Skip to main content
J
June5FEB
Known Participant
July 16, 2022
Answered

How to Change Text Highlighting Color When Using "Paragraph Rules"

  • July 16, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 4208 views

While using "Paragraph Rules" to create a tinted black rule/band surrounding my black type, I have run into a dilemma. I want my rule/band to be Black 15% but when I highlight the targeted area – I can't see what I'm doing even with the "preview" box checked. It all fades into one band of black color.

 

I feel like I'm walking around in the dark without my glasses on. Please help.

 

When I selected an alternate band of color (cyan 100%) for my rule/band with my type still Black it shows me (in orange) what my rule/band will look like before I click the "ok" box. This is great, but I don't want a cyan rule/band.

 

Thank you.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer rob day

Yes, I do utilize "work-arounds".

 

InDesign doesn’t have a hide selection—you could do a feature request.

 

Also, I was assuming you would be using Styles, but with Paragraph Rules you don’t have to select any text, just put your cursor somewhere in the paragraph and edit the Paragraph Rules dialog with Preview checked—the Rule Above is set relative to the first baseline of the paragraph not the paragraph’s text.

2 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 16, 2022

"I want my rule/band to be Black 15% but when I highlight the targeted area – I can't see what I'm doing even with the "preview" box checked."

 

Hi@June5FEB ,

if you feel distracted from the selection color while working on formatting text, just add a second layout window for the same document to watch what you are doing without the selection. From my German InDesign 2022 on Windows 10:

 

 

You even can do a different kind of preview in the second layout window; like Overprint Preview with this example:

 

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )

    J
    June5FEBAuthor
    Known Participant
    July 16, 2022

    Uwe,

    Thank you for your in-depth reply and useful diagrams. Your advice will certainly help me to work around this dilemma. I still hope Adobe will fix it though!!!

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 16, 2022

    Hi @June5FEB , you can’t change the text highlight color, but you can create a Paragraph Style that includes the Paragraph Rule, which you’ll want to do anyway to make it easy to format other paragraphs the same way.

     

    Once you’ve done that you can change the Rule Above properties without selecting any text and preview the change from the Paragraph Style Options>Paragraph Rules tab:

     

    Here I have a style named Text and a style named Text Highlight, which is based on Text. No text is selected, but I can change Text Highlight and see the changes:

     

     

    You can use a Character Style with an Underline, this would allow you to highlight a single word or words within a paragraph:

     

      J
      June5FEBAuthor
      Known Participant
      July 16, 2022

      Rob,

      Thank you for taking the time to reply in-depth with some helpful advice and diagrams . Yes, I do utilize "work-arounds". Certainly, I can start them as another color that I can see, and change them to a tint afterwards. I guess that means (in my humble opinion) that this particular dilemma is an oversight or weakness in the program. Maybe it should be rectified by Adobe. I really appreciate how much time and thought you offered towards my question!

       

       

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      July 16, 2022

      Yes, I do utilize "work-arounds".

       

      InDesign doesn’t have a hide selection—you could do a feature request.

       

      Also, I was assuming you would be using Styles, but with Paragraph Rules you don’t have to select any text, just put your cursor somewhere in the paragraph and edit the Paragraph Rules dialog with Preview checked—the Rule Above is set relative to the first baseline of the paragraph not the paragraph’s text.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices