Removing Border Strokes In Indesign: A Quick Guide

To get rid of a border stroke in InDesign, you need to adjust the stroke settings. First, select the path whose stroke you want to modify using the Selection tool. Then, go to Window > Stroke to display the Stroke panel. In the Stroke panel, you can adjust the weight and appearance of the stroke. To remove the stroke entirely, set the weight to 0. Alternatively, you can select None for the stroke colour in the Swatches panel. If the stroke is part of an object style, you can remove it by going to Object > Styles and selecting None for the framing.

Select the path of the stroke you want to modify

To get started with modifying the stroke of a path in InDesign, you must first select the path in question. This can be done using the Selection tool, which will activate a bounding box that encompasses the entire object. If you wish to view the actual path, you can instead select the path using the Direct Selection tool.

Once you have selected the path, the next step is to access the Stroke panel, which can be done by choosing "Window" and then "Stroke" from the menu. This will bring up a range of options for customising the stroke.

If you are looking to simply remove the stroke, you can type a value of 0 (zero) for the weight, or select "None" for the stroke colour in the Swatches panel.

However, if you wish to adjust the appearance of the stroke, the Stroke panel offers several options for doing so. You can choose a stroke weight from the menu or type in your desired value. You can also specify the cap style of the stroke, selecting from options such as "Butt cap", "Round cap", or "Projecting cap", each of which will give the ends of the stroke a different appearance.

Additionally, you can define the appearance of the stroke at corner points by choosing from options such as "Miter join", "Round join", or "Bevel join". These options will determine whether the corners of the stroke are pointed, rounded, or squared off.

By exploring the various settings in the Stroke panel, you can customise the stroke to your desired specifications.

Choose Window > Stroke to display the Stroke panel

To get started with stroke options, you need to display the Stroke panel. To do this, choose Window > Stroke. This will bring up the Stroke panel, which provides control over the weight and appearance of the stroke, including how segments join, start and end shapes, and options for corners.

The Stroke panel also allows you to select stroke settings in the Control panel when a path or frame is selected. If you frequently use the same stroke settings, you can save them in an object style and quickly apply them to any object.

The Stroke panel offers various options to customise your strokes. You can specify the weight of the stroke, select a cap style to define the appearance of both ends of an open path, and set the miter limit to determine the point length to stroke width ratio before a mitered join becomes a bevelled square join.

Additionally, you can specify the appearance of the stroke at corner points, add arrowheads or other symbols to the ends of your strokes, and adjust the path to align with the tip or end of the arrowhead.

By choosing Window > Stroke, you gain access to a range of stroke customisation tools that can enhance the appearance and precision of your designs in InDesign.

Change stroke attributes

To change stroke attributes in InDesign, you can follow these steps:

• Select the path whose stroke you want to modify using the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool. The Selection tool activates a bounding box around the entire object, while the Direct Selection tool allows you to select the actual path.
• Go to Window > Stroke or choose Stroke from the panel menu to display the Stroke panel.
• In the Stroke panel, you can modify various attributes such as the weight, cap style, miter limit, corner appearance, stroke type, arrowheads, and more.
• For the weight, choose a value from the menu or type a specific value. To remove the stroke completely, set the weight to 0.
• If you want to change the colour of the stroke, use the toolbox and Swatches panel.
• Specify the cap style to control the appearance of the ends of an open path. The options include Butt Cap, Round Cap, and Projecting Cap.
• Set the miter limit to control the point length to stroke width ratio before a mitered join becomes a bevelled square join.
• Choose the appearance of the stroke at corner points: Miter Join, Round Join, or Bevel Join.
• You can also add start and end shapes, such as arrowheads, by using the Start and End menus in the Stroke panel.
• To define custom stroke styles, open the Stroke panel, choose Stroke Styles from the panel menu, and enter a name for the style. Select the type (Dash, Striped, or Dotted), pattern length, and adjust the stroke pattern to your liking.

Remember that you can also change stroke attributes in the Object Styles panel and the Control panel when a path or frame is selected. Additionally, if you frequently use the same stroke settings, you can save them as an object style for quick application to other objects.

Change the stroke's colour

To change the colour of a stroke in InDesign, you will need to select the path of the stroke you want to modify. To do this, use the Direct Selection tool to select the path.

Next, go to the Stroke panel by choosing Window > Stroke. Here, you can change the colour of the stroke using the toolbox and Swatches panel.

If you frequently use the same stroke settings, you can save them in an object style and quickly apply them to any object. To do this, go to Object > Styles and select "None" for the framing. This will remove the border.

Alternatively, you can set the stroke weight to 0 to remove the stroke.

Select the path using the Direct Selection tool

When you select a path using the Direct Selection tool, you can activate the actual path, rather than the bounding box that encompasses the entire object. This is particularly useful when you want to modify a specific part of the path, such as adjusting the weight and appearance of the stroke.

To access the Direct Selection tool, simply locate it in the Tools panel. It is usually located near the Selection tool, which is the default tool for selecting and transforming objects. By clicking on the Direct Selection tool, you can switch between the two tools easily.

Once you have selected the Direct Selection tool, click on the path you want to modify. This will allow you to make changes to the stroke. For example, if you want to remove the stroke, you can type a value of 0 (zero) in the Weight option of the Stroke panel. You can also access other stroke attributes, such as the cap style and corner appearance, by choosing Show Options from the panel menu.

The Direct Selection tool is particularly useful when working with complex paths or shapes. It allows you to manipulate specific anchor points or segments of the path without affecting the rest of the object. This level of precision is essential for creating detailed and intricate designs.

Additionally, the Direct Selection tool can be used in combination with other tools and panels in InDesign to further customize your designs. For instance, you can use the Stroke panel to define custom stroke styles, including dashed, dotted, or striped patterns, and then apply them to your selected path.

Frequently asked questions