Adobe InDesign: Interface and Document Settings

Adobe InDesign

• Desktop publishing software for creating, editing, designing, and publishing print or digital materials
• Used for organizing layouts in books, magazines, and web content
• Founded by John Warnock and Charles Geschke
• First released in August 1999 as "Adobe PageMaker"
• It superseded the "Quark Xpress" application

Adobe InDesign Homescreen

• Main interface for opening, creating, and accessing files
• "New File Button" is used to create documents
• "Open Button" is used to open recent projects
• Preset details such as name, dimensions, number of pages, columns, units of measurement, and facing pages can be adjusted

Document Pages

• Primary Text Frame Option sets a primary text frame
• Column Gutter adjusts the space between columns
• Margins sets the margins on the sides of the document
• Bleed and Slug settings adjust objects outside the border (bleed) and document information (slug)

Typesetter

• Lays out text to prepare for printing or publishing
• Formats, styles and arranges text and illustrations for publications

Facing Pages

• Two pages that face one another

Parent Page

• Templates for consistent layouts across multiple pages
• It is a child page that inherits from a parent page and can have reusable templates

Bleed

• Extra margin outside the page to prevent cutting errors in printing

Slug

• Space outside the print area for notes and details

Margin

• Distance from the edge of page to content layout

Gutter

• Vertical space separating text columns

The Tool Bar

• A panel for editing text, images, and objects with tools such as:
• Selection Tools
• Drawing and Typing Tools
• Transformation Tools
• Modification and Navigation Tools
• Color Adjustment Tools

Creating a Multi-Page Document

• There are two ways to create a multi-page document:
• Open a new document and check the "Facing Pages" box in Preset Details
• Go to Layout > Pages > Add Pages

Parent Page

• Primary pages in a multi-page document, that contain the default layout applied to all succeeding pages

Layers Palette

• Found on the right side of the workspace
• Shows your document's contents
• It is used for organizing and managing design elements by:
• Layers
• Visibility Function
• Lock/Unlock Button
• Layer Color
• Create New Layer
• Delete Layer Button
• Colored Box
• Collapse Button

Character Styles

• Formatting attributes applied to selected text
• Features can be customized

Leading, Kerning, Fonts, & Distortion

• Leading adjusts the vertical space between lines of text
• Kerning adjusts the horizontal space between characters
• Fonts refer to variations in typeface, size, weight, etc
• Distortion refers to altering an image or text's shape or proportion

Paragraph Styles

• Formatting settings for entire paragraphs

Drop Caps, Indents, and Rules

• Drop Caps enlarge the first letter for artistic purposes
• Indents add space at the beginning of a paragraph
• Rules underline text to emphasize and highlight key information

Typography

• It is arranging text for readability and design
• Letters, words, and sentences are presented in creative ways

Achieving Good Typography

• Factors to consider include:
• Typeface: Sets of fonts in the same "font family" or particular style of lettering
• Font: Variations of typeface with adjustable attributes; Size, weight, etc.
• Bold: Thicker and darker style of text than regular text
• Italic: Slanted text

Typography Poster

• Involves styling, designing, and presentation of text
• Considers positioning, font style, color, size, and designs to create background

Newspaper Making

• Newspaper: A paper printed and distributed daily or weekly with news, articles, opinions, features, and advertising
• An organization that publishes a newspaper
• The paper of a newspaper: newsprint.

Portfolio Making

• Portfolio: A collection of design works showing skills and experience

Creating a Design Portfolio

• Steps include:
• Do not be too attached to a particular style or design
• Get professional critique
• Categorize your works
• Plan the format of your digital portfolio
• Create a wireframe when presenting a digital portfolio
• Plan the sequence
• Build your online presence