Here are a few ways that you can make a button appear to animate between states:


Use an animated GIF in a Multi-state Object (MSO)

  1. Make an animated GIF either with the in5 Animated GIF Maker or with Photoshop that increases in size and set it so that it doesn't loop
  2. In InDesign, place the static version of the image and the animated GIF (the starting size of the image needs to be the same as the starting size of the animated GIF) and center them
  3. With the static version above the animated GIF, make an MSO in the Object States panel  (Window > Interactive > Object States)
  4. Place an invisible rectangle (one with no stroke and no fill) over the MSO
  5. Convert the invisible rectangle to a button in the Buttons and Forms panel (Window > Interactive > Buttons and Forms) with the following settings:
    • Event: On Roll Over
    • Actions: Go To State
    • Object: [name of your MSO]
    • State: [name of the object state that contains the animated GIF]
    • Go Back on Roll Off (if desired)

Apply an animation preset to a button

  1. Select the image and convert it to a button in the Buttons and Forms panel

  2. In the Animation panel (Window > Interactive > Animation), apply the Grow animation preset to the button 
  3. Adjust timing as desired and if the button was placed at its final (larger) size make sure to set Animate: to To Current Appearance
  4. In the Buttons and Forms panel, set the following:
    • Event: On Roll Over
    • Actions: Animation
    • Animation: [name of your button]
    • Options: Play
    • Reverse on Roll Off (if desired)
  5. Go back to the Animation panel, click on the Events dropdown menu, and deselect On Page Load


Apply an animation preset to an image in an MSO

  1. In InDesign, place the the image and copy and paste it in place

  2. With the copy of the image selected, apply the Grow animation preset in the Animation panel
  3. With the animated version of the image selected, go to Object > Arrange > Send to Back so that it's behind the static version
  4. Select both images and in the Object States panel, convert it to an MSO
  5. Place an invisible rectangle (one with no stroke and no fill) over the MSO
  6. Convert the invisible rectangle to a button with the following settings:
    • Event: On Roll Over
    • Actions: Go To State
    • Object: [name of your MSO]
    • State: [name of the object state that contains the animated version of the image]
    • Go Back on Roll Off (if desired)

Make a button in either Adobe Animate or Tumult Hype to embed in your content

  1. Make your button in either Adobe Animate or Tumult Hype

  2. Export the button as an OAM file
  3. Place (File > Place...) the OAM file or embed it using the in5 Web Content interactive widget (in5 > Interactive Widgets > Web Content) in your InDesign layout
Also see the following:




Note: Rollovers are designed for desktop usage because buttons designed for mobile devices usually use a tap. Also, a finger can get in the way of seeing a button's animated rollover state.