Mastering Text Wrap in Adobe InDesign: The Ultimate Guide

If you want to take your InDesign layouts to the next level, learning how to expertly wrap text around images and objects is an essential skill. Text wrap allows you to seamlessly integrate your text and graphics in eye-catching ways, whether you‘re designing a magazine spread, brochure, poster, or book.

While the basics of text wrap are simple, InDesign provides a wide array of advanced options and settings to precisely control how your text flows. As an InDesign expert, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to become a text wrap master. Feel free to jump ahead using the table of contents below:

• Text Wrap 101: Why and When to Use It
• How to Wrap Text Around a Basic Shape
• Understanding the Different Text Wrap Options
• Using Contour Options for Custom Text Wraps
• Harnessing the Power of Content-Aware Text Wrap
• Creative Text Wrap Ideas to Take Your Layouts to the Next Level
• Troubleshooting and FAQs

Text Wrap 101: Why and When to Use It

Before we dive into the technical how-tos, let‘s talk about why you‘d want to wrap text in the first place. The primary reason is to create a more dynamic, visually appealing layout that leads the reader‘s eye around the page. Without text wrap, your images and other graphics sit in boring rectangular blocks, completely separate from the text.

By wrapping text closely around the contours of an image, you integrate the two elements in a more natural, engaging way. The negative space around the image becomes an interesting shape that makes the whole composition more dynamic.

Of course, you don‘t need to wrap text around every single image in your InDesign layout. Here are some situations where text wrap works particularly well:

• When you have an irregularly shaped image and want the text to follow its organic contours
• To highlight an image as the dominant focal point on the page
• When placing text on top of an image to create an artistic, stylized look
• To save space by having text flow around small icons, logos, or design elements
• When you have multiple images and need the text to flow continuously between them

Now that you know the why, let‘s get into the how of InDesign text wrap. We‘ll start with the most basic technique and work our way up to more advanced moves.

How to Wrap Text Around a Basic Shape

The simplest way to create a text wrap is with an image in a standard rectangular frame. Here‘s how to do it:

1. Select the image you want to wrap text around with the Selection tool (black arrow).
2. Make sure the image overlaps or is placed near a text frame.
3. Open the Text Wrap panel by going to Window > Text Wrap or pressing Command/Ctrl+Option/Alt+W.
4. With the image still selected, click the "Wrap around object shape" button (second from left) in the Text Wrap panel.
5. Use the Offset fields to adjust how closely the text wraps to the edges of the frame. A positive number moves the wrap boundary outward, while a negative number pulls it inward.

[Insert screenshot of image with simple rectangular text wrap]
And that‘s it! Your text will now neatly wrap around the rectangular bounding box of the image frame. You can move the image freely and the text will adjust itself automatically.

This basic rectangular wrap is fine for many situations, but to really leverage the full power of InDesign text wrap, you‘ll need to go further. Let‘s explore some other handy features in the Text Wrap panel.

Understanding the Different Text Wrap Options

In the Text Wrap panel, you‘ll notice a row of icons with various shapes. These represent the different types of text wraps you can apply:

[Insert screenshot of Text Wrap panel showing wrap type icons]
Here‘s what each option does, from left to right:

• No text wrap: This turns off text wrap, so your text ignores the selected object entirely.
• Wrap around object shape: The text wraps around the object based on its frame shape (not the contents). Use this for simple rectangular images.
• Jump object: The text stops when it hits the top of the object and continues below it, leaving a blank space on either side. Handy for small graphics you want the text to skip past entirely.
• Jump to next column: The text fills the area to the left or right of the object, then "jumps" to the next column or text frame. Useful for full-width images or when you don‘t want tiny slivers of text on either side.

You can click through each option to see a live preview of how it affects your text. In most cases, "Wrap around object shape" is the most versatile choice, especially once you start using custom contour options (more on that in a bit).

Using Contour Options for Custom Text Wraps

What if you want to wrap text around a more complex shape than a rectangle? That‘s where InDesign‘s Contour Options come in handy. For example, let‘s say you have a circular logo graphic and want the text to hug its perimeter. Here‘s how:

1. Select the circular object and choose "Wrap around object shape" in the Text Wrap panel as before.
2. From the Contour Options dropdown menu, choose "Same as Clipping" (if the object has a clipping path applied) or "Detect Edges."
3. Adjust the Boundary and Threshold settings until you get a clean wrap around the circular edge. Higher Threshold values work better for high-contrast graphics.
4. Use the Inset Spacing fields to fine-tune how closely the text hugs the object.

[Insert before & after screenshot of text wrapped around circular object]
You can use this same technique with irregularly shaped graphics like a logo with a tagline below it or a complex illustration. As long as there is clear contrast between the foreground object and background, InDesign can detect the edges and create a wrap boundary.

Besides "Detect Edges," the Contour Options menu has a few other choices that utilize clipping paths, alpha channels, or Photoshop paths embedded in the image. We‘ll discuss how to prep your images with these in the next section.

Harnessing the Power of Content-Aware Text Wrap

One of the coolest recent additions to InDesign is Content-Aware Text Wrap. What if you could wrap text around the edge of the subject in a photo, like a product, person, or animal? Now you can thanks to Adobe Sensei, the machine learning technology under the hood.

