For specific InDesign help, go here.
Throughout the course of the semester, I want you to watch a minimum of six InDesign Tutorials.
After viewing each video, please comment on this specific blog post. Include the title of the video you watched and a brief summary of what you learned by watching the video. You should each have a total of six comments on this post. See the schedule for the specific deadlines.
Video Watched: Linking Content
ReplyDeleteI've always been a little confused about what "linking" content in InDesign means, so I decided on that video topic for this week. I probably should have looked this up earlier because it was quite clearly explained!
The linking capabilities in InDesign allow you to place and link content in the same document or in a completely different document by clicking "Edit" in the tool bar and then the "Place and Link" command from the drop down menu. This option first became available in the 5.5 version of InDesign, but only allowed for the content of text frames to be linked from document to document. Now, you can also place and link frames, content of image frames, and the objects themselves.
The object you're linking from in the original document is called the "parent" link. The linked object is the "child" link. If you make changes to the "parent" link, you will receive a notification icon showing the "child" link is out of date. You just have to double click on that icon in order to update it. InDesign 6 also now has the option of "preserving local links" where you can elect to make certain changes to the "child" link that won't be updated or removed if changes in the "parent link" are made.
Video Watched: Understanding Liquid Layout
ReplyDeleteI chose this video because I didn't even know what liquid layout meant, so "understanding" it would be a good start.
It's actually really cool, and helpful. The liquid layout feature helps when you change page sizes. For example, if you were designing a webpage that was for a computer, but wanted to also make the same information and design available for tablets or smart phones, this feature would come into play.
Liquid layout replaces layout adjustment. Everything on the page is changed according to what size you changed it to, which is obviously a great time saver. I mess up alot, so the idea of a feature that allows me to eliminate a lot of mental math and moving boxes around. It can be accessed several different ways, but the simpler way is to go to the Window drop down menu > then hit Interactive > then select Liquid Layout.
Video Watched: Using basic Liquid Layout rules: Scale, Recenter, and Based on Master.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've used the liquid layout feature before and am familiar with it, it has been a while since I've used it efficiently so I choose this video to serve as a refresher to remind me of what it's basic uses.
Being reminded how to "scale to type" and "recenter" and "scale" generally to the master page was very interesting to me because of how much time it will save when used in the classroom. Being able to basically adjust everything within the parameter throughout the pages to a specific size is a fast and efficient way move quickly throughout your entire design according to the master.
It was also nice to be reminded of being able to set the master page. (I'll admit, the last time I used a master page was during my Visual Communications course over a year ago.)
Being reminded of the "recenter" option is also extremely nice because usually when working with Indesign, there will be multiple size layouts you'll have to adapt your work for: IPad, IPhone, Web Browsing. Being able to recenter the work according to the appropriate size all at once is a huge time saver.
Video Watched: Using advanced EPUB 2 export controls
ReplyDeleteFor as long as I've used InDesign, I've never realized that the work you do could be exported into an EPUB file. Which, in my honest opinion, is absolutely fantastic.
Considering that we're advancing into a strict technology based world, the fact that a user can transfer their finished documents to multiple digital devices through EPUB files is extremely easy and efficient. Future generations can come to appreciate this.
To export as an EPUB device you simply go to file and then export, though, you with the newer version of InDesign, you are able to choose the advanced form of EPUB. Generally though, choosing the standard version format of EPUB works with all digital devices.
It was also nice to learn how to "split" a EPUB file. By choosing a paragraph, double clicking the paragraph style, and choosing the textbox called "split document" you can tell InDesign to chop up the document that will split it simply unlike the previous version of InDesign.
Video watched: Applying Object-based liquid layout rules
ReplyDeleteThis might come in handy for when we are designing/re-designing page layouts for the messenger and want to make the pictures the same distance away from the edges by "pinning" it. Another cool feature was how you could re-scale your object automatically based on weather or not you change the size of the page you use. This tool will come in handy if ever we decide to change the layout if a spread.
Video Watched: Understanding Liquid Layout Rules
ReplyDeleteI honestly had no idea what this meant before watching the video. I really wish I would've known this a long time ago!! It would have saved me so much time on certain projects where I needed to re-size my pages.
