Adobe InDesign Course: Level 1

Adobe InDesign. Page design, layout, and publishing.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update: arrangement of our courses

Some of our courses have moved to online delivery. We aim to continue to deliver a high-quality educational experience through interactive, online classes in real-time. If you are currently enrolled in a course with us, we will be in touch soon with options for your enrolment.

Please note that for online classes, all course materials will be shared electronically. No printed resources will be available.

This Adobe InDesign course will have you designing layouts for print and digital publishing using this popular publishing software package. You will be taken from the basics through to the skills necessary to create a variety of different print and digital material.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• discuss how the application can be used and start working with it
• set up and create a new document
• work with and modify elements of a workspace
• use basic navigation
• work with pages
• work with layers
• understand colour and how to use it
• work with graphics
• work with text
• ensure documents are ready to print
• use the Help menu and access online help resources.

Content

Starting with Adobe InDesign

• Understanding the application
• Starting the application
• The welcome experience
• The workspace
• Understanding workspaces
• Opening an existing document
• Closing a document
• Exiting

Setting up a document

• Understanding document presets
• Adjusting the units of measure
• Creating a document preset
• Creating a new document
• Using new document preview
• Saving a new document

Working with a workspace

• The tools panel
• Using selection tools
• Displaying and hiding rulers
• Working with workspaces
• Creating a custom workspace
• Understanding panels
• Displaying and hiding panels
• Floating and docking panels
• Working with the status bar

Navigating

• Understanding screen views
• Changing screen views
• Using the hand and zoom tools
• Using shortcut menus
• Using keyboard shortcuts
• Working with tabbed documents
• Arranging multiple documents

Working with pages

• Inserting pages
• Navigating pages
• Understanding master pages
• Creating master pages
• Creating ruler guides
• Locking, unlocking and clearing guides
• Viewing and hiding the grid
• Adjusting column guides
• Setting document bleed and slug
• Inserting auto page numbering
• Applying a master page
• Deleting pages

Layers

• Understanding layers
• Creating a new layer
• Naming layers and assigning colours
• Assigning objects to layers
• Reordering layers
• Hiding and viewing layers

Working with colour

• Understanding colour
• Stroke and fill
• Understanding the colour panel
• Applying a fill colour
• Applying a stroke colour
• Selecting colours using the eyedropper
• Selecting colours using the swatches panel
• Adding colours to the swatches panel
• Creating a gradient
• Creating a colour group
• Creating a colour theme
• Removing colour

Frames and shapes

• Understanding frames
• Creating frames and shapes
• Transforming shapes
• Merging shapes using pathfinder
• Duplicating objects
• Arranging objects
• Aligning and distributing objects
• Grouping objects
• Creating an outline
• Placing graphics in an outline

Working with graphics

• Understanding graphic file formats
• Placing graphics in a document
• Positioning graphics within a frame
• Fitting graphics
• Understanding linked graphics
• Navigating the links panel
• Linking and embedding files
• Placing inline graphics
• Creating a clipping path
• Applying text wrap
• Creating a caption
• Changing display performance

Working with text

• Understanding text
• Applying type style
• Changing font size and leading
• Changing the vertical text alignment
• Threading text frames
• Importing text from Microsoft Word
• Adjusting kerning
• Adjusting tracking
• Editing text in place
• Editing text with the story editor

Preparing for printing

• Running preflight check
• Printing a document
• Defining a print preset
• Understanding ink handling terms
• Creating a postscript file
• Exporting to PDF
• Soft proofing
• Packaging a document

Getting help

• Understanding the help menu
• Using help
• Searching for online help

Intended audience

Suitable for all individuals who wish to learn the basics of graphic production to create layouts for print media. Assumes little or no knowledge of the software.

Delivery style

Presented as practical, instructor-led computer-based training. You will have dedicated access to a computer so you can follow the instructor and work through in-class activities.

Materials

You will be provided with a link to access and download your own personalised eBook prior to class.

Additional information

Please bring a USB flash drive to class if you would like to make a copy of your work or any relevant class materials. Alternatively, you can save these to a cloud storage space or email them to your personal email address.