--- description: Check out our blog article about how to make perfect squares and frames in Adobe InDesign. title: How to make perfect Square in Adobe InDesign image: https://blog.fmctraining.com/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%208.png --- [![FMC](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/FMC-Community/images/fmc-logo-white-960.png?width=154&height=28&name=fmc-logo-white-960.png)](https://www.fmctraining.com/) [Courses](https://www.fmctraining.com/courses) [Conferences](https://ppw-conference.com/) [Free webinars](https://www.fmctraining.com/online-training/upcoming-classes) [FMC Forward](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog) [Community](https://info.fmctraining.com/community) [Get the FMC Weekly](https://info.fmctraining.com/community#weekly) [InDesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/tag/indesign) 4 min read # How to make perfect Square in Adobe InDesign Check out our blog article about how to make perfect squares and frames in Adobe InDesign. ![](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hubfs/katie-houghton.jpg) [**Katie Houghton**](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/author/katie-houghton)September 12, 2019 ![how to make perfect square indesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%208.png?width=1600&height=900&name=rectangle%20blog%208.png) **Learn how to best utilize the frame tool with[Adobe InDesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/what-is-adobe-indesign-id) in this short tutorial and how to make perfect square!** ## **Let's Start Setting Up Your Document!** ### To make boxes: 1. Select the Frame tool (F). 2. Click and drag like you are going to make one frame. 3. While your mouse is still held down (let go only when you are done making your frames) Use the **up arrow** to add a row and the **right arrow** to add a column. This means if you use the **down arrow** or **right arrow** you will delete a row or column respectively. Use **Command + up/down** to make the space between the rows bigger/smaller. Use **Command + left/right** to make the space between the columns smaller/bigger. **Basic controls:** Use the **space-bar** to reposition the boxes. Use **shift** to constrain to a perfect square. 4. When you create the amount of frames you want, let go of the mouse. You should have multiple frames now such as these below: **![how to make perfect square](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%201.png?width=535&name=rectangle%20blog%201.png)** Once you get the frames done you can use them as is or you can customize them by combining them, changing the shapes, or resizing them! ## **Let's Fill the Boxes with Content!** Now each frame is ready to fill with new content. 1. Select all the frames and then choose **Object\>Fitting\>Frame Fitting Options**, then choose **Fill Frame Proportionally**. (If you choose this option prior to making the frames with nothing selected all future frames will have those options.) ![how to make perfect square in adobe indesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%202.png?width=463&name=rectangle%20blog%202.png) 2. Fill each frame with the content you like. **File\> Place** or **Ctrl+D/Command+D**. ![how to make square in indesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%203.png?width=517&name=rectangle%20blog%203.png) ## **Graphic & Text Frames - What is the Difference?** Now we can change some objects into graphic frames and others into text frames.  ### To Change the Frame Properties: 1. Select all the frames and then choose **Object\>Fitting\>Frame Fitting Options**, then choose **Fill Frame Proportionally**. (If you choose this options prior to making the frames with nothing selected all future frames will have those options.) ![after effects square size](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%204.png?width=460&name=rectangle%20blog%204.png) 2. Change some of the boxes over to text frames. **Objects\> Content\>Text** (Only an empty frame can be changed via the menu) ![how to make squares in photoshop](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%205.png?width=510&name=rectangle%20blog%205.png) 3. Change the **Text Frame Options** as needed. I centered the **Vertical Justification** and I added **Inset Spacing**. ![perfect square shape](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%206.png?width=435&name=rectangle%20blog%206.png) 4. Fill one frame with content. For the graphic frames: **File\> Place** or **Ctrl+D/ Command+D.** ## **How to Make One Compound Path** You will also have the option to create one compound path using separate objects. 1. Select all the shapes then choose **Object\> Paths\> Make Compound Paths** or **Ctrl+8/Command+8**. 2. Select all the frames and then choose **Object\>Fitting\>Frame Fitting Options**, then choose **Fill Frame Proportionally**. (If you choose this options prior to making the frames with nothing selected all future frames will have those options.) 