A simple Guide to the use of InDesign

Linked images

Set up a folder in data. Place all image files to be used in your layout concept in a folder title links in this folder. The links folder must always be keep together with your finished designs unless you have embedded the linked files. Generally designers don’t embed image files they just use the low resolution image link that programmes like InDesign  or Illustrator create which links back to the whole file. The reason for this is that once you start embedding images the documents become enormous and any editing becomes slower and slower the larger the document becomes. So if you don’t save the finish design with the links folder the computer can’t find the full resolution image. Taking this cautionary note into account if you only have one or two images in your document you can embed them by going windows- links- embed file.

Starting out

Go to Applications click open InDesign.

Go file –new document

Set the number of pages, click facing pages, set page size, margins and columns. Go O.K.

Customizing page size

In the new documents window click the drop down tag in the document preset box, Go-customize set parameters, Go – OK.

Setting bleeds in the document dialogue box

In the new documents window go- more options set variable in the bleed box to 3mm leave slug at 0mm. Go O.K

Adding and removing pages from the document

Go windows- pages to open pages dialogue box

To add more pages in document go-window -pages then click the page icon at the bottom of the pages Dialogue box a new page will automatically appear.

To remove a page highlight the selected page in the page dialogue box and click the trash icon at the bottom of the dialogue box

Vector functions

InDesign has limited vector capabilities. Like Illustrator you can do a lot of stuff with basic shapes, but the more complex drawing functions don’t exist in this programme.

To make a vector shape or to place colour background on a page

Select vector shape tool from the main tool palette

Drag and drop the shape onto the selected page

              To adjust the size of the shape highlight the shape select the free transformation tool from the main tool box click and push or pull the shape to constrain proportions hold down shift key when pushing or dragging the shape. 

               To add colour to the shape, go windows- colour. A colour attribute box will appear click on the arrow head at the end of the top blue bar and click CMYK.

               A colour spectrum will appear select colour from spectrum by clicking on the appropriate point the vector will    automatically fill with colour.

               You can also set the Transparency % in this window, select Transparency and move the opacity slider up or down to the desired  degree.

               Always ensure the stroke is set to none otherwise a black or coloured outline will be created on the vector shape

              To add text to a page

              Go  windows –type –character to open type dialogue box.

              Then select text icon from the main tool box drag and drop the text box over the page composition

           If you want to change the texts attributes highlight the text with the text icon tool and change the attributes in the type character dialogue box.

           To colour type

           Highlight text open colour dialogue box from windows click options highlight CMYK

           Select colour from CMYK spectrum

           To Place image in Page layout

           Compatible Image formats TIFFS, JPEGS, Photoshop EPS, Illustrator EPS

           Prepare all images outside of InDesign and save them in your links folder because InDesign hasn’t got the graphic                 subtlety and functionality of Illustrator .

           Go File-Place- select image from link folder highlight go open.

           To place and compose image.

           Select the Free transformation tool from the main tool palette

           Size and place image in page layout.

           Hold shift key down to constrain proportions when stretching or placing an image

           Image resolution 

           As a general guide

           A high resolution scan A4 @300 DPI approximately 18-20 MB is good for images up to A3 size

           A medium resolution scan A4@ 200DPI approximately 10 MB is good for images up to  A4 size

Setting printers bleeds

Go-file- print. Select marks and bleeds from the options menu. Click all printers marks- then print.