SOFTWEAR WORKSHOP 1 - INDESIGN

Upon opening Indesign we come across three options. Often we will only use the document option. After selecting 'New Document' we have to select what size document we want to work with. The size has to be specific to the size of the outcome, as the page size will be the dimensions of the outcome.

Moreover, we also have additional options such as; bleeds and margins and columns, these aspects help us with layout, but can be ignored.

Columns are guides to align text, typically we use these when using a column layout. Moreover, the gutter is the space between the columns.

The bleed is set over the edge of the page, it is used to avoid white edges when trimming occurs, when preparing a document for print a 3mm bleed should always be added . Additionally, slug is the area set around the bleed that contains all the printing marks, the slug are can also be used to add fold lines for flyers.

Margins set the space around the inner edge of the page.

Facing pages should be used for books

This menue can be used to quickly navigate between pages.

By going to File - document setup, you adjust elements such as the number of pages and size. 

By going to layout, and dropping down the options you can select the 'Margins and Columns' option, this allows you to adjust or add columns and margins.

Moreover, if you go to 'Layout' once again, and drop down the menu you get the option for 'Create Guides'. With this option, complicated guides can be set up on the document. 

The 'T' symbol represents the option to make a box that holds type. To create a type box select this symbol and drag the box to the desired size, then type in the information/data.

Moreover, by dropping down the menu under 'Type' we can choose the option 'Fill with placeholder text'. This fills the textbox with example text. 

Using 'command' & 't' brings up this character menu, where aspects such as size and typeface can be changed. We can also get to this window through the type menu.

  

Moreover, by going to the type menu - Font - the font can then be chosen but this time a sample of the type is shown.

Additionally, we can import word documents straight into the textbox. Firstly, the textbox needs to be created prior to importing the document, then go to file - place - find document, one the document has been found select it and it will be placed automatically.

Additionally, there is a red overflow indicator if there is too much text for the textbox. However, we can overcome this problem by clicking the small red cross (shown below) and dragging out a new text box. Finally, to select all of the text at once you need to go to the 'Edit' menu and choose the select all option. 

Photoshop - Preparing images

Important things to remember when preparing a Photoshop document for Indesign...

1. Size - The file needs to be the actual size of the image on the document.
2. CYMK colour mode for print, or greyscale for black and white.
3. Resolution should be 300d.p.i for print.
4. Save as tif. or pdf.  

To import an image go to the 'File' menu - place - then select the image that you want to paste onto your document. 

A small thumbnail of the image will appear in a frame, click once to place it.

The two circles located in the centre of the image allow you to grab and move the contents of the image, this will move the image but not the frame. If the picture needs resizing it needs to be done in Photoshop or it will pixelate.

Placing an illustrator file is a little easier, using the rectangle frame tool,  draw a box at the desired size. Then use the place option to select and place the illustrator design. As illustrator creates vector objects they can be rescaled in Indesign. 

Finally, I used a mixture of the above techniques to create this page layout.