How to Add a Background to an Image in Adobe InDesign

Fill colors in image frames will show through in areas where the image is transparent. This is often done with white logos and icons. Transparency can also be applied to the image without affecting the fill color.

1. Select the frame, then go to the Swatches Panel. Make sure Fill is selected and choose a color.
2. The fill color is applied.
3. Switch to the Direct Selection Tool and click on the image inside the frame.
4. To change the transparency of the image, go to the Window menu and select Effects.
5. The Effects Panel should show Graphic: listed and highlighted. Go to the Opacity field and change to the desired setting.
6. The transparency of just the logo is changed.