Select the text using the Type tool.
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Scale and skew type
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to adjust horizontal and vertical type proportions or apply slant angles to create customized typography effects in Adobe InDesign.
Scaling modifies the width or height of characters relative to their original proportions. A value of 100% represents unscaled text. Increasing or decreasing these values stretches or compresses the type. For consistent typography, use fonts designed as condensed or expanded when available, since scaling can distort character shapes.
Adjust horizontal or vertical scaling
Select Type > Character to open the Character dialog box.
Enter a percentage value in the field next to the Vertical Scale icon or the Horizontal Scale icon.
Scale type by resizing a text frame
Select the text frame using the Selection tool.
Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) and drag the corner handle to resize the frame.
Control how scaled values appear
You can change preferences to control how scaled text appears. By default, panels show only the new size and reset scaling to 100%. Activating Adjust Scaling Percentage displays both original and scaled sizes and reflects actual scaling values.
Select Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > General (macOS).
Select Adjust Scaling Percentage in the Preferences dialog box.
Select OK.
- Scaling a text frame scales the text proportionally (for example, 20 pt becomes 40 pt at 200%).
- Panel display depends on the preference: Apply to Content shows only the scaled size and resets the Transform panel to 100%, while Adjust Scaling Percentage shows both the original and scaled values and reflects the actual scale in the Transform panel (Window > Object & Layout > Transform).
- The setting applies only to frames scaled after activation, and scaled values remain with the text.
- Selecting Redefine Scaling as 100% from the Transform panel menu resets panel values without changing appearance.
- In threaded frames, scaling persists when using Adjust Scaling Percentage, but with Apply to Content, reflowed text loses scaling.
Skew type
Skewing type applies an artificial slant to selected characters, tilting them left or right at a specified angle. This effect is useful for creating dynamic headlines, emphasizing text, or matching specific design aesthetics when true italic fonts aren't available or desired.
Select the text you want to skew using the Type tool.
Select Window > Type & Tables > Character.
Enter a numeric value in degrees to specify the slant angle in the field next to the Skew icon. Positive values slant type to the right, while negative values slant type to the left.
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