Apply blur and smear effects in InDesign

How to create a blur effect in InDesign

Learn how to do the blur effect in InDesign It's part of the basic training for graphic editing. Best of all, the Blur tool automates and facilitates the process, achieving professional results in seconds, with simple training that you'll master in no time.

When create and generate imagesYou can use the blur effect to add personal touches to your proposals. Generally speaking, this type of effect is used to highlight a specific element in the scene, blurring the background so it doesn't overshadow it and thus improve its exposure or visibility. But there are different strategies to take advantage of it.

How to create a blur effect in InDesign

El Adobe InDesign software It allows us to create the blurred effect using a very simple and automated tool. It's called Blur and works as a marker that, when you customize the options bar in its various parameters, adds the blur effect to specific areas.

When using BlurYou can select different blur characteristics, including size, hardness, and intensity. The effect will then be displayed on our image, and you can go back and play with the values ​​again to increase or decrease the effect, or change the area you want to blur in the image. Each project is unique, and you may need to experiment with the intensities several times before choosing the one you like best.

Add blur and blur effects to objects and groups

El blur or gradient effect InDesign isn't at all complex. Unlike other programs with more options, such as Illustrator, InDesign's offering is rather basic. It offers practical, useful, and very dynamic results, but they're far from the professionalism of other design software options.

The first step is to create a shape in your InDesign project. It can be a simple rectangle, or anything you like. A good trick is to give the shape a fill color so you can always see the changes when adding a gradient, fade, or blur.

Once you've selected the tool, press the left mouse button and mark the gradient direction on your image. This is the easiest way to practice the effect and apply it to solid elements. But there are other alternatives.

How to add a blur effect to a photo in InDesign

Imagine you want to give an entire image a fade-in effect. Start transparent and gradually gain solidity toward the top, for example. This can be done almost automatically in InDesign thanks to the FX (Special Effects) section. The button is located in the upper right corner of the toolbar.

Editing images in InDesign

Press the Fx button and select Gradient Feather. This effect option on objects will open a settings window. From here, you can customize various parameters to get the effect just the way you want it. For example, you can choose the angle from which it's applied; the opacity level; and the location of the effect itself.

What types of fading does InDesign offer?

La Adobe InDesign tool For image editing, while more limited than other offerings, it still offers a number of interesting functions and fade and blur options. From the effects section, you can select and choose between different types of fades or gradients, and depending on your final goal, choosing between them will help you create a more personalized image.

Basic Fade or Diffuse

This fading technique makes an object or image gradually become transparent. To achieve this, you need to open the Effects panel and change the opacity of the selected object.

Directional Fading

This fade effect is applied in a specific direction. It's also activated from the Effects panel and includes some additional parameters to specifically select where the fade is directed and how much it fades. It's ideal for creating a fade from a corner or side.

Gradient Fade

This gradient effect allows an object to become transparent using a color gradient. To activate it, open the Effects panel and select Gradient Feather. Then manually adjust the opacity and direction settings to achieve the look you like.

Opacity settings

By adjusting opacity, you can change the overall transparency of an object in an image. This makes adjacent objects stand out more. To apply this effect, select an object in the image, click the Effects panel, and move the opacity slider to achieve the desired level of transparency.

What blur and smear effects can be applied in InDesign?

The procedure for creating a blur effect in InDesign is quite simple and repetitive, although you can later apply modifications for a custom style. From the Window section in the top toolbar, select the Effects section and then the object or group to which you want to apply it.

How to apply the blur effect

In addition to change the opacity level with the barBy manually choosing the intensity of the effect, you can also customize the blending mode between the object and the background. There are various options, such as Multiply or Overlay, among others.

The transparency effects They can also be applied to an object or group. From the Effects panel, as we've seen, they can be used with the option of manually setting certain levels and intensities. Another option that can also be used in InDesign is to merge specific groups or apply the knockout effect. The latter is an interesting effect that allows the object within the group to be cut out, according to the shape of an object outside.

These are some of the options available to users to play around with and learn to master InDesign. It's a versatile and powerful tool that can achieve excellent results when creating professional-looking visual products with ease.


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