InDesign for the In-House Designer

In-house designers face unique challenges. Learn the tips and tricks for a more efficient and foolproof InDesign workflow.

Introduction

• About this course
• Using the exercise files
• About fonts

1. The InDesign Environment and Interface

• Setting preferences
• Exploring the interface
• Creating a workspace
• Automatic document recovery and multiple undo

2. Document Setup

• Exploring the New Document dialog
• Facing vs. non-facing pages
• Setting up margins and columns
• How master pages work
• Setting up master pages

3. Text

• Creating text frames
• Importing text
• Using Find/Change and spell-check
• Using text wrap
• Setting up tabs and split columns
• Creating paragraph styles
• Creating character styles
• Creating nested and next paragraph styles
• Creating bulleted and numbered lists
• Paragraph rules and shading
• Underline and strikethrough effects
• Text on a path

4. Importing and Transforming Graphics

• Graphic formats
• Importing graphics: Three methods
• Aligning and transforming frames
• Scaling and rotating graphics
• Managing graphics links
• Creating image grids
• Modifying graphics frames
• Anchored frames
• Object Layer options
• Creating custom stroke styles
• Adding drop shadows

5. Adding Color: Creating Swatches

• Choosing between RGB, CMYK, or spot color spaces
• Creating a new swatch
• Creating tints
• Creating gradients
• Mixed ink swatches
• Importing and exporting swatches

6. Tables

• Table basics
• Importing from Excel
• Headers and footers
• Rearranging rows and columns
• Table and cell styles
• Adding graphics to tables

7. InDesign Libraries

• Comparing InDesign Libraries and CC Libraries
• Storing assets in InDesign Libraries
• Storing assets in CC Libraries
• Sharing CC Libraries

8. Creating a Template

• Advantages of templates
• Saving and using a template

9. Long Document Features

• Creating an automatic table of contents
• Using a book file to consolidate multiple documents

10. Printing and PDFs

• Differences between in-house and commercial printing requirements
• Preflighting and packaging your project
• Exporting to PDF for online or email viewing
• Exporting to PDF for commercial print
• Creating packaging

Conclusion

• What I hope you’ve learned
• Next steps