Learn how to best utilize the frame tool with Adobe InDesign 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:

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.)
   
2. Fill each frame with the content you like.
   File> Place or Ctrl+D/Command+D.
   

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.)
   
2. Change some of the boxes over to text frames. Objects> Content>Text (Only an empty frame can be changed via the menu)
   
3. Change the Text Frame Options as needed. I centered the Vertical Justification and I added Inset Spacing.
   
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.
   

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.
   

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.
   
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.
   

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)
   
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
   

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!