[Insert example photo of object with content-aware text wrap]
Here‘s how to use this amazing feature:

1. Select your placed image and choose "Wrap around object shape" in the Text Wrap panel.
2. From the Contour Options dropdown menu, choose "Content-Aware Wrap."
3. InDesign will automatically detect the subject in your photo and create a wrap boundary around it (shown as a blue line). This may take a few seconds depending on the image complexity.
4. If needed, use the Expand/Contract and Smooth slider to adjust the wrap boundary. Higher Smooth values help eliminate jagged edges in the wrap.

The coolest thing about Content-Aware Text Wrap is that it works on almost any photo, even if the subject wasn‘t shot on a solid white background. The AI algorithm is remarkably accurate at finding and tracing the main subject.

That said, Content-Aware Text Wrap works best when there is a clear contrast and separation between the foreground subject and background. It may struggle with busy patterns or backgrounds, or images where the subject blends into the background (like a furry animal in grass).

Content-Aware Text Wrap is an awesome addition to the text wrap toolkit, but it doesn‘t replace the need to properly silhouette your images in Photoshop (more on that next).

Prepping Your Images for Text Wrap

For ultimate control and the cleanest text wraps, you‘ll want to prep your images with clipping paths, alpha channels, or Photoshop paths before placing them in InDesign. This allows you to wrap text along custom paths that you can edit with surgical precision.

[Insert example of object with clipping path & resulting text wrap]
Here are the key things to know:

• Clipping paths: Clipping paths created in Photoshop will carry over into InDesign. Open the Clipping Path panel and choose your path from the dropdown menu to use it for text wrap.
• Alpha channels: Images with transparency (like PNGs) will automatically wrap around the opaque areas. You can also use alpha channels created in Photoshop—simply choose "Alpha Channel" from the Contour Options menu.
• Photoshop paths: Any paths made with the Pen tool in Photoshop will also transfer to InDesign. Use the Paths panel to view and select them, then choose your path from the Contour Options menu in the Text Wrap panel to use it as a wrap boundary. Note that a Photoshop path is different than a regular clipping path.

While it takes a bit more work to create these custom paths in Photoshop, the level of fine control they provide makes them well worth it for important images or challenging subjects. I recommend always using a clipping path or Photoshop path for the most important images in your layout (like the cover photo in a magazine).

Creative Text Wrap Ideas

Now that you know all the ways to create text wraps in InDesign, let‘s look at some inventive ways to use them in your layouts:

• Wrap text inside an object: Set your text frame to ignored text wrap (Object > Text Frame Options > Ignore Text Wrap), then place it over an object with text wrap applied to create the illusion of text inside a shape.
• Wrap around multiple objects: You can have text flow around multiple images or other objects by applying text wrap to each one individually. Arrange them artfully to create pockets of text set in an interesting shape.
• Invert a text wrap: In the Text Wrap panel, check the "Invert" box to have the text appear only within the object, not outside it. Fun for overlaying type on photos or to create a shaped text effect.
• Wrap text around a table: Tables aren‘t good candidates for text wrap, but you can cheat by drawing the table cells with the Rectangle tool, then grouping them and applying text wrap to the group. Boom – wrapped table!
• Fake a drop cap: Apply text wrap to a large capital letter, then use the Inset Spacing to precisely control the position of the surrounding text. Handy if you don‘t like how the Drop Caps feature works.

[Insert examples of each creative text wrap idea]
Don‘t be afraid to experiment and combine different text wrap techniques into a single layout. You can always toggle text wrap on and off for individual objects to see how it affects the overall composition.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Even after learning all the tricks, you may still run into situations where text wrap isn‘t working like you expect. Here are some common issues and questions that may come up:

My text isn‘t wrapping at all. What‘s wrong?
First, make sure you‘ve applied one of the text wrap options to your image or object (not "No text wrap"). Also ensure that the object is set to appear above the text in the stacking order (Object > Arrange). If your text is overset (has a red + sign), there may not be enough room for it to wrap. Try making your text frame larger or reducing the Offset spacing around the wrap object.

The text wrap boundary looks jagged or cuts off important parts of my image. How can I fix it?
If using Content-Aware Text Wrap, try adjusting the Expand/Contract slider to fine-tune the boundary. For clipping paths or alpha channels, you may need to go back into Photoshop and edit the path/channel for a smoother, more accurate wrap. When in doubt, a properly made clipping path is almost always the best option for the cleanest text wrap.

How do I make my text wrap around a shape I drew in InDesign, like an oval or heart?
Simply apply your desired text wrap option to the shape object, just like you would an image frame. If you want the wrap to follow the exact contours of your shape, create a clipping path by copying and pasting it into Photoshop, then bring it back to InDesign.

Is there a way to wrap text around an object on a master page?
Yes, but you‘ll need to override the master page item first. Hold down Command/Ctrl+Shift and click the object to unlock it on that page, then apply your text wrap as normal.

Can I flow text from one wrap shape to another?
Not automatically. If you have two objects with text wrap applied, the text will stop when it hits the first one. However, you can thread separate text frames together across multiple wraps by clicking the outport (red + square) of the first frame and clicking into the next.

Wrapping Up

By now, you‘ve gained a solid understanding of how to use InDesign‘s powerful text wrap capabilities to craft rich, engaging layouts. Knowing how to deftly wrap text around all kinds of graphics will open up new creative possibilities in your designs.

Remember, creating professional-looking text wraps is equal parts art and science. It takes practice and an eye for balancing readability with visual impact. The more you use these techniques in your own work, the easier it will become.

While we‘ve covered a lot of ground here, keep exploring InDesign‘s text wrap options on your own — and don‘t forget to have fun pushing your designs to the next level! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below.