Outlining a stroke in InDesign: Can it be done?

[Guest]

I have outlined an object in InDesign.

I want to outline that stroke and then unify the resultant shape. (Essentially eliminating the stroke but leaving the thickness)

This is a piece of cake in Illustrator, but can you do it in InDesign?

Please say yes. : )

[Petteri_Paananen · Accepted solution]

I´m sorry to say, but as far as I know, there is no way to convert stroke to shape in indesign. Why dont you do that in Illustrator and drag&drop result to indesign? You will have it as native graphics....

[FivePicaPica · Accepted solution]

If it's a simple graphic, you can simply cut and paste back and forth.

If the graphic is simple enough it will stay a vector.

[MT.Freelance · Accepted solution]

If it is a simple rule, not a curve, you can quickly recreate the line as a shape within InDesign.

Find the Length and the stroke weight in the control panel.

Select the frame tool and click on the page.

Set the Width and Height to match the length and stroke weight.

Set the stroke color to none and the fill as needed for the art.

If it is not a simple line, the other posts about outlining within Illustrator is the way to go.

Copy within InDesgn

Paste into Illustrator

Outline the shape

Copy and Paste back to InDesign.

HTH

-mt

[thomasbricker]

Thanks everyone.

Well looks like the anwer is not yes. : )

The back and forth with Illustrator is what I usually do.

Call me crazy but it seems circuitous in light of the power of InDesign to do so many other things.

I was hoping for something closer to one stop shopping.

[sirob sulem]

Yes this really is crazy that you have to switch apps for such trivial action. A similar thing is convert text to curves which is already in Indesign so I don't see any reason why convert stroke to shape shouldn't be there as well.

Adobe? Why it is still not there?

[Steve Werner]

When there are literally thousands of features each in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, it's impossible that all of those features can be replicated in each program. Or it were, they would balloon up to a terrifying size. 😉

[sirob sulem]

Well but this is really a basic vector feature and I find myself needing it in lot of situations in Indesign. It is not some fancy vector effect or bitmap editing which of course have their place in other apps...

Although there aren't many reasons not to merge Indesign an Illustrator at some point in the future... ; )

[VERNELLArt&Design]

You can also use the "Pathfinder" tool to cut out any shape to make it look like an outlined stroke.

1. Create a circle or any shape as a path NOT a stroke.
2. Copy and "Paste in Place" the shape so that it will overlape the first shape and make it a totally different color.
3. Adjust the size of the new shape so that you can view the first shape as a stroke. 
4. Once you've chosen how thick you want the "feux stroke" to be, select both shapes.
5. Open the "Pathfinder" panel.
6. Click the "Subtract" feature
7. Booyah... you have yourself an outlined path. 🙂

www.vernellartanddesign.com

[robdavlin-ZkPqSy]

You can add an outer glow to the stroke via object styles and then set the color and opacity or multiply it.

[kennysnowball]

Nice work, Adobe. Over a hundred thousand views of this question since 2009, and you STILL haven't added this incredibley basic functionality to InDesign. 

[Mike Witherell]

Does anyone know of a script (July 2021) to outline a stroke? Within InDesign, of course.