InDesign Day 4 of 5

Objectives

• Layers
• Ruler and Guides
• Columns
• Graphics and InDesign’s ability to work with other software 
• Color and Swatches

Lesson Outline

• Columns
  • How to add them when initially creating a document 
  • How to add and edit them after you’ve started working on a document 
  • How they work 
    • Text frames can be based on, yet independent of, page columns
• Layers
  • How to add them, move them and edit them
  • Layers do NOT correspond with individual pages, they’re for the whole document 
    • The general best practice is to create layers for associated assets (ex. text, images, graphics, shapes, background etc.) but can be adjusted for personal workflow preference!
• Ruler and Guides
  • How to add guide lines and edit them
  • How to bring up other grids and guides 
• Graphics and InDesign’s ability to work with other software 
  • Can bring .ai files directly into InDesign 
  • Edit With feature 
• Color
  • CMYK vs. RGB
  • Finding palettes from the web (can mention color.adobe.com and google search if you have time) 
  • Importing, creating, naming and organizing color swatches
  • Color Theme Tool 
  • If time: Gradient Tool and Gradient Feather Tool 

Files: Day 4 Images and .ai files 

Suggested Activity:  Create a tri-fold brochure for our fake bakery with a front and back. Be sure to know which panels are the front, middle and back (demonstrate with a piece of labeled printer paper and create a guide layer in InDesign). Walk students through how to set up the page to make the brochure using margins and columns. Demonstrate how you can bring .ai files directly into InDesign. Customize your brochure with color tools. Practice using layers for text, graphics, shapes and other elements. Use provided stock photos to create a realistic looking brochure. Watch this video for help on setting up and creating the brochure.