Lorem Ipsum for InDesign and Photoshop — Placeholder Text for Print Designers

Both Adobe InDesign and Photoshop have built-in lorem ipsum features — but they work differently, and there are situations where an online generator gives you more control. Here is how to use each tool's native command, and when to reach for an external generator instead.

InDesign — Fill with Placeholder Text

Adobe InDesign has a native lorem ipsum feature called Fill with Placeholder Text. It fills any selected text frame with lorem ipsum text sized to the frame's capacity.

How to use it:

1. Select a text frame on your layout (or draw a new text frame with the Type tool)
2. Go to Type > Fill with Placeholder Text
3. InDesign fills the entire frame with lorem ipsum

The text flows at the current type size, so changing the font size before using this command will give you proportionally more or fewer words. InDesign uses a fixed internal lorem ipsum string — it does not generate new text each time, it just fills the frame to capacity with the standard passage.

For threaded text frames (linked text boxes spanning multiple pages), you can select the first frame and use Fill with Placeholder Text — InDesign fills through all linked frames automatically.

InDesign — Using Custom Placeholder Text

InDesign lets you define your own placeholder text file. If you prefer English placeholder text, client-specific filler, or any other content, create a plain text file named Placeholder.txt and place it in:

• Mac: Users / [username] / Library / Preferences / Adobe InDesign / [version] / en_US / Scripts Panel
• Windows: C:Users[username]AppDataRoamingAdobeInDesign[version]en_US

When that file exists, InDesign uses it instead of the built-in lorem ipsum. This is useful for agencies that want to use client-branded placeholder text or language-specific filler. For most designers, the built-in lorem ipsum is sufficient and the custom file is not needed.

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Photoshop — Paste Lorem Ipsum

Photoshop CC added native lorem ipsum support. When you add a Type layer, Photoshop can automatically fill it with placeholder text.

How to use it:

1. Select the Type tool (T)
2. Click and drag to create a text area (not a point type — click and drag to make a box)
3. Go to Type > Paste Lorem Ipsum
4. Photoshop fills the text area with lorem ipsum

This only works with area type (drawn text boxes), not point type (single click). If you created a point type layer, the Paste Lorem Ipsum option is grayed out. Convert it to area type first via Type > Convert to Area Type, or delete the layer and redraw it as a text area.

When an Online Generator Beats the Built-In Feature

The built-in InDesign and Photoshop commands are convenient when you need to fill a frame to capacity. An online generator is better in three specific cases:

• You need a specific amount: InDesign fills the frame — but sometimes you want exactly 3 sentences, not a full frame. Use the generator's Sentences mode to get precisely the amount that matches your content spec.
• You need text for something other than a frame: Object metadata, alt text fields, annotation layers, caption placeholders outside the main layout. These are not text frames, so Fill with Placeholder Text does not apply.
• You are working across tools: If the same lorem ipsum needs to appear in InDesign, the companion website mockup in Figma, and a presentation deck, an online generator gives you consistent text you can paste everywhere rather than copying between apps.

Adobe Illustrator — No Built-In Lorem Ipsum (Use an Online Generator)

Unlike InDesign and Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator does not have a native Fill with Placeholder Text command. To add lorem ipsum to an Illustrator text frame, you need to paste from an external source.

Workflow for Illustrator:

1. Open the online generator in a browser tab
2. Choose Paragraphs or Sentences and set your count
3. Generate and Copy
4. In Illustrator, select your text frame and paste (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V)

If the text overflows the frame, reduce the font size or expand the frame. Illustrator handles pasted plain text cleanly — you may need to apply your type style after pasting if the frame has a default style applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fill a text frame in InDesign with lorem ipsum?

Select a text frame, then go to Type > Fill with Placeholder Text. InDesign fills the entire frame with standard lorem ipsum text at the current type size. For threaded frames, select the first frame and the lorem ipsum flows through all linked frames.

How do I add lorem ipsum in Photoshop?

Draw a text area by clicking and dragging with the Type tool (not a single click, which creates point type). Then go to Type > Paste Lorem Ipsum. If the option is grayed out, you created point type — go to Type > Convert to Area Type first.

Does Adobe Illustrator have a lorem ipsum command?

No. Illustrator does not have a built-in lorem ipsum feature. Use an online generator to copy the text and paste it into your Illustrator text frames. The process takes about 30 seconds and works for any version of Illustrator.

Can I use a custom lorem ipsum file in InDesign?

Yes. Create a plain text file called Placeholder.txt and place it in the InDesign preferences directory (path varies by version and OS). When this file exists, InDesign uses it instead of the default lorem ipsum. This lets you define English-language filler, client-specific placeholder text, or any content you prefer.