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InDesign 101
Interactive EPUB
InDesign 101: Getting Started with InDesign
Reasons for using Adobe InDesign
Resources for help
Templates - Templates shipped with InDesign until InDesign CS4. InDesign Secrets has made the templates available here.
Creating A New Document - Making a Tri-Fold Brochure (Click Here for Assets)
Step 1: When you open InDesign you will see a What's New dialog box. (Note: The Welcome Screen was removed beginning with InDesign CC.)
Step 2: The origin of the ruler can be set to spread, page or spine.
Step 3: Another dialog box will appear. Now before you format the document it will save time to have a rough idea of the kind of document you want to set (do a sketch for a rough mockup). I will be creating a tri-fold single-page brochure. My Intent is Print, Number of Pages 2 with Facing Pages Unchecked and Primary Text Frame Unchecked.
Step 4: The Page Size drop down menu has a selection of popular presets; in my case I will use Tabloid (11x17), with an orientation of landscape. Since this is a tri-fold, my pages will be divided into 3-columns. under the Columns section I will set the Number to 3 and leave the Gutter and Margins set to their defaults. Compare your New Document dialog box to the following image before clicking OK.
Setting Margins using InDesignBefore the margins are defined, it is important to understand their function. Visually margins cage the content and support the structure of a layout. They provide a resting place for the reader's eyes as well as supporting the tone of design. Also there are some common practical functions to consider:・ How much room is needed for holding the print, so the reader doesn't obscure any content?・ How is the print going to be finished? ring bound, stapled etc・ Are there any safe zones set by the print house? One example would be a street poster/advertisement where the print is held in a large frame, requiring oversized margins.・ When designing training manuals and text books should room be left for notes to be made? By appreciating the affect your margins have on printing and finishing, you will instantly become your printer's best friend.
Methods of Importing Type
Here are some common methods of placing type within InDesign.
Step 1 We will begin by importing the course descriptions onto the second page of your document. Go to File --> Place and navigate to where the AVCourseDescriptions file is located. Select it but don't click the Open button just yet.
Step 2 Check Show Import Options, once the box is checked, then click Open. The Microsoft Word Import Options dialog box will appear.
Step 3 The Import Options dialog box is divided into three sections, Including, Formatting. The Include box is pretty self-explanatory and here you can choose to omit or include various formatting.
Step 4 Once you have clicked OK your cursor will be loaded with the text from the document. Note: If you change your mind, press the Esc key.
Formatting Text with the Character Panel
(Reset your workspace to Typography)
Step 1 First, let's format out first course. I've chosen the Aparajita Font size 14, bolding the Title of the course and setting a Skew of 10 degrees to the prerequisite.
Step 2 Select the Title of the course, or place the insertion point in it. Choose New Character Style from the Character Styles panel menu. For Style Name, type CourseTitle. Note: When you select the Basic Character Formats category the Basic Character Formats will match those of the selected text.
Step 3 Select the Description of the course, or place the insertion point in it. Choose New Character Style from the Character Styles panel menu. For Style Name, type CourseDescription. For Based On select CourseTitle, click on Basic Character Formats select the Font Style menu and choose Regular. For Shortcut, enter Option/Alt 2 and click OK.
Step 4 Create a Character Style for the prerequisite and name it PreReq with the shortcut Option/Alt 3.
Quick Skills Check - Layout & Place More Text
Resize your Text Frames to improve your layout and create more textboxes as needed, you will also Place some additional text to provide some background information on these programs.
Importing Graphics
InDesign can handle a variety of graphics including jpg, eps, pdf, tiff, psd and most Adobe formats to name a few. InDesign doesn't actually place the graphic into the document. Instead it makes a link to the original file and generates a preview within the document. As InDesign is a layout and typesetting program you need to edit and prepare your files within another program, for example Photoshop or Illustrator. Note: If you place an Illustrator or Photoshop document you can update the saved file in the Links panel without having to replace the file.
Step 1 Create a frame that is half the width (2.6111") of the center column with the Rectangle Frame Tool, select the Frame with the Selection Tool and choose File --> Place and select the DSC_0155.jpg image and click Open. Note: The image is too large for the Frame. Right-click the Frame --> Fitting --> Fill Frame Proportionally to fit the image to the frame without distortion.
Step 2 Duplicate the frame to create a total of 4 frames, place the following images: DSC_0024.jpg, DSC_0184.jpg, and DSC_0204.jpg. Note: You will need to reset the Fitting.
