Create Text "highlight"

[davecourtemanche]

I am looking to create this effect to highlight a menu listing. I'd like the highlight to move automatically with the listing. The highlight is a framed box with a "paper" fill set to 60% opactity. I can't use Paragraph Shading as part of the style - can't alter opacity. Can't use an anchored object, as anchored objects won't go behind text (don't know why, seems like it'd be a useful feature). 

Any ideas on how this can be achieved?

[Barb Binder]

Hi @davecourtemanche:

Boy, that was a puzzle!! Try setting the Fill blend mode to Overlay, then you can anchor it but the text still reads as dark brown. 

~Barb

[Eugene Tyson]

Really not sure why Anchored Object doesn't work for you?

I've set one up here as an example - the highlight text is set as an object style.

That way you can just the object style and all instances throughout the document will update. 

I didn't assign any paragraph styles - but the object style should have the Paragraph Style included too - which you can edit yourself. 

[Barb Binder]

Here's the difference. @Eugene Tyson. My text is in a single text frame, with an anchored frame over a paragraph (as per @davecourtemanche's description of his approach). I needed to change the blend mode to stop obscuring the text. In your example, you are putting the text in its own frame and anchoring that. Two approaches, both work. 

~Barb

[Eugene Tyson]

Thanks Barb

I was just curious why anchoring was not working - as it seems to be ok for me. 

[davecourtemanche]

Thanks Barb, I'll give that a go. I'm always in the one text box camp myself. 😄

[Barb Binder]

Me too. If you have any questions, just let me know.

~Barb

[davecourtemanche]

Ahh, the dark brown text is a deal breaker. I guess I should feature request. This seems like something they should be working on. I'd love to see the transparency effects worked into the Border/Shading Paragraph styles. I work in menu design and it'd be super handy.

[Eugene Tyson]

What dark brown text?

You can turn off the overprinting for black. And the black will be just black as it will knockout the behindm

Not great for print but would/should work for online

[davecourtemanche]

75% of the work is for print. Using Barb's method, the black text turns brown.

[Eugene Tyson]

Did you try my file?

[Barb Binder]

I'm confused, Dave. My text isn't turning brown. 

~Barb