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btap
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March 10, 2025
Answered

Paragraph shading and columns

  • March 10, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 359 views

I have a two-column layout with running text:

 

1st column: Text without background

2nd column: Paragraph shading

 

How can I control the spacing between the top of the green box and the top of the text while keeping everything inside the column? My main issue is achieving exact spacing above "13" and at the bottom of the green box. I used left and right indents to adjust the text spacing but cannot use "space before" (nothing happens).

 

I know that I can use the offset in "Paragraph Shading," but that would push the shading outside my column. Is there a way to solve this?

Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

Shading does not lend itself to inside spacing, only to "expanding" past the text using the offset. As you've discovered, you have to use other features to space text in, then expand the shading (and borders) offset to fill space to the margins.

 

The only reliable way to get space at the top of a page/frame/column, though, is to use a Rule Above on the first paragraph. The basics are:

  • Set a Rule Above for you '13' paragraph.
    • The rule can be 0 points, [None] color or both — whatever makes it invisible on your layout.
    • Set the rule's offset to the space you want above.
    • Make sure to check Keep In Frame, as that's what forces InDesign to bring the rule down to the top margin instead of letting it float above.
  • (And yes, that's the canonical/correct/only way to do top spacing at page tops!)

 

Equivalent spacing at the bottom is another problem, and I can't think of a good, consistent. styles-driven method for that. I think the assumption is that you'll use a text frame for insets like this, which would make it all much easier to manage.

2 replies

E
Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 10, 2025

One idea

 

So you can see what's going on - you don't need this on all the time 

Go to View>Grids & Guides> Show Baseline Grid (it says Hide for me because they are on at the moment)

 

In your paragraph style for the Chapter Heading (numbering)

 

 

This can then be adjusted Globally in the Preferences if you go to Grids in the InDesign preferences

 

 

You may need to increase your paragraph shading

 

 

 

 

 

 

B
btapAuthor
Participating Frequently
March 10, 2025

Hi Eugene, thank you for your suggestion and I will think about this solution. The only thing is that this document will be very complex containing plain text, text with background (divided on columns), pictures, different text sizes, baselines and more columns. But thank you again!

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPressCorrect answer
    Legend
    March 10, 2025

    Shading does not lend itself to inside spacing, only to "expanding" past the text using the offset. As you've discovered, you have to use other features to space text in, then expand the shading (and borders) offset to fill space to the margins.

     

    The only reliable way to get space at the top of a page/frame/column, though, is to use a Rule Above on the first paragraph. The basics are:

    • Set a Rule Above for you '13' paragraph.
      • The rule can be 0 points, [None] color or both — whatever makes it invisible on your layout.
      • Set the rule's offset to the space you want above.
      • Make sure to check Keep In Frame, as that's what forces InDesign to bring the rule down to the top margin instead of letting it float above.
    • (And yes, that's the canonical/correct/only way to do top spacing at page tops!)

     

    Equivalent spacing at the bottom is another problem, and I can't think of a good, consistent. styles-driven method for that. I think the assumption is that you'll use a text frame for insets like this, which would make it all much easier to manage.

      B
      btapAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      March 10, 2025

      Hi James, thank you so much for your help! I think this will solve my problem, appreciate it alot!

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