Well then, honey, we’ve got to get you into a better outfit.
Ah, InDesign.
New to you perhaps, but so familiar at the same time. Being a part of the Adobe Family definitely has its advantages.
So Many Features, Where to Start?
Well, at the beginning, naturally. To create a new document in InDesign, you can use your beloved Photoshop/Illustrator shortcut of Ctrl+N or, if you must create more work for yourself, go to File>New>Document.
In the U.S., the default setup for a new document is letter size (8.5”x11”) in picas (so it actually reads 51x66). We really do need to talk about the measurement system of picas and points, but let’s save that for another post. The default number of columns is 1 with a 1 pica gutter (technically this is incorrectly labeled—they should call it an alley). The margins are 3 picas, or half an inch.
The Very Basics
To get started with InDesign, create a new document as mentioned above. Then with the text tool (Ctrl+T) click and drag to create a new text box.
To link text boxes (set up multiple text boxes with content that flows from one to another):
- Click the black arrow (Selection Tool) or hit V. This is just like the Move Tool in Photoshop.
- Click in the little blue square at the bottom of a text box. Your cursor will change to a little black arrow with some lines
- When you hover over another text box that you are able to link to the first one, the cursor will again change, this time to a black arrow with two chain links next to it.
- Click in the linkable text box.
Now, if you put content in the first text box and the box is too small to contain it all, the content will continue to flow onto the next page.
Next to text, placing images is the most important part of working in InDesign. It’s very simple to place text:
- Use the shortcut Ctrl+D to open up the Place dialog box. I never use the menu to get this function, because the shortcut is SO much faster.
- Navigate to the image that you want to place in the file, select it and click ok (actually, you can link text, Photoshop and Illustrator files too!).
- You now have another different cursor to indicate that the next spot you click is where the upper left hand corner of the image will go.
- Click to place the image. You can move it around after you’ve deposited it in to the document.
The Best InDesign Advice Ever
When you are setting up your InDesign project folder, collect all your files that will be linked in an Images or Links folder before you place them in InDesign. It’s also a good idea to have your original Photoshop or Illustrator layered files in a Builder Files folder within your main project folder, just in case. This setup also allows you to move your project folder around without worrying about losing linked files in the process.
From what I understand, placing images is the main difference between Quark and InDesign. InDesign treats these linked files like Dreamweaver handles internal site links—they are document relative, meaning InDesign remembers where the linked file is in relation to where you’ve saved your InDesign file (but you don’t have to save the file first in order to place linked files into it). If you move the linked file around on your hard drive, the link will be broken and you’ll have to find that file again from within InDesign (you can get to the Links palette by going to Window>Links or Ctrl+Shift+D). InDesign does not embed images.
Although InDesign has the most wonderful Preflight and Package functions, it’s still the wisest course to collect all your files in a project folder yourself. Use the Preflight mainly for making sure all your RBG images have been converted to CMYK (saved me more than once!), that you’re not using spot colors anywhere you’re not meaning to, and checking to make sure you are not missing any fonts or images. Use the Package feature only if you need to collect fonts for sending off complete native files.
In this series we’ll talk about Master Pages, Paragraph and Character Styles, InDesign Layers and common shortcuts—the keys to really start unlocking InDesign’s power. Why don’t you subscribe to the Creative Curio feed (it’s free after all!) so that you don’t miss more useful info like these posts?
Are you a Quark or InDesign user? If you’ve worked in both, which do you prefer? Why?
Hi Lauren,
I certainly use InDesign, though did use Quark for a number of years. Now I’ve switched, I don’t go back unless requested by a specific client or printer (which very rarely happens).
InDesign is simply better integrated for use with the other Creative Suite applications, and the features are much nicer (granted I’ve not used Quark 7).
Hope you’re well.
I have used both and I much prefer Quark though I guess that’s because I know it better. A company I worked at freelance for a while had it (I have it now to with creative suite but don’t use it). I really hate the way indesign handles pics, its the same as illustrator I much prefer the image handling in Quark. I know if I send a job to print in quark 99.9% of the time it works OK, but my limited knowledge of the st up in Indesign makes me nervous (again its what you know best).
I do think however that Quark is charging far too much in comparison to Adobe where you can practically buy the whole creative suite for a similar price to Quark.
What is it exactly that you like about the way Quark handles images? I’ve yet to really understand this aspect between the two programs… I like the way InDesign handles it because if I make changes to my Photoshop file that I’ve placed directly into InDesign, ID will update it. Does Quark do something similar too?
I think that because Quark took so long to update their buggy version 6 and Adobe stepped up with a new layout program for professional designers and layout artists that came “free” with the first version of CS, that we will soon see the end of Quark (or Quirk as I’ve recently heard it called!). I don’t think its use will die away completely, but I know already a significant number of people—designers and printers—have moved to InDesign, at least here in the States.
In Indesign I don’t like the way you get two set of edges the edge of your picture box and the edge of the actual picture - it’s the same as illustrator handles pics (at least it was when I tried it). In quark you don’t see the edges of the actual picture just the picture box and I find it much less confusing. Quark has a update picture option (but you do actually have to go in and say update)
Quark actually gave away a free version 5 for PC a while ago on a PC mag. I bought one so I could have a copy to mess about with on my PC - my design work is done on mac.
Yes, you have to update the image link with ID too. Oh, I see what you mean now about image handling. I always thought people were referring to how the image is linked in the document! I thought it was a linked vs. embedded images.
I actually like the way ID handles what you are talking about, Tara, because it treats the image box like a mask, you can move the image around inside the box to get a different crop. I’ve done that many times. It’s all what you’re used to, though!
