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Copy type attributes (Eyedropper)



You can use the Eyedropper tool to copy type attributes such as character, paragraph, fill, and stroke settings, and then apply those attributes to other type. By default, the Eyedropper tool copies all type attributes. To customize the attributes you want to copy with the Eyedropper tool, use the Eyedropper Options dialog box.

Copy type attributes to unselected text

  1. With the Eyedropper tool , click the text that is formatted with the attributes you want to copy. (The text can be in another open InDesign document.) The eyedropper pointer reverses direction, and appears full , to indicate that it’s loaded with the attributes you copied. When you position the eyedropper pointer over text, an I-beam appears next to the loaded eyedropper .
  2. With the Eyedropper tool, select the text you want to change.

    The selected text takes on the attributes loaded in the eyedropper. As long as the Eyedropper tool is selected, you can continue to select text to apply formatting.

  3. To deselect the Eyedropper tool, click another tool.
To clear the formatting attributes currently held by the eyedropper tool, press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) while the Eyedropper tool is loaded. The Eyedropper tool reverses direction and appears empty , to indicate that it’s ready to pick up new attributes. Click an object containing the attributes you want to copy, and then drop the new attributes on another object.
The eyedropper is clicked on formatted text to copy its formatting (left), and then dragged across unformatted text (middle) to apply that formatting (right).

If you use the Eyedropper tool to copy a paragraph style from text in one document to text in another, and the paragraph style has the same name but different sets of attributes, any style differences will appear as local overrides to the destination style.

Copy type attributes to selected text

  1. With the Type tool  or Path Type tool , select the text to which you want to copy attributes.
  2. Using the Eyedropper tool , click the text from which you want to copy attributes. (The text from which you want to copy attributes must be in the same InDesign document as the text you want to change.) The Eyedropper tool reverses direction and appears full , to indicate that it’s loaded with the attributes you copied. The attributes are applied to the text you selected in step 1.
Type attributes copied to selected text

Change which text attributes the Eyedropper tool copies

  1. In the toolbox, double-click the Eyedropper tool.
  2. Choose Character Settings or Paragraph Settings in the Eyedropper Options dialog box.
  3. Select the attributes you want to copy with the Eyedropper tool, and then click OK.
To copy or apply paragraph attributes only without having to change settings in the Eyedropper Options dialog box, hold down Shift as you click text with the Eyedropper tool.