Choose Object > Text Frame Options or hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and double-click the frame with the Selection tool.
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Create and organize pages
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Arrange and order pages
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Layout and grid tools
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Grids
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Text styles
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Tabs, indents, and spacing
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Text styles
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Language and proofing
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Arabic and Hebrew
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Indexes and references
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Add graphics and media
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Transform and arrange objects
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Add and edit graphics
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Add tables and data
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Interactive elements and forms
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Create lines and shapes
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Apply color
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Define and manage color assets
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Advanced color techniques
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Define and manage color assets
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Save, export, and publish
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Export to EPUB
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Print
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Color output and separations
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Change text frame properties
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to adjust columns, inset spacing, and baseline grids within text frames in Adobe InDesign.
Use Text Frame Options when you need to divide a single frame into columns, add breathing room between text and frame edges, or align text to a custom baseline grid. These frame-level properties work independently of text styling and can be saved as part of an object style for consistent application across multiple frames. You can also preview changes in real time when you select the Preview option.
Tip
If you want to reuse the properties across multiple text frames, create an Object Style to apply to them.
Add or modify columns
In the Columns section of the General tab, enter the Number of columns you want.
Specify the Width for each column and the Gutter (spacing) between columns.
Select Balance Columns if you want column widths to remain constant when resizing the frame. With this option enabled, resizing the frame horizontally adds or removes columns rather than changing their width.
Note
InDesign does not support columns of unequal width within a single text frame. To create custom column layouts, place multiple threaded text frames side by side on your page or parent page.
Adjust inset spacing
In the Inset Spacing section of the General tab, enter offset distances for Top, Left, Bottom, and Right.
Within Vertical Justification, select Align and choose either Top, Center, Bottom, or Justify as required.
Select OK to apply your changes.
Inset spacing creates margins between the frame's edges and the text content. This prevents text from touching the frame border and improves readability, especially when frames have strokes or fills.
Note
If the frame you’ve selected has a non-rectangular shape, the Top, Left, Bottom, and Right options are dimmed, and an Inset option is available instead.
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