To create a heart shape in InDesign, start by drawing half of a heart shape and then mirroring it. Here's a breakdown of the process, drawing from the YouTube video reference:
Steps to Create a Heart Shape in InDesign
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Draw Half of the Heart: Begin by using the drawing tools to create what would be one half of the heart shape. The video suggests this as a starting point.
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Mirror the Half Heart: After creating half of the heart, the tutorial does not specify the exact tool for mirroring, but the suggestion is to take this half and flip it to create the other symmetrical half of the heart.
While the video provides a good conceptual start, here is a more detailed approach using InDesign’s tools for a more accurate heart shape:
Detailed Method Using InDesign Tools
Here's a more complete way to achieve a perfect heart shape in InDesign:
- Use the Ellipse Tool:
- Select the Ellipse Tool from the toolbar.
- Draw a circle while holding down the Shift key to create a perfect circle.
- Duplicate this circle using Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste.
- Position the duplicated circle beside the first one, slightly overlapping.
- Create the Bottom Point:
- Use the Pen Tool and add a point where you want the bottom of the heart to meet between the two circles.
- Click on the first circle path and add an anchor point at 270 degrees.
- Do the same for the second circle path.
- Remove Excess:
- Use the Direct Selection Tool and delete the top half of each circle.
- Select the new endpoints and Join them using Object > Path > Join.
- Adjust the Curve:
- Use the Direct Selection Tool to select the anchor points and adjust the handles to create a smoother heart shape.
- Optional: Add a stroke or fill: You can easily add a stroke or a fill to your heart shape using InDesign's swatches panel.
| Step | Tool/Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial Shape | Ellipse Tool | Create two overlapping circles |
| 2. Points for Bottom | Pen Tool | Add a point between the circles where the heart's point will be. Add anchor points to each circle at 270 degrees |
| 3. Clean Up | Direct Selection Tool, Object > Path > Join | Remove unwanted portions of the circles and join the new endpoints |
| 4. Fine Tuning | Direct Selection Tool | Adjust curves and handles for a perfect heart shape. |
| 5. Stroke and Fill | Swatches Panel | Customize color and stroke. |
This combined approach uses the concept mentioned in the video of creating half the shape and mirroring, but in a more accurate way by utilizing InDesign's drawing tools for a precise outcome.
