Adobe InDesign CS4 - Manual (Page 449)

441 USING INDESIGN CS4
Color
Apply colors using the Eyedropper tool
Use the Eyedropper tool to copy fill and stroke attributes, such as color, from any object in an InDesign file,
including an imported graphic. By default, the Eyedropper tool loads all available fill and stroke attributes of an object
and sets the default fill and stroke attributes of any new objects you draw. You can use the Eyedropper Options dialog
box to change the attributes the Eyedropper tool copies. You can also use the Eyedropper tool to copy type and
transparency attributes.
Note: If an attribute is not listed in the Eyedropper Options dialog box, it can’t be copied with the Eyedropper tool.
Apply colors using the Eyedropper tool
1 Select one or more objects that have the fill and stroke attributes you want to change.
2 Select the Eyedropper tool .
3 Click any object that has the fill and stroke attributes you want to sample. A loaded eyedropper appears , and
the selected objects are automatically updated with the fill and stroke attributes of the object you clicked.
4 To change other objects to the same attributes, click the objects with the loaded eyedropper. If an object is stroked
and not filled, be sure to click the object’s outline.
Pick up new attributes when the Eyedropper tool is loaded
1 Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) while the Eyedropper tool is loaded. The Eyedropper tool reverses
direction, and appears empty , to indicate that it’s ready to pick up new attributes.
2 Without releasing the Alt or Option key, click an object containing the attributes that you want to copy, and then
release the Alt or Option key so that you can drop the new attributes on another object.
Change Eyedropper tool settings
1 In the Toolbox, double-click the Eyedropper tool .
2 Choose Fill And Stroke Settings from the menu at the top of the Eyedropper Options dialog box.
3 Select the fill and stroke attributes you want to copy with the Eyedropper tool, and then click OK.
To pick up only the fill or stroke color of an object and no other attributes, Shift-click the object with the Eyedropper
tool. When you apply the color to another object, only the fill or stroke color is applied, depending on whether the
stroke or fill is on top in the toolbar.
Apply colors to grayscale images
You can add color to a placed grayscale image in InDesign.
1 Make sure the image is saved as a grayscale or bitmap image and that it’s saved in PSD, TIFF, BMP, or JPF format.
In Photoshop, you can choose Image > Mode > Bitmap or Image > Mode > Grayscale.
2 Use the Direct Selection tool to select the image.
3 Select a color from the Swatches panel or Color panel.
If the image is in PSD format, it may contain multiple layers, but the bottom layer must be opaque. You cannot apply
color to a PSD image with a transparent background in InDesign. In addition, the grayscale image cannot contain
alpha or spot channels.
Updated 18 June 2009