In short, the liquid layout ability in InDesign includes several different rules that you can turn on or off on certain objects, or all of the objects, on a page. These rules come into play when you change the size of page. So, you don't have to readjust and reformat all of the objects on your page when you re-size it! You can get to the liquid layout options by clicking the "page tool" (third from the top.) Then in the menu bar across the top you will see "liquid page rules" with a drop down menu that includes four options.
If all of those are off, nothing will happen to the objects when you re-size your page and you will have to adjust them yourself. If "scale" is selected, then all of your objects are automatically scaled when you change the size of a page. (I will use this all the time now!) The "Re-center" option keeps things centered as the page re-sizes. The "object-based" and "guide-based" rules are a little more complicated and involve making changes just to certain objects.
This gal narrator certainly has no problems interjecting her opinions on these features, but the Linking Content video was sure helpful. She talks and demonstrates simultaneously on how to edit links and make a system that makes sense. The terms "parent link" and "child link" remind you which is the original and which is the spawn. In our version of inDesign, users are able to link content with text frames, image frames, and objects themselves; thus opening a wide range of possibilities. One can use the Edit > Place > Link option, but the narrator prefers the Links panel menu > link options way of handling linking. I really appreciate features that know when you're about to mess up, so thankfully inDesign warns you if you update a link and will lose edits or it will not connect to the parent link. Then gives you the option to Update link or Modify Link. If you really mess up, you can simply Unlink, and there is no longer a child link.
ReplyDeleteI watched my first videos earlier but didn't notice the spot to blog! Figure I had been confused and blogged to the other posts instead. Then saw this tonight! Yes, I'm somewhat clueless lately! Anyway, I had previously watched a couple of the 'basic' videos as I needed to start from scratch. InDesign has been my enemy but I'm finding this class is helping me little by little...I'm not in LOVE with it yet but have reached toleration. Surprisingly, I liked watching the basic tutorials about tools, frames and graphics as I can watch at my own speed and am understanding more what to use and why. Also learning some shortcuts I wish I had learned earlier!
ReplyDeleteTonight I watched one of the basics that discusses the scaling of pictures which I should have watched prior to class today. Regina helped me with it today, and watching the video was exactly what she showed me so it was reinforced. Wish I had discovered these videos last semester!
I forgot to list the videos: Getting Started with InDesign CS6, What is InDesign CS6?,Working with Tools, Working with Frames, Working with Graphics
ReplyDeleteSpecifically have found the last two an eye opener for me. I was completely lost last semester and would spend far too much time experimenting until it worked (with text and photo placements.) Watching these I understand file placement more. Also found the 'fill to size' option helpful and how if you move a hair away from the corner you can rotate an image. (YES, I know I should've know this already.) I could go on and on about the little things I picked up. I plan on watching these several times and practicing what I watched as well.
Video Watched: Working with Graphics
ReplyDeleteI watched the Working with Graphics video and found it super helpful. If anything from Visual Communication class has stuck with me, it's the concept of "File > Place". However through the video I was able to learn how to draw a frame for placement, how to fill the frame proportionally, and I learned the concept of the "Content Grabber". I used to think the double circle in the middle of my placed images was just a nuisance but the video taught me how to click it once and drag the image to the desired placement on the page. The "fill frame proportionally" trick will definitely help with our next projects on the Messenger. Object > Fitting > Fill frame proportionally allows images to be scaled correctly and in the right amount of space you want on the page. I don't do well with inDesign and I do even less well with PhotoShop so these tips for how to deal with images once they are prepared to go will be very helpful for the rest of the semester.
Video Watched: Working With Graphics
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic that I did know quite a bit about before watching, unlike the other two videos. However, I still definitely did learn a few new tips and tricks that I'm going to start trying to incorporate in to my InDesign use.
The video starts off with a simple instruction of how to insert graphics. I almost always use the Command > D shortcut. I can't even remember the last time I used the File > Place option. This is one shortcut that I actually know and use quite frequently. The video showed how you can draw out your photo frame when you already have the photo selected and ready to place. I don't think I've ever done this! I generally draw out a frame before selecting the photo I want to place. Doing them both in one step is definitely a time-saving strategy that I might start trying.
The narrator of the video explained the options for fitting content in frames and suggested using the "fill frame proportionally" option instead of "fit content to frame" so that you aren't left with an white space you don't want. I always use these tools when working with photos and would definitely agree that "fill frame proportionally" is the way to go! If it still doesn't look exactly like you want it, you can always use the next tool that is explained the the video. The content grabber (which the narrator describes as a target in the middle of the photo) is my favorite photo tool on InDesign. I love using it to get the exact portions of the photo that I want inside my frame.
