InDesign basics : Wrap Text around Shapes and images

Step 1 : Create a Frame or Shape and run Text behind them

The easiest way to set up your document for text-wrapping is to position your text frame(s) behind the image or shape you want to apply the text wrap effect to. This means you can easily select your frame/shape.

In this example, i have created two columns of text using the  Type Tool (T), threading the text between them by clicking once on the bottom right corner of the left-hand column. Then once again in the right-hand column.

Then i selected the Rectangle Frame Tool (F) and dragged to create an image frame, before going to File > Place > Open to place an image in the frame. I selected Ellipse Frame Tool and, holding down Shift, dragged to create a perfect circular frame before placing a second image in this new frame.

Step 2 : Open the Text Wrap Panel

Select the image frame or shape  and go to Window > Text Wrap To open the Text Wrap Panel.

Across the top of the panel there are five icons, each of which indicate a different way of applying the text wrap. The icon to the far left, selected by default, has No Text Wrap applied to your frame/shape. Click on second icon along from the left to apply a wrap around Bounding Box of the frame/shape.

You can also adjust the direction of the wrap from the Wrap Option drop-down menu.

Experiment with different ways of applying a wrap using the icons in the Text Wrap Panel. You can wrap text around an Object's Shape to give a more closely fitted appearance to the wrap. This can work particularly well with outline text (Type > Create Outlines), which gives a dramatic typography effect.