subject: Tips For Using Indesign Clipping Paths [print this page] InDesign clipping paths are for tracing oddly shaped objects that you want to wrap text around. This technique works well in brochure and catalog printing where you have text, but you want the picture to be the focus. To begin, you will need to start with Photoshop and then move into InDesign.
Do Not Trace Hair
Do not even try to use objects that are difficult to trace such as people or animals with flowing or fuzzy hair. It is better to use the image as a transparent PSD file with the Photoshop Extract Filter.
Trace an Image in Photoshop
First open an image in Photoshop. Choose something from the image that you want to cut out of the background. Select the pen tool and trace the object you want. Make sure that you connect the last line with your starting point. The outline you just created is called a path. Go to Windows, then Path to get to the Path pallet, and select the path you just created; give it a detailed name so you can select it in InDesign.
Trace Multiple Images
InDesign works directly with Photoshop paths, which allows you to trace more than one object per photo. To trace a second object, first click away from the first path so that it is deselected. Then you can trace your second object and name the new path. You can trace as many objects from your photo as you want. Doing it this way lets you work with a smaller file in InDesign that can be TIFF, PSD, or EPS.
Save the Photo
Save the image or photo you used as a TIFF or PSD file.
Create a Space for Your Photo
Open a new document in InDesign. Then use the Rectangle Frame Tool to create a frame to test your paths in. Make the inside of the frame a pale color. Next use the Type Tool to create a text frame. Do not click the type tool anywhere on the first frame because InDesign will think you want text on the first frame. You can create the text frame on the Paste Board and drag it onto the first frame you created. Then you can type in text. You can use actual copy from your catalog printing or brochure, or you can make up nonsense to test your paths. Now create another frame to go on top of the text for the picture.
Go to File then Place and select the PSD or TIFF file that you made of your photo. Then go to Object then Fitting then Fit Object Proportionally to get the photo to fit into the frame.
Get Your Object in the Frame
Go to Object then Clipping Path then select Photoshop path. Your first path will automatically come up if you have Preview turned on. Click OK.
Wrap Text Around Your Image
Go to Window then Text Wrap and select Wrap Around Object Shape. If you want to adjust the text wrap, you can do this with the Direct Selection Tool. Once you know your paths work, you can create the actual files that will go into your catalog printing or brochure.
Clipping paths in InDesign are a great tool to learn, so be sure to practice with this technique until you have it memorized. It will make your design projects go much more quickly in the future.