The video ended by suggesting you click View > Fit Page in Window before ending your project so you can be sure everything fits and make adjustments if needed. I've never done this before and might try it next time I do a project!
Video Watched: Working with Tools
ReplyDeleteI decided to watch the Working with Tools video as a basic refresher to the tools nested underneath the primary tools (for example: textbox tool, eyedropper tool, pencils, line tools, text tools, etc.) I also wanted to see the shortcuts listed for the primary tools listed which is surprisingly listed on each tool as you hover your mouse over the specific tool - which I wasn't aware of.
For example; using single letters will easily help you jump from tool to tool regarding it's specific letter coordinating with it's title. (Another example is if you would hit "a" you will instantly be working with the arrow (aka "move tool.))
Also, a nice little hint is that if you make a mistake that you feel is taking too much time to backtrack and undo all of the mistakes. File - Revert will instantly take the entire document back to it's previously saved version. I never knew this either.
Regardless, all tips shown in this video are worth seeing as either a refresher for working on projects or learning easily accessed shortcuts!
Video Watched: Building A Newsletter
ReplyDeleteI wanted to watch this video because, being a PR major, I'm likely going to have to make many newsletters throughout my career. I thought it would be good to learn some tips on how to make good ones with InDesign!
Since the video wasn't focused on one particular tool, it started off with basics like how to place photos and text, different ways to set up columns and guides for various newsletter formats, and how to setup and change paragraph styles. There were two tricks explained in the video regarding fitting and placing of text that were really great to learn!
1. When you have your text loaded and ready to go, press and hold down the ALT key. This will show you a dotted bent arrow. While you're holding the ALT key, press and drag along your guides. When you let go of the key, your text will automatically be placed. If it doesn't all fit, your cursor will be loaded will the rest of the text. This is known as semi-auto flow. I think this could really come in handy for the Messenger too! I generally just draw textboxes and then copy and past in text. This is a much better way!
2. This is another form of auto flow that uses the SHIFT key. After you select and load your text, hold the shift key to see a bent, solid arrow. Click once and then your text will automatically be placed all through your columns and/or guides (not just one column). It will even continue on to the text page until all of your story is placed!
The eyedropper tool was also explained. I knew about this tool beforehand but I honestly thought it was just used for matching colors! I had no idea it could also be used to match styles of text
Video watched: Getting Started with InDesign
ReplyDeleteI think this video is really helpful for someone who is looking to learn how to get started. When I was learning how to use InDesign, I even thought that the opening a new document page looked foreign, so this man does a good job of explaining what everything is on that part. I also thought the different ways to place images was interesting. I never use the rectangular frame to insert photos; I always just use a rectangle box. I also have never used Bridge to find photos, and it looks so easy! It was pretty cool that he could add all three of those photos at the same time into three individual frames. I did not know you could do that!
It was important to me to see how to format paragraph styles. This is one thing I often find challenging with working in InDesign. Sometimes I can’t get the body copy or heading copy to change when I’ve made a new style for it, and that is frustrating. Glad I learned better how to do that.
This guy makes this InDesign thing look so easy. I will DEFINITELY refer to these videos whenever I need help. Thanks, Regina.
Video watched: Creating a Letterhead
ReplyDeleteI first like how she showed us that this was her way of doing this, and not industry standard. I have had to make letterhead before in InDesign for my Graphic Design 2 class, but in those classes, you don’t learn a whole lot of InDesign, so I basically did it on my own and can see I didn’t do it anywhere near the right way! I feel like she did a pretty good job at slowly explaining every single step she made, and I like that there were captions at the bottom of the video so you are guaranteed to know what she is saying. This video was really helpful.
Video watched: Reviewing the new Forms tools
ReplyDeleteThis video was cool! I have never created a form before. Well, not an official looking form. I did not now that you could do this using Acrobat. I can honestly say that I have ONLY used Acrobat to view files or to do some editing during my internship. I had no idea you could create a form like that on that program. It was interesting that designers previously needed to resort to using pretty simple designs for their forms because Acrobat couldn’t recognize the fields. But in CS6, when exported to a PDF, it automatically turns into a form. It’s not until later in the video you learn that to make a form, you have to be in the Interactive for PDF workspace - I think I have only worked in the essentials workspace - where you can find a Buttons and Forms panel (previously just called Buttons). This tool is filled with tons of different options and also has the actions button for people to submit, print, email, etc. This was a lot of information to take in, but it was so interesting! This is something that may take a lot of practice for me to get the hang of.
