Design custom shapes and stars in InDesign Have you ever wondered How to create stars in Adobe InDesign easily and professionallyWhether you are a beginner in the world of design or already have some experience with InDesign, you have surely at some point needed to incorporate stars or other creative shapes in your projects, whether for brochures, invitations, magazines or any editorial design.
In this article you will find a complete and extremely detailed guide to learn how to create and customize stars in InDesign. We'll go over all the available methods, lesser-known tricks, and key differences with other tools like Illustrator. We'll do so with a clear, easy-to-follow approach and practical examples that will help you master this feature in your next design projects.
Understanding Geometric Shapes in InDesign
Adobe InDesign is a program designed primarily for editorial design, but it has very interesting tools for creating basic and advanced geometric shapes. Creating stars, although not as straightforward as in Illustrator, is entirely possible and customizable thanks to the Polygon tool.
The Polygon tool not only allows you to draw triangles, hexagons or any multi-sided figure, but with its settings you can turn any polygon into a a star by adjusting the number of sides and the star margin percentageThis flexibility is one of the keys to working quickly and achieving tailored results.
It is important to note that stars in InDesign are not limited to a predefined shape or number of tips. You can customize each parameter according to your needs, allowing you to create both classic five-pointed stars as more creative and unique designs.
Where can I find the Polygon tool in InDesign?
To start creating a star in InDesign, the first thing is to locate the Polygon tool. It's found in the toolbar on the left side of the screen, along with other drawing tools such as the rectangle and ellipse.
If you don't see it directly, it may be grouped with these other tools. Just long-click on the corresponding icon to open the submenu and select the Polygon tool.
Once selected, you're ready to trace the shape onto your document. Remember that The default settings of the last method you used will appear., but you can easily change its parameters before or just after drawing.
Setting polygon properties to create stars
Creating a star isn't just about drawing a polygon. The real trick is in change the number of sides and the star margin percentageThis is where you can unleash your creativity:
- Number of sides: Define how many points your star will have. For example, for a typical star, use 5 points.
- Star margin: This is the percentage that determines how "deep" the star's points are. A 50% margin creates a balanced star; smaller or larger values create different styles or "angles" on each side.
To access these parameters:
- Select the Polygon tool.
- Double-click on the tool icon or simply start drawing the shape and, before releasing the mouse button, press the key space bar to open the settings window.
- In the dialog box that appears, enter the number of sides (for example, 5 for a classic star).
- In the star margin field, type 50% for a “perfect” star or whatever value you like to experiment with other styles.
- Press OK and the figure will be drawn following your instructions.
The best of all is that You can experiment by changing both the number of sides and the margin to get stars of different shapes and styles in the blink of an eye.
Customizing and editing stars in InDesign
Once you have drawn your star, InDesign allows you to make all the modifications you need to adapt it exactly to your design. You can Rotate the star, resize it, modify its fill and outline color, or even edit its anchor points.This way, you have complete control over its appearance, achieving professional results that blend seamlessly with the rest of your composition.
If you later want to change the number of points or the margin, you will have to recreate the figure, but Color, rotation and size adjustments are fully flexible at any timeThis makes it especially easy to adapt the star to your project's new requirements without having to start from scratch.
Another useful feature is the possibility of copy and duplicate the star to create richer compositions: Simply select the shape and use the duplicate functions (Ctrl+D or Command+D on Mac) to spread several shapes across the page or create interesting compositions in just a few clicks.
Comparison: Stars in InDesign vs. Illustrator
Source: Adobe Help Center
It is very common to ask ourselves What are the differences between creating stars in InDesign and in IllustrationEach program is designed for a specific type of work, and its form creation system varies in some relevant aspects.
En Illustration you have a dedicated Star tool, where you can predefine the number of points, the inner and outer radii, and modify these parameters both during and after drawing the shape. You can also dynamically adjust the shape while drawing using the cursor keys.
On the other hand, InDesign uses the Polygon tool with the star margin option, which although it is somewhat less intuitive at first, once you understand how it works it allows you Create equally customized stars ready to use in your documents.
The main difference, then, is in the post-editing flexibility that Illustrator offers compared to InDesign, but for editorial projects or quick layouts, InDesign's Polygon tool is more than sufficient and very versatile.
Advanced tips and tricks for a professional result
If you want your stars to look truly spectacular in your designs, here are some advanced tips and techniques To get the most out of InDesign's options:
- Play with the star margin: By varying the margin percentage you will obtain modern or classic styles, from very pronounced peaks to almost circular shapes with small protrusions.
- Use different colors and line thicknessesContrast the interior with the exterior to make the star stand out in your composition. Gradients can also add depth and dynamism.
- Apply shadow or glow effects: From the InDesign effects menu you can add shadows to give volume or highlights that give more visual presence to the figure.
- Convert to templateIf you need to use many of the same stars, convert your shape into a master object or save the style to reuse in other documents.
- Combine multiple stars: Experiment with layering stars of different sizes, colors, or numbers of points to create unique patterns or decorative elements.
The key is in practice and experiment until you find the configuration that best suits your design and the feeling you want to convey. Don't settle for the typical five-pointed star; explore different options and surprise your clients or audience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Creating Stars in InDesign
Below we review some of the most common questions among those new to working with stars in InDesign:
- Can stars with any number of points be made? Yes, simply change the number of sides when creating the shape. You can create anything from stylized triangles (three sides) to very complex stars with dozens of points.
- How do I make an 8-pointed star? In the polygon configuration window, set the number of sides to 8 and adjust the star margin to your liking.
- Can you create a very thin or pointed star? Yes, by increasing the number of sides and decreasing the star margin you can achieve very stylized effects.
- Can I edit the star after drawing it? You can modify the size, rotation, color, and stroke, but if you want to change the number of points or the margin, you'll have to create a new shape.
If you have any other specific questions about creating or customizing stars in Adobe InDesign, it is best to try different combinations of parameters and consult the official Adobe documentation to get the most out of the drawing tools.
Integrating stars into your InDesign layouts
Stars are very versatile visual resources within the editorial designsYou can use them to draw attention to prominent elements, decorate headers, or create original and dynamic background patterns.
By combining stars of different sizes, colors, and styles, you can achieve surprising effects, both in children's and youthful compositions, and in more serious and sober projects if you choose neutral tones and more discreet shapes.
Take advantage of the option duplicate objects and organize layers in InDesign to create backgrounds, decorative bands, or even improvised logos according to the needs of your project.
Plus, vector stars can be scaled and scaled without losing quality, making them perfect for use on large posters, banners, or any print or digital format.
