Creating very simple shapes

[vgjFelix]

Hi, I'm a virtual rookie at Indesign and am trying to learn how to use it by myself.

Was doing OK until I got to a point where I needed to created a box over than a rectangle. I want to do something like this

__________
l l
l l
l l
l _____l
l l
l l
l l
l___l

Not a good example I know but hopefully you get the idea. In the bottom right corner (where the gap is), I what to put a picture. I know about text wrapping and I know how to do that to make the picture go inside a big rectangle box with the text wrapping around the smaller picture box. But I want the text frame picture as above because I want to but a border around it and obviously if I do it the other (text wrap) way then the border will just go around everything. Is there is really easy way to do it and would you be able to explain in simple terms. I'm a writer really, not a designer so this is all new to me.

Cheers,

Felix

 

[Genimuse]

In your example, just pull down some guides for the various vertices, then draw a rectangle (with the rectangle tool) from top corner to bottom (including the little area you want cleared). Now go to the pen tool and hold it down, and from the sub-menu select the pen tool with the + sign.

Now click on the line of your still-selected rectangle at the two points where you need new vertices (bottom center and right center)... you'll see that new points have been added.

Now grab your point selection tool (the arrow with white inside) and click and drag the lower-right corner of your rectangle to the mid cross-point. Poof, you're done.

In general the pen tool and the point selection tool (or its real name) are how you draw and modify simple shapes (or even somewhat complex ones).

 

[vgjFelix]

Exactly what I wanted. Thanks a million!

Felix