Video watched: Creating a Letterhead.
ReplyDeleteI can't honestly say that I've ever been required to create a letterhead so far throughout my college career so I truly found this video helpful. The instructor did a great job explaining how to easily transition through the process as well. Personally, I love knowing how to do this simply because, considering that I'll soon be a senior, letterhead's will be essential post college and I can easily create my own now.
Video Watched:Using the Content Collector and Content Placer tools
ReplyDeleteThe content collector is super helpful so that you can load and place multiple pieces of content together. The "B" key opens up the Content Conveyor. Moving your mouse over the content will highlight it in the color of the layer that it exists. This is super helpful considering my presentation last week was about grid design and all the layers you can have thereof. When you open up the Content Conveyor, all the things you want plus some formatting options are right there and handy.
Videos Watched: Working with Tools and Working with Graphics
ReplyDeleteThis week I decided to swallow my pride and go back to the basics while I still struggle with inDesign. In the Working with Tools video, the narrator says to click away from every page in the Paste Board area while working with tools. I should do this already but I don't, which means alot of my graphics are just a hare off of where I left them because I've gone on to the next thing. While it would be repetitive to state here, I learned and will remember all the keyboard shortcuts for the tools on the vertical toolbar. As for the Working with Graphics video, I learned that inDesign has several 'preset' forms you can use. I never knew that. They said to never use the EPS form because it does not support transparency, like if you wanted to give something a fade-out or a feathered edge. It's a repeat, but I also learned to click once and drag to adjust the photo within the frame instead of just dragging the handles around like I always do. Probably the most helpful thing I learned was the File > Revert concept because I save often but mess up alot. So this will be the best of both worlds to revert back to the last time I saved my work.
Video Watched: Working with Tools
ReplyDeleteI decided to go back to the basics this week as well! I don't know InDesign near as much as I'd like to, so I thought it would be good to make sure I have a solid understanding of the main tools. I didn't learn as much new information in this video as I have in past ones, but there were still some concepts that were new for me. For example, I didn't know that you could hold your cursor over each tool to see which key to press as a short cut to get to that tool. That was cool to learn! Knowing that clicking "File > Revert" takes you back to the version of the document that was last saved was good to learn as well. I always just click undo over and over again if I want to get back to where I started. That will definitely help save time. In addition, I always used to think that the rectangle frame tool was just for images. However, after watching this video I now know that it can be used for text and other placed objects as well. Finally, the marquee aspect of the zoom tool is something I had never used before. That allows you to select a certain spot on the page to zoom in on by clicking and dragging your cursor over that spot.
Video watched: Working with Graphics.
ReplyDeleteThis video really took me back to my Visual Communications course last fall. I think this video had a nice impact on me considering lately I've been off with properly placing my images without stretching them. I have a feeling that the shortcut leading to properly filling a frame proportionally will definitely be a necessary tool for me throughout this course.
Truly though, it was nice to finally hear an explanation of the "content grabber." I've honestly found it to be quite an annoyance when trying to work at a faster speed.
Overall, after watching this video, I feel more comfortable with graphics while working in InDesign. Which, for me, is great considering it's been brought to light in class that I've been misusing my photos so far. I'm sure these tips will be extremely useful.
Video watched: Linking Content
ReplyDeleteFirst off, the narrator for this video is very exact in his explanation of linking content and I'm extremely grateful for it! Linking in InDesign allows for you to link content, text frames, and image frames all in a very similar method whilst working in Cs6.
Something that I found very interesting, but also very nice to know, is that when linking from the original document source, that's referred to as the parent link. The object you're linking is then referred to as the child link. I never knew this before.
Also, editing and updating the links could possibly cause you to lose your original edits as well, heed warning now everybody. (I've made changes on my edits before without realizing that updating the content deletes it!) Though, something interesting, depending on the circumstances of use, the original parent object will remain untouched regardless of the changes or updates made to it within your document so if you accidentally lose it, you'll still have the original safely where you've saved it.