TIP: Duplicate a Frame1. Edit → Duplicate2. Edit → Copy → Edit → Paste3. Click/Drag press Alt/Option before releasing
Step 3 You may need to adjust the location of the images within the frame, hover over the frame and drag the content grabber, this will move the imported content without moving the frame (that is, to pan content behind its frame).
Create a new color swatch1. Choose New Color Swatch in the Swatches panel menu.2. For Color Type, choose the method you’ll use to print document colors on a printing press, usually Process.3. Do one of the following:• Click Add to add the swatch and define another one.• Click Done when finished.• Click OK to add the swatch and exit the dialog box.
Step 4 Add a stroke to a frame, select the frame and on the Options panel set the Stroke Weight to 4 pts and the Stroke Color to Dark Blue.
TIP: Object StylesObject stylesheets format the appearance of objects — that is, shapes and frames. They allow you to control a lot of miscellaneous effects, such drop shadows, text wrap, and more. (All Styles panels can be found under Window → Styles)
Quick Skills Check - Complete the front page of the brochure by placing more text & graphics
Sample Front
Time Permitting: Adding Interactivity to a PDF Generate QR code1. From the menu, choose Object > Generate QR Code.2. In the Content tab, select any one of the following data types in the Type drop-down list: Web Hyperlink, Plain Text, Text Message, Email, Business Card.3. Based on the selected type, one or more fields are displayed to provide the content for which you want to generate the QR code.
4. The Color tab shows Swatch List. If you want to apply a specific color to the QR code, switch to the Color tab and select a specific color. By default, the generated QR code is Black with transparent background.5. Click OK.
Resources for help
Feature: Color Workflows Re-Imagined
Create Color themes that complement the assets in your layout with a single click. The new Color Theme tool uses the Adobe Color technology to allow users to extract a color theme from any image, object or selected area in an InDesign layout and begin using it right away. Save color themes to the Adobe Color service for use in other Adobe desktop and mobile apps.
Animation and interactivity in fixed layout EPUB
InDesign CC users can now create highly designed, interactive, Fixed Layout EPUB ebooks. Create interactive elements, and preview audio, video, animation – any interactivity you can place in the file – right inside InDesign.
• Move the mouse near the right and left edges to reveal the page controls; click to switch pages.
• Hover the mouse over the top left side of the window to reveal the navigation icons; click the middle icon to show the TOC generated from bookmarks created within InDesign.
• Click through with the right arrow until you reach the last page to show the index. Click a page number to show hyperlinked pages within the EPUB.
Instructions for PlayonEPUB
Cover Page
Create the following animations (Open the Animation panel)
Set the following Timing (Open the Timing panel):
Spread 3-4
Create the following animations (Open the Animation panel)
Create the following slideshow
Set the following Timing (Open the Timing panel):
Set the following Hyperlinks (Open the Hyperlinks panel)
Spread 7-8
The animations have been set for you; let’s add sound to the Pizzicato, Trill and Glissando buttons.
Make a button play sound
Generate an Index
QR Bar Code Creator:
Publish your EPUB
Digital Publishing with InDesign CC: Slideshows (create a button for each image in the stack)
Interesting note on placing movie and sound files is that in order for the Trill and other buttons to play the violin sounds, the music sound files need to be placed on the page. However, those icons showed up in the screen refresh when the page loaded. So a simple fix is to place these three sound file icons in the lower right corner of the page and put a simple white frame on top of them - all hidden underneath everything else on the page. The white frame makes them seem invisible when the page draws in on iBooks.
Color themes can be added to the swatches panel as a set of five colors (a color group).
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You can also sync color themes to the
Adobe Color Web service to make them instantly available for use in other Adobe desktop and mobile apps including Photoshop, Illustrator, Line and Sketch.
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Note: If the Adobe Color Themes panel does not update after adding a theme, click Create and click back on My Themes to force a refresh.
You can click to sample all colors (notice the highlight outline that indicates what you are selecting color from (hover over the table to select colors from the whole table) or drag a rectangle over any combination of content to sample colors from the selected area.
The Color Theme tool generates a total of 5 themes–a base theme consisting of 5 color swatches and 4 alternate themes–and presents them in a small floating panel. Colors from a theme can then be directly applied to page elements.
Interactive InDesign Files
Click here to download zip file.
Interactive InDesign
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