Perhaps a little like Tara, I was reluctant to switch to InDesign, mainly because I’d been using Quark for so long, and I knew all the shortcuts.
Once I spent some time creating a couple of projects in InDesign, I realised I’d like it much more. I agree with you, Lauren, about how ID handles the images, and how you can see the edge of the image as well as the image box. Very handy for cropping and resizing.
We’ll convert Tara yet, David! I can understand how it is, learning a new program, though; those were always the hardest quarters in school for me. One quarter I was learning Photoshop and Illustrator at the same time! That was frustrating! Those nasty differences in layers… ugh!
Could take a while Lauren :)
Nice going, LaurenMarie. I like what you’ve got going here and I’d like to link to it. Would you take a look at, and consider linking to, my blog?
Anyway, to InDy.
Consider that on the Macintosh, Command-N—”Command” is the Apple/Cloverleaf key—opens a new doc in every piece of software. That was an innovation of the Mac platform, going back to the beginning.
Good call on the “alley” versus “gutter” issue. Unfortunately, I don’t think any other layout software makes this distinction.
Your “Best Design Advice Ever” certainly is a terrific reminder to do something that makes life easier.
One thing you might consider discussing for the uninitiated is the important diff between Paragraph Composer and Single-Line Composer.
Something to keep in mind—whether speaking of platforms or software—is that they are all simpl tools. Like, say, electric saws. The Mac saw cuts exactly along the edge you define; the PC saw eventually does the same, but first it takes off a few fingers and toes.
As to picture boxes, I didn’t at first like the second, outer set of handles. But then I saw how this was a quick and easy “Runaround” (Quark) equivalent.
Overall, InDesign reminds me of a fuller-featured PageMaker. It’s not a bad piece of software, tho’ I find it’s much ballyhooed handling of type not as impressive as I was led to expect by all I read. It certainly is easy enough to pick up and use. I actually learned it “live,” while recreating the second edition of a book previously published. I set up master pages and styles to match the hard copy of that first edition—which had been done in Quark. This was easy enough, but for a persisten tendency to need tracking for word-spacing that I found attractive.
That all said,, only a few publishers have asled me to use InDy so far. Far more still want Quark.
Stephen Tiano
Book Designer, Page Compositor and Layout Artist
Hi Stephen! Great to see you here! I’m sorry, your comment was marked as spam… no idea why!
Well I’m always eager to learn from my readers and you are certainly going to be one of them! Perhaps you can tell all of us (including me!) what the difference is between Paragraph Composer and Single-Line Composer? I’ve never even heard those terms before.
It’s interesting that you actually have publishers requesting Quark. I suppose book design is a bit different than graphic design, though. For me, people generally don’t ask for my native files; I just send over a PDF. But I can see the publisher wanting the native files in case they need to make changes once you’re gone. I’m assuming that’s why they ask for them?
Eeek! Don’t compare the wonderful ID to Ragemaker! How horrid!
Ah, a Mac zealot
I’m sure we’ll be able to get along ok despite our fundamental differences in beliefs! You remind me of a guy I went to school with. His name was Craig and he was a book designer, too. I have no idea why he went back to college for graphic design, he was a fabulous designer! I loved learning from him (I’m secretly wondering if you know Craig…)
Okay, Single Line Composer vs. Paragraph Composer …
From Adobe Press’s Adobe InDesign CS2 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques:
“ … what really sets InDesign apart is its superior method of text composition—of adjusting spacing and hyphenation to achieve evenly spaced type in a paragraph. The method is called the Adobe Paragraph Composer, and it works by considering spacing, hyphenation, and line breaks in all the lines in a paragraph in relation to each other. By contrast, the Adobe Single-line Composer … consider[s] only one line at a time.”
I suspect Quark is still requested most often because more printers are still more comfortable with Quark. Some publishers request native files, some don’t. I don’t offer them. I took to providing PDFs a number of years ago—I may actually have been ahead of the curve on that one. No sense in encouraging a client not to call me for any future edition of a book.
I sort of agree about PageMaker. That is, I’m glad there are now better options. However, I cut my teeth on PageMaker 3. Back when all you could get out of it was a one-page doc. It was quite something. It kind of bridged the gap from physical pasteboards and wax machines to the digital age.
Nah, I’m really not so much a zealot about Macs—tho’ the real hardasses crack me up, the way they don’t get that computers are just high-tech screwdrivers and hammers. And, no, I don’t know your pal Craig. Never went to college for anything design-related. Hell, I was in college pre-PCs.
Stephen! I’m so glad you were able to finally respond. Thanks for that Single Line vs. Paragraph Composer definition. I have not looked into this feature of ID, I’ll need to do that! Ah, I see good reasoning behind only providing a PDF to clients. What types of books do you design? Everything? My friend Craig specializes technical manuals, like the Quick Start Guides for many design programs and coding languages (not that he does those, it’s just an example).
the people talking about indesign and illustrators image handling being the same dont know a thing about either application apparently…
indesign functions just like quark, if you want it to, or it functions much better than quark…
when images are placed in indesign, they automatically have a clipping box, in quark you have to lay down that box first (well you did int he last version i used).. the second frame around the box, allows you to work with the image within the box easily, even if its clipped.
i can’t believe there are still people out there using quark LOL
No, tho’ InDesign will give you a final product that will result in the same printed end-product as Quark, it most certainly does not “function just like Quark”—no matter how many times you insist on saying it while jumping up and down and clicking your heels.
If anything, having the two separate composition methods, Single Line and Paragraph, may actually require you to put in more time than with Quark on an extended text project like a book.
And, much as I do appreciate InDy’s much tighter integration with Illy and Photoshop, my publishing clients still request Quark more than three-quarters of the time.