ve been covering:
This week we’re reviewing how to add + crop images in InDesign.
Watch the tutorial below for a beginner run-through of adding + cropping images in Adobe InDesign. Or keep reading for the notes from the video tutorial, if you’re a read-to-learn type. And if you’re the YouTube-type, click here to subscribe to my channel for more beginner design tutorials and tips!
Three ways to add a photo or image to InDesign
The first way is to start with the rectangle frame tool, click it in the left toolbar, or use the shortcut, the letter F. Draw your frame, don’t worry you can resize it later if you need to. Go to File > Place, or use the shortcut Cmd/Ctrl + D to open your finder window and select the photo you want to use. Voila – it places the photo into the frame you drew. Hang tight, we’ll adjust the size + cropping in a minute.
The second way is the same steps, but a little backwards – start with File > Place or Cmd/Ctrl + D to open your finder window and select the photo you want to use. From there you can either click once to place the photo at it’s original size, which could be huge (if your original file size of your image/photo is pretty big) or you can click and drag to draw your own frame and the photo will fit nicely inside.
The third way – my personal favorite – is you can have a finder window open nearby and literally drag + drop your image file right onto your InDesign art board. Click once to make sure you’re back in the InDesign program and not in your Finder window, then you have the same options as before – click once to place it at original size, or click and drag to draw your own frame.
InDesign treating the image as two different parts
Once you have your photo in a frame, InDesign treats it as two different parts – the frame it lives in (the blue outline) and the photo itself, which you can select by either hovering over this bullseye shape until your cursor changes to a hand and clicking once, or by simply double clicking anywhere inside the frame. The photo itself will have a dark orange outline.
Cropping your images
To crop your photo, you can change the size of it with the corner + side controls, which will adjust what part of the photo is showing inside the frame. In the opposite way, if you have a cropped photo that you want to fit fully inside your frame, you can use the Fitting tools. Access these by going to Object > Fitting, or just right click on your image and go to Fitting. OR, when your frame is selected, you can find shortcuts to the same tools in the top toolbar near the right side.
Moving your images
To move your photo around inside the frame, you can hover until you see the bullseye and your cursor changes to a hand — click and hold your mouse for a couple seconds to show what parts of your photo are outside the frame (you’ll see they’re kind of grayed out), then you can move it around a little easier and be able to see what parts are getting cut off in the crop.
Rotating your images
You can also rotate either the frame or the photo inside the frame. To rotate the frame, select it so the blue outline is showing, then put your cursor just outside one of the corners until it turns to a curved arrow. Then click and hold and move your mouse to rotate the frame. You can also rotate at a specific angle using the rotation tools at the top of the toolbar when your frame is selected. To rotate just the photo inside, double click to select the dark orange outline, then do the same thing – rotate from the corners or use the controls in the top toolbar.
Resize frame + photo together
And lastly, the tool you’ll probably use the most is to resize the frame + photo together at the same time, and I’ve got a great little shortcut that will become your best friend in InDesign – Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + drag frame corner. The Cmd/Ctrl key keeps the frame + photo together, and the Shift key keeps everything proportionate so the photo doesn't get stretched or distorted.
Free Beginner InDesign Workshop
If you want more Adobe InDesign training, watch my free workshop where I breakdown the most popular design apps + programs and show you when it’s best to use each one (pssst – you can do way more with InDesign than you probably realize), PLUS I walk through exactly how to design a PDF worksheet and promo graphic from start to finish using Adobe InDesign. Drop in your name + email here and I’ll send it to you right away!