3. Fill one frame with content. **File\> Place** or **Ctrl+D/ Command+D**. ![frame square](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%208.png?width=517&name=rectangle%20blog%208.png) ## **How To Make Two Frames** In InDesign, you can also create compound paths and a simple paths - here is how to do so. 1. Select all the shapes then deselect one of the selected frames. Choose **Object\> Paths\> Make Compound Paths** or **Ctrl+8/Command+8**. All but one frame will become a new compound path. 2. Select all the frames and then choose **Object\>Fitting\>Frame Fitting Options**, then choose **Fill Frame Proportionally**. (If you choose this options prior to making the frames with nothing selected all future frames will have those options.) 3. Fill both frames with content. **File\> Place** or **Ctrl+D/ Command+D**. ![make different size boxes adobe](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%2010.png?width=517&name=rectangle%20blog%2010.png) ## **How to Make Different Size Boxes** By expanding some boxes and deleting others, a new dynamic design will be created, which can spice up your layout. 1. Resize some of the boxes to create longer or taller shapes. Once you resized the frames, delete the smaller extra frames that were used for guides. ![how to make perfect square in adobe indesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%2011.png?width=300&name=rectangle%20blog%2011.png) 2. Select all the frames and then choose **Object\>Fitting\>Frame Fitting Options**, then choose **Fill Frame Proportionally**. (If you choose this options prior to making the frames with nothing selected all future frames will have those options.) 3. Fill the frames with content. **File\> Place** or **Ctrl+D/ Command+D**. ![after effects square size](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%2013.png?width=529&name=rectangle%20blog%2013.png) ## **How to Make Perfect Square and Change Your Frame Shapes!** After you build the rectangle, the pathfinder can be used to change the shape to another shape. 1. Select all the shapes then choose a new shape from the **Pathfinder** part of the Pathfinder. (If you already turned the shapes into a compound path, the many objects will become one simple shape) ![rectangle blog 14](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%2014.png?width=517&name=rectangle%20blog%2014.png) 2. Select all the frames and then choose **Object\>Fitting\>Frame Fitting Options**, then choose **Fill Frame Proportionally**. (If you choose this options prior to making the frames with nothing selected all future frames will have those options.) 3. Before you fill the frames you can still select the frames and turn them into a compound path. 4. Fill one frame with content. **File\> Place** or **Ctrl+D/ Command+D** ![square boxes text](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hs-fs/hubfs/rectangle%20blog%2016.png?width=529&name=rectangle%20blog%2016.png) Hope these tips can help you make engaging and dynamic layouts when using InDesign. If this tutorial helped you, feel free to share your design projects and tag @FMCTraining on our [social media](https://www.instagram.com/_fmctraining/?hl=en)!  [InDesign](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/tag/indesign)[graphic design](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/tag/graphic-design)[shapes](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/tag/shapes)[print design](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/tag/print-design)[Adobe](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/tag/adobe) Share Copy link ![](https://blog.fmctraining.com/hubfs/katie-houghton.jpg) Written by **[Katie Houghton](https://blog.fmctraining.com/blog/author/katie-houghton)** Katherine Houghton is a graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with degrees in Graphic Design and Industrial Design. She has held multimedia, graphic design, and consulting positions at numerous companies including KPMG LLP, one of the big five Accounting Consulting Firms where she managed the Multimedia Department. During the ".com" boom of the 90s she was promoted to Vice President of Confidant Inc. where she managed the entire look of all visual materials including their marketing and Internet presence. Currently, she teaches classes in Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Freehand, Director, Photoshop, InDesign, Quark, After Effects, Final Cut Pro & Acrobat. One email, every Thursday ### Get the FMC Weekly The new full session on our YouTube channel, the next free live webinar and one article worth your time. One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime. ### [From FMC Post Production World Las Vegas, April 3 to 7, 2027 Hands-on post-production training at NAB Show, from the instructors you see on our channel. 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