Text Wrap - Intelligent Subject - Contour Options greyed out

Question

Hello.

For the first time, I'm trying to lay out a print ad in InDesign rather than Illustrator. I'd like to wrap my body copy around the subject of an image. I saw that InDesign should have a feature called Intelligent Subject Detection. I've followed the steps shown here, under the heading "Wrap text with intelligent subject detection", but I do not have access to "Contour Options".

I have my body copy in a text frame. I have the main image filling the entirety of the live space and bleed using a graphics frame. Text frame is floating above the graphics frame. I have only the text frame selected.

I am using InDesign 16.4 on a early 2013 MBP Retina running macOS 10.15.7.

I'm hoping the solution is a simple thing I am overlooking.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

mwaksm · Accepted Answer

UPDATE - Sorry for wasting anyone's time. I just realized I'm supposed to select the IMAGE, not the text. My apologies.

harsh_4482 · Answer

This appears to be a case of the Intelligent Subject Detection feature being pathologized by either system configuration or oversight in configuration. Here's a troubleshooting where to get straight into fixing:

1. Check Your InDesign Version and Features
The Intelligent Subject Detection function is provided in the newest versions of InDesign. You must check if this function is rightly present in your version: 16.4.
Otherwise, consider updating InDesign, if your macOS supports a newer version.
2. Update macOS (if feasible)
You are using macOS 10.15.7 (Catalina); hence there will be limitations for newer features in InDesign. If hardware supports, you might upgrade the operating system to have a better interface with compatibility with newer features.
3. Verify Your Workflow
Set up your text frame and graphics frame as follows:
0 Select the image frame (not the text frame).
Go to the Text Wrap panel (Window > Text Wrap).
Select the third icon ("Wrap around object shape").
From the Contour Options drop-down, select "Detect Edges" or "Subject Detection."
4. Enable GPU Performance
Intelligent Subject Detection uses GPU performance, and may not perform optimally with aging hardware. Check Preferences > GPU Performance.
You could have to find a way around that by lifting your text wrap should your GPU not support the same.
5. Workarounds for Older Hardware/Software
So, the Intelligent Subject Detection function is not even available or functioning:
Make a clipping path in Photoshop for your subject: Open the photo in Photoshop.
Then select the subject with either the Quick Selection Tool or Pen Tool. Save the path as a clipping path (under Paths panel). Export the image as a PSD or TIFF to include the clipping path. Import the edited image in InDesign, and wrap the text around the path.
6. Alternative Manual Solution
Don't use Subject Detection in the Text Wrap > Use Detect Edges instead.
Refine the manual wrap using Direct Selection Tool to adjust the wrap along the defined boundaries.
7. Test a Fresh Document
It might happen that either document settings are causing problems, or it has become corrupt. So try it out in a different fresh InDesign document with the same assets.

Let me know if you require further clarifications or detailed steps!

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