InDesign 101: How to Make a Star
Making a star shape in Adobe InDesign is easier than it seems—even though there’s no tool labeled “star.” With just a few quick steps using the Polygon Tool, you can create a star that’s ready to use in your layout, whether you’re designing a poster, flyer, or just experimenting with shapes.
Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Find the Polygon Tool
InDesign doesn’t have a direct star tool, but you can easily create one using the Polygon Tool.
Look for the shape tools in the toolbar (Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool, etc.)
Click and hold to reveal more options, and choose the Polygon Tool
Step 2: Set Your Shape Options
There are a few different ways to set up your shape. You can double click on the polygon tool to open the menu, click once on your document with the Polygon Tool selected. A pop-up window will appear that lets you adjust the shape. You can also open the polygon window by going to Windows
Number of sides: Enter 5 (or however many star points you’d like)
Star Inset: Enter 50% (this controls how deep the star's inner points are)
Tip: Want a sharper star? Try 60–80%. Want a chunkier, rounder star? Try 20–40%.
Step 3: Draw the Star
Once your settings are in, click and drag to draw your star.
Hold Shift while dragging if you want to keep the shape perfectly proportional
Let go when it looks right—you’ve got a star!
You can resize, give it curved corners, or rotate it later just like any other shape in InDesign.
Optional: Customize the Look
After you’ve made your star, feel free to style it:
Change the fill color, adjust the Opacity, or use effects.
Add or adjust the stroke and corners
Use the Selection Tool to resize or duplicate
You can also use stars as part of icons, patterns, or background details.
That’s It! Super Easy!
You now know how to create a star shape in Adobe InDesign. It’s a simple trick, but it can come in handy in so many projects.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me a message! If you use this to help you I would love to see what you create! Feel free to tag me @celestialbeardesign on instagram or facebook or share in the comments below! Hope this helps!
