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Adobe
InDesign

Adobe InDesign gives everyone the ability to create professional layouts. It doesn't matter if you've never designed a magazine, flyer, or book before—anyone can learn the tools that bring great page design together. With a little practice using grids, typography, and layout tools, you'll find yourself building polished publications you never thought possible.

The Basics

  • Files & Fonts.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    We are first going to look at the files and fonts that will be needed to complete this tutorial series. 

    Each lesson will have a package of files that will include an INDD, IDML, PDF, Final Example and any other needed resources. It is recommended that you use the IDML files to complete the exercises. 

    Worksheets also have had fonts outlined to avoid loss of fonts.

  • InDesign Interface.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this lesson we will review the interface of Adobe InDesign. Our goal will be to create a custom workspace that will work for the remainder of the tutorial series and put all the tools you need at your finger tips.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • InDesign Crash Course.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this crash course we are going to look and the overview of what can be created using Adobe InDesign while getting use to the idea of frames and how they can be used to manipulate and alter text and images.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Frame Basics.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to dig deeper on how frames work and what can be done with them. We will also look at framing in general and how framing out your designs can save you a lot of time.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Project Management.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at the importance of a root folder as well as peeking at our links panel so that we can understand how important it is to keep track of all assets that you accumilate throughout a project.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

Intermediate Lessons

  • Shape Tools.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at the shape tools within Adobe InDesign and how they function similarly to other programs but not exactly. We will explore the pen tool and look at how you can make custom shapes that will act as frames for your designs.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Working With Images.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this lesson we are going to look more closely at how to place images, their relationship to their frame and how we can use those images in unique ways. We will also look at how proper alignment creates a much more professional product.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Working with text.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at typography and the hierarchy of text in order to create a customizable resume template. Utilizing this we create a visual clue for the viewer to read our information in the correct order.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Colors swatches gradients.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at how we can utilize color schemes and the swatches panel to be able to create unified look that we can replicate. We will also look at gradients and how they create interesting and cohesive designs that will draw attention. 

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

Magazine Project

  • Magazine 1.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look how we can use our pages panel to create multiple spreads. We will look back at framing and see how we can frame out multiple spreads early in order to make out workflow dramatically easier. 

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Magazine 2.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    We are going to look at the layout we built in a previous lesson and start adding all of our content into place. With everything where it should be, life will be much easier as we move forward to formatting all of it.

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

  • Mag3.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look how we can take the content that we added in our previous lesson and format it all to be more succesful. We are going to explore text heirarchy and best practices around formatting your text.

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

  • Mag4.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at how we finalize any design work done within Adobe InDesign. Including how we can export out multiple different file types depending on what you client needs.

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

Advanced

  • Styles.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at how we can create and alter different styles. Between character, paragraph and object styles we can work dramatically quicker, altering large blocks of text or objects with a single click.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Tables.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at how we can create and alter tables in order to keep our information more organized and clean. From altering the container, text or stroke there are some many things you can do with basic tables.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Interactivity.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at the interactivity features that InDesign has built within it. These features may not show up in the program but once exported as an Interactive PDF everything will become clear. You can build truly unique presentations.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Preflight.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to look at the preflight panel. When dealing with potentially hundreds of pages it is very easy to overlook some issues that may exist. Preflight is there to help you find and fix those errors.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

Brochure Project

  • Brochure 1.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to start putting everything together by creating a brochure broken down like a real project would be. We will take this entire things from framing, to text, to images, to effects and color. This lesson focuses on the preparation stage of any project. Managing assets and getting everything into place.

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Brochure 2.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to start creating the layoth that we will use. The layout is essential to understanding how the document will work and where all the content will be placed. 

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

  • Brochure3.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to start putting everything together. Adding in the text and graphic elements and making sure that everything is ready to be formatted and finalized in our following lessons.

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

  • Brochure 4.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to start putting everything together by creating a brochure broken down like a real project would be. We will take this entire things from framing, to text, to images, to effects and color. 

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Brochure5.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to start putting everything together by creating a brochure broken down like a real project would be. We will take this entire things from framing, to text, to images, to effects and color. 

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

Cookbook Challenge

  • Cookbook1.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to create a multiple page cookbook. This is meant to challenge you in a number of ways. We will build a couple of spread together and then you will be left to you own devices to create the final spreads for this book. Good Luck!!

    Download the file below in order to follow along.

  • Cookbook2.jpeg

    Goal of this Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to create a multiple page cookbook. Today we will create the first page of the second spread, creating a table of contents and biography of the author.

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

  • Cookbook3.jpeg

    Goal of the Tutorial:

    In this tutorial we are going to create a multiple page cookbook. The goal of todays lesson is to build the right page, looking at how we can give the instructions and ingredients in easy to read and follow ways. After this, it will be your job to complete the final two spreads.

    Open the previous files and keep working on them.

Try out a project

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