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A
Anonymous
August 3, 2009
Answered

Outlining a stroke in InDesign: Can it be done?

  • August 3, 2009
  • 7 replies
  • 221683 views

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. : )

    Correct answer MT.Freelance

    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

    7 replies

    Mike Witherell
    Community Expert
    Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 6, 2021

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

    Mike Witherell
      K
      kennysnowball
      Participant
      June 16, 2018

      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. 

        R
        robdavlin-ZkPqSy
        Participant
        October 2, 2014

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

          V
          VERNELLArt&Design
          Participant
          December 12, 2012

          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

            thomasbricker
            thomasbricker
            Inspiring
            August 4, 2009

            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.

              S
              sirob sulem
              Participant
              April 7, 2015

              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
                Community Expert
                Steve WernerCommunity Expert
                Community Expert
                April 7, 2015

                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. ;-)

                  MT.Freelance
                  MT.FreelanceCorrect answer
                  Inspiring
                  August 3, 2009

                  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

                    Petteri_Paananen
                    Petteri_Paananen
                    Inspiring
                    August 3, 2009

                    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
                    FivePicaPica
                    Inspiring
                    August 3, 2009

                    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.

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