Linking has always been a complicated action for me depending on how rushed I am when I'm working, I really found this video helpful and hopefully I can apply some of these tricks the next time I'm working with multiple links in InDesign.
Video watched: Working with Frames
ReplyDeleteI learned that the "fit content to frame" button on the control panel is to save me time. Thank goodness because I waste a lot of time adjusting all my frames to fit the content within them, pictures or text. When you select text, inDesign builds a text frame. When you select an image, it builds a picture frame or container. I learned that one click on the image inside frame allows you to see the actual scale percentage at which that image is.
Same, but different, the "fit frame to content" button allows the designer to fit the frame and handles around the image or text. The orange points let you know how much of the image is still left. It was a repeat of something I learned, but if you grab the corners and use diamonds to round the corners, it gives the image a different look (if that fits your purpose). The green arrows demonstrate your dimensions match that of other elements in your publication.
"Edit > paste into" was an awesome feature I did not know about. The video demonstrated that with a plain back airplane image that we changed with a pretty blue design. I will definitely use this feature in my future designs.
Video Watched: Creating a Letterhead
ReplyDeleteI decided to watch this one because I thought knowing how to properly create a letter on InDesign could really come in handy in the PR field. I also tend to struggle with letterheads for cover letters and resumes and thought it might be able to help me out in that area as well. I already knew how to do many of the things covered, and some of it was rather obvious, but I did pick up some helpful tips!
The first thing the video suggests is adjusting your margins as you create your document. The narrator suggests a 1.5 in. margin at the top, but said that it just her personal preference. The important thing is to ensure that you make the top margin larger and the bottom margin smaller. The video then says to place guides along the margins so you know where you can place your logo and content within the letter head. I had no idea that you could type values in the X and Y boxes to set your guides. I'll have to use that more often! I used to just dag my guides and estimate where they should be.
I also learned that when you're in the line tool, if you hold down the shift key while drawing your line it will stay perfectly straight. I always struggled with that before. I figured there was a way to ensure it stayed straight but was never able to figure it out before watching this video. In addition, if your line is selected, you can use the up and down arrow keys to move the line up and down the page. I also didn't know that!
The last part of the video was mainly filled with suggestion for what text to put below the letterhead in order to be able to use the document as a template. I'll definitely be able to use a lot of what I learned in the future!
Video watched: Understanding Liquid Layout rules
ReplyDeleteI’ve never even heard of liquid layouts, so this information was all completely new to me. I’m not new to InDesign, but I didn’t even know you could change the size of the document with it already open! The liquid layout feature in InDesign lets you turn on and off different objects on a page. The scale option lets you scale all of the contents when you grab the corner of the page and resize it. Re-center keeps everything centered on the page if you make the page a bigger size, but not really if you make it a smaller size. Object-based is pretty cool because it keeps specific items on the page in the exact place that they are if you don’t want them to move when you resize the page. Guide-based features a new liquid guide that determines which objects will be re-sized. Liquid Layout rules are still confusing to me. I think I would need to play with it for a while to get the hang of this.
Video watched: Testing a form in Acrobat
ReplyDeleteIt’s nice that you can change the view to ‘fit page’ when viewing a PDF, because I hate having to go up to the +/- buttons in Acrobat to make the window smaller! Therefore, when I make anything like this in InDesign I will ALWAYS remember that shortcut from this video. I wish a lot more people knew how to use this feature (InDesign/Acrobat) when making files like this, because I really don’t like when someone sends me a file that I have to print and write on and turn around and scan it back in to them. I would much rather have forms in Acrobat that I can just type in and submit immediately.
I thought the text field properties that aren’t offered in InDesign were interesting. It’s nice that you can choose the auto option in font size if someone’s name is too long to fit into the boxes on your form. It’s also nice to see that you can set how many characters you want people to be able to type in the boxes, so that they aren’t typing a ton of words. This video was extremely informational on how to test out forms using Acrobat!
Video watched: Working with graphics
ReplyDeleteOne thing I wanted to point out is, I really like the way the people who host these videos state the shortcuts. Shortcuts are so much easier once you learn them. It's hard to search around through the drop down menus.
I agree with Jordan about this video taking us back to our Visual Communications course. It was such a beginner video that would be really helpful to people who are extremely new to InDesign. It's nice that she shows us which options to choose when fitting the photo to the frame. Sometimes that is what I have trouble with. Lately, I have been filling the photo proportionately. That is what looks best to me.