skew text box, keep text upright

[Nedlaw]

I'm working with a template developed by a colleague (who is not contactable). She used text in a text box that looks like this:

I need to emulate this, but I have no idea how she achieved it. She used the slanted side of a text box to achieve sequential indentation. It's not skewed, which gives a false Italic to the text. It's not a rotated text box. How do I do this?

Thanks!

-j

[winterm · Accepted solution]

Select unselected text frame with Direct Selection tool (white arrow). Edit its shape by dragging the corners.

[Nedlaw]

This is absolutely the correct answer -- but I have a follow-up question: Is there a way to do this with specific settings rather than just by eyeballing the angle? I have three text fields, all lined up. I made the adjustment by eyeballing the angles, and I THINK I got it pretty close -- but is there a setting where I can make the angle, say, 30 degrees in each case? I didn't see anything changing as I made the adjustments.

Thanks.

-j

[Steve Werner]

Use the Measure tool and the Info panel:

This Help file explains how to measure angles:

Use rulers and measurement units in Adobe InDesign

[Laubender]

Hi Nedlaw ,

I think there is a better way to do this exactly.

Select the rectangular text frame with the direct selection tool so that all path points are selected.

Now skew the frame by -30°. Text will not follow.

The next step would be to drag the single path point at the right more to the right to build parallel lines with the page edges.

Smart guides will help you.

Regards,
Uwe

[Jongware]

You can also use the white "Direct Selection" arrow to select only the two left side anchor points at the top and the bottom. Use the proxy to determine the "rotation" point – top, center, or bottom.

[Laubender]

There is even one step I can avoid by using skew.

Just select the two left path points with Direct Selection Tool and skew the selection to -30°.

Best,
Uwe

[Jongware]

Oops – yeah, I see I forgot to add that last step: and then use Skew with an exact number.

[Nedlaw]

DOH. <forehead slap>

Thanks!

[william.bohn]

A more elegant (If silly) solution:

1. Skew Text Box
2. Select text
3. False Itallic in the opposite direction.
4. Profit

[Nedlaw]

There is always room for finesse. 🙂