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Tip of the Week: Placing One Image into Multiple Frames

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This InDesign tip on how to place one image into multiple frames was sent to Tip of the Week email subscribers on October 20, 2016.

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You can create all kinds of fun, eye-catching design elements by placing an image into multiple frames. The trick is to use a compound path.

For example, this image of a scary clown lady just isn’t quite scary enough.

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But if we put it in a bunch of jagged frames, we can heighten the feeling of unhinged danger that should accompany every scary clown image.

To do this, take the Pen tool and draw a bunch of jagged, random closed paths over the original image.

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When you’re done, select them all and choose Object > Paths > Make Compound Path.

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Then cut the original image and delete the empty frame.

Select your compound path, and choose Edit > Paste Into.

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With the image in place, you can manipulate the individual points with the Direct Selection tool to modify the look.

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Editor in Chief of CreativePro. Instructor at LinkedIn Learning with courses on InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, GIMP, Inkscape, and Affinity Publisher. Co-author of The Photoshop Visual Quickstart Guide with Nigel French.
  • Toyin Oyenuga says:

    Interested

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