THE INDESIGN TOOLBOX

Accessing Hidden Tools

Many tools are hidden beneath others on the Toolbox. Any button displaying
a small arrow in the bottom right corner contains hidden tools.

1.To access hidden tools, click and hold the mouse button over a tool.
The button's hidden tools menu appears.
hidden tools

2.Select the tool you want to use.

The selected tool becomes the active tool and is displayed in the Toolbox.
The InDesign Toolbox
This table describes each available tool and its function .
Direct Selection Tool
Selects objects within objects, such
as individual points on a path and
objects inside groups or inside other
objects.
PAGE TOOL- Allows you to
select an entire page and re arrange
it or resize it on your work space.
GAP TOOL
CONTENT COLLECTOR
TOOL- Allows you to collect
multiple pieces of content that you
want to place either in the same
documents or in another InDesign
document. Simply click on an
object or click and drag to select
multiple objects at the same time.
CONTENT PLACER- Once
you’ve collected your objects with
the content collector tool you’ll use
the content placer tool to place
those objects either in the same
documents or in a different
InDesign document.
TYPE TOOL-This basic type tool.
Click and drag to create a rectangle
text box and type away.
TYPE ON A PATH TOOL- The
type on a path tool on the other
hand types around the object. You’d
use this on an object you’ve already
created.
LINE TOOL- This tool creates a
line. Hold shift while you click and
drag to keep it straight horizontal,
vertical, or at a 45 degree angle.
PEN TOOL- The pen tool is my
favorite, but by far one of the
hardest tools to master. You draw
by clicking on the point.
Add Anchor Point Tool
Adds anchor points to an existing
pen selection. Accessed through the
Pen Tool.

Delete Anchor Point Tool Deletes

anchor points from an existing pen
selection. Accessed through the Pen
Tool.
Convert Direction Point Tool
Toggles the direction point on an
existing pen selection (corner point
or curve point). Accessed through
the Pen Tool.

Pencil Tool Draws hard-

edged freehand strokes on an
image.
Smooth Tool Progressively
smoothens a path with each pass.
Accessed through the Pencil Tool.
Erase tool Erase Tool Erases line
segments and points. Accessed
through the Pencil Tool.
Rectangle Frame Tool
Creates an empty rectangular
placeholder.
ellipse frame tool Ellipse
Ellipse Frame Tool
Creates an empty elliptical
placeholder. Accessed through the
Rectangle Frame Tool.
Polygon Frame Tool Creates an
empty polygonal placeholder.
Accessed through the Rectangle
Frame Tool.
Rectangle tool Rectangle Tool
Draws a rectangle
Ellipse Tool
Draws
an ellipse.
Accessed through the Rectangle
Tool.
Polygon tool
Polygon Tool Draws a polygon.
Accessed through the Rectangle
Tool
Scissors Tool
Cuts paths or points.
Rotate Tool
Rotates objects to the
specified angle.
Scale Tool
Resizes an object.
Gradient Tool
Applies or changes the gradient (a
gradual transition between two
colors).
Gradient Feather Tool
Changes the gradient so that it
gradually softens in the specified
direction. Accessed through the
Gradient Tool.
Free Transform Tool
Allows you to drag an object to
alter its scale, rotation, and location.
Note Tool
Applies a note to a specified area of
the document. This is particularly
useful for comments during the
editing process.
Eyedropper Tool
Samples formatting attributes from
one area and allows you to apply
them to another.
Measure Tool
Calculates the distance between any
two points in the work area.
Accessed through the Eyedropper
Tool.
Hand Tool (Panning)Repositions a
page on-screen for optimal view.
Zoom Tool
Magnifies or reduces the area of the
page on-screen.