Create Clipping Paths in InDesign Creative Suite 5

Creating and using clipping paths in Adobe InDesign CS5 is useful when you want to block out areas of an image and have text wrap around the leftover image. Clipping paths allow you to create a path that crops a part of an image based on the path, such as removing the background area of an image.

This shape can be one you create using InDesign, or you can import an image that already has a clipping path. InDesign can also use an existing alpha or mask layer, such as one created using Photoshop or Fireworks, and treat it like a clipping path.

You can create a clipping path directly in InDesign by using a drawing tool, such as the Pen tool. You use the tool to create a shape and then paste an image into this shape on the page. Here’s how:

1. Choose File→Place and browse to locate an image.

   
   



2. With the Pen tool, create a path right on top of the image.

   
   

   The path should be created so that it can contain the image.

   
   



3. With the Selection tool, click to select the image and then choose File→Cut.

   
   



4. Select the shape you created in Step 1 and choose Edit→Paste Into.

   
   

   The image is pasted into the selected shape you drew with the Pen tool.

   
   

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