To center text vertically in InDesign, you use the Text Frame Options dialog box.
Aligning text vertically within a text frame is a common design task in Adobe InDesign. Whether you want headlines perfectly centered or body text aligned to the bottom, InDesign provides simple controls to achieve this. The primary method involves adjusting the text frame's vertical justification settings.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to vertically center text:
- Select the Text Frame: Use the Selection Tool (the black arrow) to click on the text frame containing the text you wish to center.
- Open Text Frame Options: With the text frame selected, go to the Object menu in the top menu bar.
- Choose Text Frame Options: From the dropdown menu, select Text Frame Options... (or press Cmd+B on macOS or Ctrl+B on Windows). This will open the Text Frame Options dialog box.
- Navigate to Vertical Justification: In the Text Frame Options dialog box, locate the Vertical Justification section on the right side.
- Select 'Center': Within the Vertical Justification section, find the "Align" dropdown menu. Click on it and choose Center.
- Apply Changes: Ensure the "Preview" checkbox is ticked to see the change before applying. Click OK to apply the vertical alignment and close the dialog box.
Your text will now be vertically centered within the selected text frame.
Understanding Vertical Justification Options
The Vertical Justification section offers several alignment options besides Center:
| Option | Description | Use Case Example |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Aligns the first line of text with the top inset of the text frame. | Standard paragraph alignment in most documents. |
| Center | Centers the text vertically within the text frame. | Headlines, captions, call-out boxes. |
| Bottom | Aligns the last line of text with the bottom inset of the text frame. | Footnotes, captions at the bottom of an image. |
| Justify | Distributes lines of text evenly between the top and bottom inset of the frame. | Creating even columns of text regardless of content amount (requires multiple lines). |
Reference Information: As stated in the reference, you Choose Object > Text Frame Options. In the Vertical Justification section of the Text Frame Options dialog box, choose Top/Right, Center, Bottom/Left, or Justify. The options are indeed found in this specific menu path and section.
Practical Tips
- This setting applies to the entire text content within that specific text frame, not just a portion of it.
- Vertical justification works best when the text frame is larger than the actual content, allowing space for the text to be shifted.
- You can adjust the spacing between lines or paragraphs further by changing the "Paragraph Spacing Limit" and "Paragraph Spacing" options within the Vertical Justification section when using the "Justify" option.
Using the Text Frame Options dialog box provides a simple and effective way to control the vertical positioning of your text within any given frame in InDesign.
