How to Add Filler Text in InDesign?

Adobe InDesign is a powerful tool for creating professional-looking layouts for both print and digital media. One of the features that many designers find useful is the ability to add filler text (often referred to as “Lorem Ipsum”) to their designs. This filler text is typically used to demonstrate the visual style of a document or page layout without the need for final content. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add filler text in InDesign, making your design process smoother and more efficient.

Step 1: Create a Text Frame

Before you can add filler text, you need a text frame to place it in. To create a text frame:

1. Select the Type Tool from the toolbar or press T on your keyboard.
2. Click and drag on your document to create a text frame of your desired size.
3. Release the mouse button to finalize the text frame.

Step 2: Add Filler Text

Once you have your text frame ready, adding filler text is straightforward:

1. With the text frame selected, go to the Type menu at the top of the screen.
2. From the dropdown menu, choose Fill with Placeholder Text.
3. InDesign will automatically fill the text frame with Lorem Ipsum, the standard filler text used in the design industry.

Step 3: Customize the Filler Text

InDesign allows you to customize the appearance of the filler text:

1. Font and Size: Select the text within the frame and choose your preferred font and size from the Character panel.
2. Paragraph Settings: Adjust alignment, spacing, and other paragraph settings from the Paragraph panel to match your layout needs.
3. Text Color: Change the color of the filler text by selecting the text and choosing a color from the Swatches panel.

Step 4: Experiment with Different Filler Text

If you want to experiment with different filler text or need a different length of text:

1. Simply delete the existing filler text from the text frame.
2. Repeat the process by going to Type > Fill with Placeholder Text.
3. InDesign will generate new filler text for you to use.

Step 5: Replace Filler Text with Actual Content

Once your design is finalized and you have the actual content ready, you can easily replace the filler text:

1. Select the filler text in the text frame.
2. Copy and paste your actual content, or type it directly into the frame.

FAQs

Q1: Can I use custom filler text in InDesign instead of Lorem Ipsum?

Yes, you can. Instead of using the built-in placeholder text, you can manually type or paste any custom text you want to use as filler.

Q2: Is there a way to generate different types of placeholder text in InDesign?

By default, InDesign uses Lorem Ipsum, but you can create a custom script to generate other types of placeholder text or install plugins that offer this functionality.

Q3: How do I change the language of the filler text in InDesign?

InDesign’s default filler text is in Latin (Lorem Ipsum). To change the language, you would need to manually replace the text with content in your desired language.

Q4: Will the filler text affect the overall design if I replace it with actual content later?

Filler text is typically used to approximate the layout. Depending on the length and formatting of your actual content, you may need to make slight adjustments to your design when replacing the filler text.

Q5: Can I add filler text to multiple text frames at once in InDesign?

Unfortunately, InDesign doesn’t support filling multiple text frames with placeholder text in one go. You will need to add filler text to each text frame individually.

By following these steps, you can efficiently add filler text to your designs in Adobe InDesign, allowing you to focus on the layout and design elements before finalizing the actual content. This can significantly speed up your workflow and improve the overall design process.