Certificate in Intermediate InDesign CS5 Online Course

There are 12 units of study

Getting up to Speed With InDesign CS5

If you've worked with InDesign for awhile now, you probably know there's much more to the program than you use regularly—if you only knew about it! And there's probably ways to work more efficiently, if only you had the time to figure them out! There are probably a lot of great projects you could be working on, if you knew how to start! How about creating a booklet for your employee orientation? Or some multilayered effects to take your newsletter to the next level? If this describes you, then get ready for some intensive learning! We'll spend this first lesson exploring some time-saving InDesign features as we dig into the first project—a master style sheet you'll develop and use throughout the course.

Creating a Multipurpose Template

You know that the better organized you are, the easier it is to get your work done. You're going to delve into more organizing in this lesson. You'll start by defining your own workspace in InDesign, tailoring it to how you like to find and access tools and features. Then you'll set up Mini Bridge, a new feature in CS5 for accessing files directly from within the program. Picking up from where you left off in Lesson 1, you're going to make a library from the images you assembled in the first lesson. Then we'll get started on a multi-use template for our resort, using various InDesign features to save time and add consistency to our publications.

Using Multiple Pages and Page Sizes in a Document

Master pages are one of the most important tools in your InDesign toolkit. In today's lesson, you'll finish the basic template for our resort business. You'll create multiple Master pages you can quickly apply for different projects. You'll see how to use the multiple page size feature in InDesign CS5 to build letterhead and an envelope for our business, using the Library and other time-saving features in InDesign.

Using Specialized Layout Features

Have you ever seen publications using features like text wraps that add a professional touch? That's what you're doing in this lesson. You're going to start a new publication from scratch, then add background graphics, and import text from another InDesign file. Then comes the fun parts! First, you'll see how to build a complex text wrap to control how the text flows on the page—and you don't have to be an illustrator to do it! Then you'll learn how to attach a small graphic to text to give the headings in the project some extra pizzazz.

Working With Double-Page Spreads and Facing Pages

There are usually several ways to do the same task in InDesign, and there's often one method that's more advanced than others. In this lesson, you'll dig into some of the ways you can design features to help you work faster and smarter. You'll learn how to use facing pages and double-page spreads as you create part of the guest room guide for our example business. Along the way, you'll work with several character styles, and create a nested style to apply several styles at one time in the same paragraph. Then you'll see how to build an object style and how to change it for different content.

Working With Tables and Custom Template Layouts

Tables aren't just for pages of data! In this lesson, you'll build a folding tent card to display special menu items for the resort. You'll use a custom template, like the ones you'd download from a print shop. You'll see how to convert text into a table, and how to style the table and its contents using colors you sample from the project's logo. Since the project includes a folded page, you'll see how to flip content and the spreads so you can produce the finished product—without trying to read upside down!

Constructing a Book Publication

If you've ever wondered how a book comes together, this lesson will answer all your questions. You'll build an employee handbook using several documents combined into a book file. You'll learn how to coordinate the appearance of the content in all the files by setting one file as the style source. Then you'll work your way through the files to make sure they conform to the styles. You'll work with page numbering and headers, and finally create a table of contents to guide your readers through your masterpiece.

Organizing and Merging Data

Have you ever had to do a boring mail merge where you plug fields from one table into a boilerplate letter? Well, that's what you're doing today. But this isn't your usual type of mail merge! Yes, you're going to use fields from a source table and merge them into fields in an InDesign document—but wait until you see the document! Rather than a letter, you're going to work with a photo cube template and make a snazzy invitation to the opening of ArtSpace, the new gallery at The Ferns. You'll work with regular form data, and use metadata from images you place in the photo cube to automatically add captions to the project.

Producing an Interactive PDF Document

You know about using InDesign to create all sorts of wonderful print publications from brochures to newsletters. But did you know InDesign has a whole category of features designed for interactive documents, too? You're going to assemble a new file quickly from parts brought in from other documents. Then you'll organize the items and content on the page to make it easier to add interactive content. Once everything is in place, you'll add hyperlinks and buttons to create a snazzy RSVP document, and export it from InDesign as a PDF file.

Handling Color and Transparency in a Publication

There's nothing like color to add interest to your publications. There's nothing worse than having problems printing color. In this lesson, you'll start a two-part adventure into color. You'll learn how to calibrate your monitor—the first step in using color confidently. Then you'll see how to work with a Color Management System in Adobe Bridge used across all your Adobe products for consistency. Finally, you'll get into a new InDesign project. You'll be starting a brochure for the wedding services at The Ferns. You'll work with multiple objects and learn all about transparency and how to apply it for the most impact.

Printing Color Documents

What's the big deal about printing a color document? Well, as you'll find out today, there's a lot more to printing color than making sure you have paper in your printer. You'll see how to work with a font installed for a particular document, and not your system. Then we'll dig into the Printing and Proofing workspace and check out what it has to offer. You'll learn about using transparency flattening to make sure your color pages and images print the way you want, then try some test prints. Many high-end projects need to go to a print shop, and you'll discover how to package up your files for the printer and how to use preflight profiles. Finally, you'll see where to find information about your color quickly, and how to work with color separations and overprint previews.

Specialized Printing and eBooks

There's still more color information to learn! In this lesson, you'll see how to use mixed ink swatches and groups. You'll discover how to colorize a version of the wedding brochure using bitmap images. Then you'll work with the text and images from Alice in Wonderland to build an eBook. You'll learn a lot about what does and doesn't work in an eBook. Did you know some styles won't translate? Or that images need anchoring to show in your eBook? You'll learn the answers to these and many other questions.