Adobe InDesign is a program for designing print layouts that allows users to combine text, images, and shapes. The document provides step-by-step instructions for creating an A4 sized document in InDesign, adding guidelines, a background color, text, and an image. It also provides important information about linking images, minimum image file sizes for print, and using appropriate color profiles for images.
2. What is Adobe InDesign?
A program for designing print layouts.
It allows the user to combine text, images,
and shapes to create books, pamphlets,
leaflets, posters, programs, flyers, etc.
3. First Steps: Try This
Create an A4 sized
new document.
When the new
document panel
opens, select “page
size: A4” from the
dropdown menu.
Make the “bleed” 3 on
all sides.
4. First Steps: Try This
Your document should
look like this ->
The outer line is the
bleed line: “bleed” is the
term used for the area
that extends beyond
where machines trim
during printing, and it
ensures that no white
edges show up on the
final page.
5. First Steps: Try This
The inner line is the
margin line: it helps you
line up text and images,
and prevent you from
putting text too close to
the edges of the page.
Generally, text should
stay inside the margin
line.
Bleed Line
Actual edge of the page
Margin Line
6. First Steps: Try This
Hit the “W” on your
keyboard and the
guidelines will
disappear. This allows
you to preview what the
printed document will
look like.
7. Background Color
Use the “rectangle” tool.
The tools panel is on the
left just as in Photoshop.
Draw a rectangle onto
your document.
Rectangle Tool
8. Background Color
Use the “selection” tool
(which looks like an
arrow) to stretch your
rectangle all the way to
the bleed line.
Selection Tool
10. Background Color
Click on the “layers”
panel.
We only have one layer
we are working on right
now. All of the objects
placed on this layer are
listed under “Layer 1.”
Layer 1 with one object
below it. Click the “eye” to
hide and show objects.
11. Add Text
To add text, you need to
add another rectangle.
(Text can only be placed
within a rectangle).
Add a new rectangle
about the same size as
you want your text to be.
12. Add Text
You must make sure
your rectangle is
selected to place text
inside it. (You know it is
selected if you see the
little white boxes on the
frame). Use the
selection tool to click on
it, or click on the “layers”
panel to select it.
Blue square = selected
13. Add Text
Click on the “text” tool.
Select the rectangle to
add text to it. Your
cursor will have this icon
on it if you are doing it
correctly:
Text Tool
14. Add Text
Once you see the text
cursor flashing inside
the rectangle, type “This
is My Title!” (or
something similar).
Make the text bigger.
(Size 72 for example).
16. Align Text
Use the selection tool to
drag your text to the top
center of the document.
Line your text with the
top margin line.
A center alignment
guide should appear to
help you center your
text.
17. Text Border
Hit “W” to check and see
what your actual
document looks like.
If you see a border
around your text, you
need to remove it!
18. Text Border
Make sure the shape fill color
option and shape border color
option are both set to “[None]” Hit “W” again to
confirm that the
border is gone.
19. Add Image
Use the “Rectangle
Frame Tool” to draw
another rectangle. This
one should have an X
inside it.
Rectangle Frame
Tool
20. Add Image
With only the frame
selected, click on “File”
and “Place”.
Select any photo from
your computer to
upload.
Photos should be
bigger than 1 megabyte
to look good in print.
21. Add Image
With only the frame
selected, click on “File”
and “Place”.
Select any photo from
your computer to
upload.
Photos should be
bigger than 1 megabyte
to look good in print.
22. Add Image
Right click on your
image and select
“Fitting.”
Different fitting options
affect how the image
fills the frame.
26. Add Image
“Fit Content to
Frame” = image will
stretch to fill the
frame shape,
causing distortion.
27. Add Image
You might need to
experiment with these
filling options to get the
image the size you want.
For me, selecting “Fill
Frame Proportionally”
and then “Fit Frame to
Content” worked well.
28. Add Image Border
Select your image, and
adjust the border color
and thickness using the
options at the top of the
screen:
Border color is black,
border thickness is 10 pt.
Style is “left slant hash.”
29. Important to Know:
When you place an image onto your InDesign
document, it is linked to the original file on
your computer. Thus, if the original file is
moved or deleted, the image won’t load on
you document, and you can’t print it!
30. Important to Know:
Images should be
bigger than 1
megabyte (1 MB) to
look good in print.
Check to see the size
of your image by right
clicking the file (in
Finder) and select
“Get Info.”
View “Size” in the
pop-up that appears.
31. Important to Know:
When you plan to
print your document,
you should use
images that have a
CMYK color profile
instead of RGB,
because most
printers use CMYK
ink. You can change
the color profile of an
image using
photoshop.
