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Inspiring
April 19, 2023
Answered

How to get less space around text inside text box with rounded corners in InDesign?

  • April 19, 2023
  • 8 replies
  • 2352 views

I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to figure out if there's a way to get the edges of a text box closer to the text itself.

In this case, I have a text box with rounded corners, which, based on my searches, has been a challenge for a while, and hasn't been resolved yet:

Is there a non-workaround way of getting the edges of the rounded frame closer?

thanks

 

<Title renamed by moderator>

Correct answer Willi Adelberger

Or, instead working with a text frame, work with paragraph shading.

8 replies

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 20, 2023

InDesign can only place type according to the matrix of the glyph, which is a rectangle encompassing the ascenders and descenders, so when you have a rounded corner, the first character cannot fully appear on the first line until its top left gets past the edge of the frame (top example). You can try select a different baseline option between Cap Height, Ascending or x-height, and perhaps add a minimum to push it down so it can tuck closer to the left, at the expense of it being farther from the top edge.

The best may be using x-height as the baseline option (you'll still have to add a bit of minimum space to push it down a bit). In my second example, you can see the xheight (cyan line) now defines the top left starting point of the first character, and so it can get closer to the left. It's trial and error to get what satisfies you, and it's not without its problems: as you can see the top of the letter A is falling outside the frame now, so pick your poison!

turner111Author
Inspiring
April 19, 2023

Checking in: Experimenting with a thick stroke with rounded corners pasted inline below the text, and using baseline shift.

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 20, 2023

Did you try Paragraph Shading as I wrote above?

turner111Author
Inspiring
April 20, 2023

Yes! I think this may work. Figuring out a few things with Paragraph Border, but this may be the solution. Will report back...

Scott Falkner
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

If the text frame is wide enough then you can make it as short as you want. But if it is so narrow the text comes close to the edge the text will be inside the curved sides and you will not be able to fit all the text in the frame. Also, since the text areae is not a rectangle you cannot use any Vertical Justification other than Top. You can stil use baseline shift or first line offset to centre the text.

 

Another tip: Set Vertical Justification to Centre and set First Baseline Offset to Cap Height.

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

Also, since the text areae is not a rectangle you cannot use any Vertical Justification other than Top

I am not sure:

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
April 19, 2023

Scott contradicted himself one paragraph later, so I'm not sure if he's right or wrong. 🙂

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

Have you tried pasting a square textframe inside a rounded corner textframe?

Mike Witherell
Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Willi AdelbergerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

Or, instead working with a text frame, work with paragraph shading.

turner111Author
Inspiring
April 20, 2023

Looks like this is going to work the fastest / easiest way for now - thanks!

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

In the frame's baseline setting try to change the first line start and chnge to cap's heights.

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

Did you check all he text frame options? (inset, baseline options)

turner111Author
Inspiring
April 19, 2023

Yes, there isn't any... it's the spacing on the sides that seems to adhere to where the corners would begin if the text box were rectangular.

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 19, 2023

You can't do anything for the left and right spacing. @Willi Adelberger suggestion is the best way to get what you want.

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
April 19, 2023

Reduce all text spacing; reduce any text frame spacing. I don't think anything else controls that margin.