How To Create A Photo Background

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Many print documents benefit from the use of a background to add visual impact or emphasize individual design elements. Backgrounds may be added to a graphic's graphic frame or created by drawing a shape or adjusting the opacity of a photo. Knowing how to create a background in InDesign, a popular desktop publishing program that allows users to create print documents in a variety of sizes and formats, allows to you increase your document's visual appeal.

1

Launch InDesign. Create a new document by clicking on the the Document icon in the Create New window, and specifying the settings for your new document.
2
Place an image. From the File menu, select Place. Navigate to the file you would like to import and double click the file name. Move your cursor to the location where you want to place your graphic and click your mouse. This will place the image on your page.
- Adjust the size of your graphic, if necessary, by selecting the picture using the Select tool (V) and dragging a handle while holding the Control + Shift keys (Command + Shift on a Macintosh). This will adjust the graphic's size proportionally.
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3
Open the Swatches panel. You can access this from a tab group which is located at the right-hand side of your InDesign workspace, or from the toolbar at the top.
- Click the Fill button and select your desired background color. This will apply your selected color behind the graphic and extend it to the edge of the graphic frame.
4
Expand the graphic frame. Pull from a corner of the image while holding the Shift + Alt keys (Shift + Option on a Mac).
- Don't like the color you chose? Select the eyedropper tool (I) and Alt-click (Option-click) a color in the image to find a background color that matches your image perfectly.
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1

Select an object. Choose the Ellipse, Rectangle, or Polygon tool from InDesign's Tools panel.
2

Click and drag your mouse to draw your desired background shape. Adjust your background shape's size by clicking one of your shape's handles with your Select tool and dragging it until your shape is the correct size.
3

Fill the shape. Make sure the object is selected, then open InDesign's Swatches panel and select the Fill button. Choose the color you want to apply from the Swatches panel. Your shape will be filled with that color or gradient.
4
Adjust placement of the object. If there are other shapes or objects on the page, click on your background object with your Select tool.
- From the Object menu, chose Arrange > Send to Back This will ensure that your background object stays behind all other objects on your page.
5

Place your desired objects over your background shape.

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1

Choose the Selection tool (V). Click on the photo you would like to use as a background. (If your document does not have an image, follow the procedure outlined in Add a Background to an Image, above.
2
Click the FX button. This is located at the top in the toolbar. From the resulting menu, choose Transparency.
- Adjust your blending mode and transparency as desired. Enable the Preview checkbox on the bottom left to see your changes in real time.
- When you're done, click OK.
- From the Object menu, select Arrange > Send to Back to place your background photo behind all other objects on your page.
3

Place your desired objects over your background image.

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Video

To apply a border in a contrasting color, click the Stroke button in InDesign's Swatches panel and select the border color you wish to apply.

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