Applying colors, tints , and gradients to objects in InDesign is easy. Select the object, then click the Formatting Affects Text button or Formatting Affects Container button in the Swatches or Gradient pane as appropriate for what you want to apply the color to, then click the appropriate swatch.
Another way to apply colors, tints, and gradients is by selecting the object and using the Formatting Affects Text, Formatting Affects Content, Fill, or Stroke buttons in the Tools palette to determine what part of the object you want to color. You can use the Swatches or Gradients panes to select a swatch, or pick the last-used color and gradient from the Apply Color and Apply Gradient buttons on the Tools palette. Figure 8-12 shows the palette.
You can also apply colors and tints to gaps in strokes via the Stroke pane's palette options menu (select Show Options and select a gap color).