Three useful magazine cover design techniques in Adobe InDesign
- Angelo Montilla
- Feb 27, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 24, 2025
Creating eye-catching magazine cover designs is essential in attracting a reader's attention and enticing them to dive into a publication.
In this video I am going to share three of my favourite design tips in Adobe InDesign that you can apply to take your magazine cover layouts to another level.
Topics covered in this tutorial include:
Using Object Layer Options to bring the main image over the magazine masthead
Create curved text around a main image using the Type on a Path Tool
Apply a Gradient Feather effect to separate the text from the background
Click the link below to download the exercise files and follow along step by step.
Also, the fonts used in the magazine cover design are called Articulat CF and Moret Variable. Install the Adobe font if you'd like to use the same typeface for this tutorial.
The first step is creating a new document for this magazine.
New Document
Go to File > New > Document or simply click the New File button to create a new document.
Choose the A4 page size from the preset options.
Set the number of pages to 1 and de-select the Facing Page option.
Leave the Margins setting to the default 0.5 inches.
Click Create.
Now that the document has been set up, it's time to add the main image as a starting point. We'll be using a PSD file in order to work with the Object Layer Options to show and hide layers directly in InDesign.
Placing Image
Go to File > Place and choose the images saved as Cover Image.PSD.
With the content loaded in the cursor, hold the Shift key, click and drag the image the same size as the page.
Flip the content horizontally. This can be done by clicking the Content Grabber (or Donut as some people call it) in the frame to select the content and then clicking Flip Horizontal icon located in the Control panel. This icon is two facing arrowheads.
Right-click the image and go to Fitting > Fill Frame Proportionally then adjust the content within the frame so that the bowl is more to the right side.
Something like this.
Keep in mind, you're not tied to to this image position. You will likely readjust as you're adding other content pieces to the design.
Next let's add the Masthead, which is the main logo of the magazine. The name of this fictional magazine is called Nourish.
With the Type Tool, create a text frame and type the word nourish (yes all lower case).
Set the font to Moret Variable and weight to ExtraBold.
Set the font size to 182 pt.
Here's how the masthead will look like using the typesetting explained above.
Now is a good time to adjust the content so that the top of the bowl in the image is behind the masthead title. We'll be adjusting this to have it overlap the title shortly.
Next create another copy of the image by going to Edit > Copy and paste it over the current version by going to Edit > Paste in Place.
1. Object Layer Options
Right-click the pasted version and in the fly-out menu choose Object Layer Options.
Hide all the layers except the one labelled Cutout. Ensure you have the Preview box selected.
Click OK.
Here is an image slide of how to apply the Object Layer Options as explained above.
The second tip we'll look at is how to use the Type on a Path tool to create curved text around the bowl. This adds a nice element and creative touch to the magazine cover design.
Here's how it works.
Type on a Path Tool
Click and hold the Rectangle Frame Tool to access the Ellipse Frame Tool.
While holding Shift on the keyboard, click and drag an Ellipse shape that is slightly larger than the bowl in the image. Line up Ellipse horizontally and vertically.
Access the Type on a Path Tool by clicking and holding the Type Tool for the selection.
With the Type on a Path activated, hover over the bottom right corner of the Ellipse and when you see a small plus icon in the cursor, go ahead and click to add text to the path. Type in Quick and Delicious!
I'll be using a font called Bomber Brush but you can choose a similar brush or script font that fits well with the magazine theme.
Use the handles on the frame to adjust and position the text accordingly.
Once you have the text positioned where you like, with the frame selected, go to Type > Type on a Path > Options.
In the dialog, click the Flip option to flip the text in the proper direction.
Set the Align dropdown to Center.
Click OK.
Here is a look at the Type on a Path settings based on the steps explained above.
Next let's add the teaser headlines and other text on the cover. This will be covered in the video tutorial.
The third and final magazine cover design tip is adding a Gradient Feather effect so that text is readable on business backgrounds. You can see in the example we're using, there are seeds and parsley leaves that may interfere with the text. Adding a black Gradient Feather effect is a good way of addressing this.
Gradient Feather
With the Rectangle Frame Tool, create a rectangle that covers the entire page.
Give the shape a Black color fill.
In the Effects panel, apply the effect of Gradient Feather.
Set the Gradient Feather angle to 90 degrees.
Adjust the gradient stops and click OK.
To send the Gradient Feather backward, press the hold Command + [ on a Mac or Ctrl + [ on Windows to send the shape behind the text.
If the Gradient Feather is too dark, you can adjust the opacity to lighten it.
Here is slide show of the steps on setting up the Gradient Feather as explained above.
