Using Graphic Bullets in InDesign

paragraph, bullets and numbering

You can use any character of any font available to you in InDesign as a bullet point. If that isn’t enough, you can also use the vector graphic of your choice. Here’s how.

Add bullet points to your text in InDesign. I am using CS4, but this probably works in other versions.

add bullets

Bullet points can be added two different ways.

  1. Select the text.
  2. Go to the options flyout menu on the paragraphs panel.
  3. Choose Numbering and Bullets.
  4. Select Bullets from the drop down menu in the dialog box.

paragraph, bullets and numbering

bullets

-or-

  1. Select the text.
  2. Go to the paragraph styles panel.
  3. From the options flyout menu of the paragraph styles panel, select NEW STYLE.
  4. Name your new style
  5. When the dialog box opens, select Bullets and Numbering from the list at the left.
  6. Select Bullets from the style drop down menu.

The benefit of adding bullet points as a paragraph style is that you can reuse the bullet style with a click.

select new paragraph style

paragraph style of bullets

Note: Only change bullets to graphics when you are finished editing the text. This process changes bullets to text instead of bulleted lists, so they will not be editable as bullets. You can still edit them as text with tabs.

Get your graphic for the bullets.

  1. Bring your vector image into InDesign. I am copying and pasting from Illustrator, but you can also place (file -> place) in InDesign.
  2. Size it to the size you need for the bullets.
  3. Copy your vector image to the clipboard.
  4. Select the bulleted text.
  5. Under Type -> Bulleted & Numbered Lists -> Convert Bullets to Text.

Convert Bullets to Text

Change the bullet to a graphic.

  1. Select the bulleted list.
  2. Go under Edit -> Find/Change.
  3. In the dialog box, make sure you are in the TEXT tab.
  4. Click the flyout menu button to the right of the Find What drop down list.
  5. Select Symbols -> Bullet Character.

symbols, bullet

  1. Click the flyout menu button to the right of the Change To drop down list.
  2. Select Other -> Clipboard Contents, Unformatted.
  3. Click Change All.

clipboard contents

Your bullet points are now graphics!

graphic bullets

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Digital Graphic Design Essentials

This class is available through the Skills and Technology Training Center in Fargo, ND. Check the STTC schedule for class availability.

Covers various print and electronic mediums. The focus is on learning design and design techniques. Some of the topics covered are:

  • Design Method, sketching and comps, design rules
  • Print Design
  • Digital file formats
  • Typography
  • Color Theory, Color Psychology
  • Branding
  • Advertising

Principals of Design / Composition

Print Design

Digital File Formats

What is the difference between raster (bitmap) and vector?

Raster or Bitmap ->raster (bitmap) Vector – > vector

Typography

Color

Advertising

Recommended Reading

Videos

  • Artist Series
  • Stefan Sagmeister – happy

Legal

Copyright on a website

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Holiday Gift Tag Graphic Download

Free custom designed gift tag download

Free Holiday Gift Tags – Eight up on a letter size sheet. Print and trim.

- To download, right click and Save Link As.
Or, click to open the jpg in a new window, right click and Save Image As.

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