Can I "warp" text in CC InDesign? NOT wrap, "warp."

[scottyb34]

Can I "warp" text in CC InDesign? NOT wrap, "warp," like in Photoshop (i.e. "Bulge," "Arch," "Arc," "Flat" etc.).

Thanks, Scott

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

No, but you can do it in Photoshop as you indicated, or in Illustrator, and then place the resulting warped text into an InDesign document.

[scottyb34]

Thanks for the quick and concise answer, Barb. It took me two hours to get that simple question answered elsewhere.

Excuse my ignorance, but I'm awaiting the InDesign 2017 manual from my local library.

That said, I thought all formatting was lost when placing text into InDesign. Or has that changed with Creative Cloud InDesign 2017?

In addition, I was sternly warned NOT to rasterize text prior to importing to InDesign (this is for print, by the way). Won't the text first have to be rasterized in Photoshop then placed into InDesign?

[Laubender]

Hi Scott,

don't rasterize text, if you don't have to.
The best format you can import to InDesign is PDF.

Save a PDF/X-4 out of PhotoShop and place that.

Or a PDF with a similar pdf-version number ( 1.4 and above ).
Do not downsample images while exporting.

Do not use PhotoShop's own psd format with InDesign.

All vector information in the psd would be rasterized with InDesign's export to PDF.

The placed PDF would stay intact as possible.

At least vector information would not be rasterized.

Regards,
Uwe

[Barb Binder]

Hi Scott: Uwe gave you the Photoshop workflow.

Here's an alternative. Do you have the CC subscription? If so, you have Illustrator. You might not know Ai well yet, but this is very straightforward and Ai is a vector application so no worries about rasterizing.

1. Make a new document.
2. Click with the Type tool (don't drag out a frame) and type in the text. Format.
3. Select the text with the Selection tool.
4. Click the triangle next to the Warp button to make sure "Make with Warp" is checked.
5. Click the Warp button. Pick your desired warp—the ones you mentioned are listed.
   
6. When done, switch to the Artboard tool and fit the artboard to the text. Artwork bounds will always work, Selected art if it is still selected.
   
7. Use File > Place in InDesign.
8. Observe the links panel—no resolution (actual or effective PPI) listed because it's a vector file.
   
9. If you want to refine the warp, click the Pencil button to hop back to Ai, fix it, save and return.
   

[scottyb34]

Wow. Now THAT is a definitive and detailed answer. A big thanks to both you, Barb, and Uwe.

I only wish I could simply use the "warp" function in Photoshop (and InDesign) because it's just so much quicker and easier. Just click, move the sliders and your done. Oh well, a this point I'll take what I can get.

Thanks again to both of you.

Much appreciated,

Scott

[Barb Binder]

Glad we could help.

[Mungiguerra]

Barb's ai workflow above—in ai—is a huge productivity boost. Indesign is awesome because it breaks down barriers that would otherwise exist between the different apps.

[Barb Binder]

That's what I came to love about the Creative Suite and then the Creative Cloud apps. They streamline our workflow, which helps us get our jobs done more quickly so that we can go out and play.

~Barb

[Ocean Blues]

It would seem logical that inDesign would have the ability to warp text. inDesign has wonderful type handling tools…Warp would be a nice addition. If anyone is listening..:)

[Steve Werner]

This isn't the place for feature requests if you want the product managers to see them.

Instead post them here:

Feature Requests/Bugs

[michaelp798]

Thanks for sharing with us.