tactile and advanced computer graphics module 9...

Tactile and Advanced Computer Graphics Module 9 Introduction to InDesign

PROFITT Curriculum Module #9 – Introduction to InDesign

Graphic Design Module 9-1

Tactile and Advanced Computer Graphics Module 9

Introduction to InDesign

Summary

Goal(s): Navigate the Adobe InDesign interface and create and edit page layouts. SMART Objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive By the end of this module, students should be able to:

GD9.1: Set up a document and navigate

the Page panel.

GD9.2: Import text and manipulate using the Character and Paragraph panels. GD9.3: Place and resize images and utilize the Links panel.

GD9.4: Combine text and images.

GD9.5: Create designs using basic graphic

design guidelines.

GD9.6: Identify common file formats and

prepare work for printing.

Instructor:

Delivery Method(s): Lecture Hands-on lab Group work

Length:

Any Applicable Business and/or Soft Skills? Business Skills: Multiple transferable technological skills for dozens of occupations Additional

Corresponding NLS Lesson #?

Take Away Message(s): Transcribers-in-training will be introduced Adobe InDesign.



Instructor Preparation

Title of Module: Introduction to InDesign

The intent of the graphic design modules is to emphasize to transcribers-in-training how

to communicate information in the most effective way. These principles will be applied

when creating a number of projects using the Adobe Creative Suite.

Agenda – topics to be covered in the module and length of each item

Topic: Introduction to InDesign Time Allotted: 7.5 hours

A. InDesign Fundamentals (1 hour)

B. Placing and Adjusting Text (1.5 hours)

C. Placing and Adjusting an Image (1.5 hours)

D. Designing Page Layouts (2 hours)

E. Graphic Design Guidelines (45 minutes)

F. Saving and Printing (45 minutes)

Materials& Supplies – items needed in order to carry out the agenda and classroom activities

1. Computer loaded with Adobe InDesign, connected to a projector

2. Creating a New Document in InDesign (9.A.1)

3 Placing and Adjusting Text (9.B.1)

4. Typography PowerPoint (9.B.2)

5. Placing and Adjusting an Image (9.C.1)

6. Textbooks, magazines, Flyers, etc.

7. Designing Page Layouts (9.D.1)

8. Graphic Design Guidelines (9.E.1)



9. File Extensions (9.F.1)

10. Printing (9.F.2)

Classroom Preparation – steps to follow when setting up the learning environment

1. The graphic design modules are developed for instructors to demonstrate the

applications on a computer connected to a projector so students can follow along.

Students should then be given time to practice what they have seen by working

independently on computers loaded with the applications.



Curriculum Content

A. InDesign Fundamentals (1 hour)

Objective: Set up a document and navigate the Page panel.

PREINSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Discuss the objectives for this module. Facilitate a discussion of Adobe InDesign reminding

students of the primary uses of the application. Word processing programs, such as

Microsoft Word, allow easy editing and formatting of text but have limited capabilities

when incorporating graphics or designing complex layouts. Desktop publishing programs

were developed to as a way to create complex documents rich with graphics.

CONTENT PRESENTATION AND LEARNER PARTICIPATION

Allow transcribers-in-training to sit at a computer loaded with InDesign. Have students

open the program and create a new document (File>New). Consider similarities to

Photoshop and Illustrator. Review new information fields in the set-up screen including

Facing Pages, Master Text Frames, Gutter, and review Bleed and Slug. Use

Creating a New Document in InDesign (9.A.1) as a reference.

Look at the InDesign workspace. Notice the basic layout (menus, toolbar, panels, etc.) is

very similar to Photoshop and Illustrator. Review the Page (this is what will be printed)

and the Paste Board (the area around the page will not be printed, similar to the

Illustrator set-up).

Open the Pages Panel and demonstrate how to create new pages, delete old pages, and

use the thumbnail.

Explain Master pages and show how to add information to the master pages. Make sure

students understand when and how to use these.

ASSESSMENT

Define the following: Facing Pages, Gutter, Bleed and Slug, thumbnail, Paste Board, and

Master pages.



B. Placing and Adjusting Text (1.5 hours)

Objective: Import text and manipulate using the Character and Paragraph panels.


Explain the various ways text can be placed including copying and pasting, importing from

another document, or typing directly on the page. Be sure students understand which

methods maintain formatting and which do not. Distribute and reference Placing and

Adjusting Text (9.B.1) when needed.

Discuss Text Frames. Demonstrate what to do when a text frame is too small. Explain

linked text and the advantages of working with linked text boxes.

Discuss how to edit text. Some editing functions are available with the Property Bar. For

more options, open the Character and Paragraph Panels. The character panel is used to

adjust the individual characters (letters, numbers, symbols, etc.) and the paragraph panel

is used to adjust the whole block of text.

Open and Review the Character panel. Describe and demonstrate what each adjustment

does, with a focus on Leading, Kerning, Tracking, Vertical and Horizontal Scale,

Baseline Shift and Skew.

Open and Review the Paragraph panel. Describe and demonstrate adjustments that can

be made, focusing primarily on Justification and Hyphenate.

Introduce and discuss typography using Typography PowerPoint (9.B.2).

Distribute and review a variety of print materials. As a class, discuss which are most

effective and which, if any, are unsuccessful. Consider the typeface(s) chosen, the number

of fonts used, font size, etc.

ASSESSMENT

Reformat your resume in an 8½ X 11” inch document. Select a font keeping in mind the

tone it portrays. Use the Character and Paragraph panels to redesign the layout. If time

allows, review and critique other students' designs in small groups.



C. Placing and Adjusting an Image (1.5 hours)

Objective: Place and resize images and utilize the Links panel.


Discuss embedding images vs. linking images. Embedded images are saved within a

document. This is what happens when an image is copied and pasted. Linked images are

previews of an image. The actual file is saved elsewhere on your computer. When the

document is printed, these image files need to be supplied, in addition to the InDesign

file. To make these links, images need to be placed. The benefits of placing an image

include smaller file size and easier editing.

Discuss importing images using File>Place. Demonstrate importing with a drawing

frame vs. no drawing frame.

Review the Selection Tool and Direct Selection Tool. Demonstrate the various ways to

resize the image, including with the Selection Tool, Direct Selection Tool, and

Object>Fitting. Use Placing and Adjusting an Image (9.C.1) as a reference.

Discuss the Links Panel. Demonstrate how a placed file can be opened and edited in the

original program, and then updated in InDesign so the edited version appears. Note: This

is only true for images. If text is placed and then the original text file is edited, these edits

will not be made in the InDesign document.

Emphasize the importance of keeping images organized. Describe how links will "break" if

the path is changed. It is best to keep all graphics for one job in one folder so if they need

to be re-linked, it can be done easily. Demonstrate how to Relink images. Note: Linked

images can later be embedded directly into the InDesign file using the Links Panel.

Discuss vector graphics. Since they are generally smaller in file size, copying and pasting a

simple vector graphic will not make the InDesign file too much larger. Additionally, simple

edits to the vector graphic can be made directly in InDesign so you can avoid working in

two programs. That said, if a vector graphic is too complicated, it may be necessary to

place it.

ASSESSMENT

Import a project created in the Adobe Photoshop Module. Then, Using the Links Panel,

open the document and make changes to the Photoshop file. Again use the Links Panel to

update the preview in InDesign.



D. Designing Page Layouts (2 hours)

Objective: Combine text and images.


Define hierarchy. Discuss how to determine the order of importance of the information

that needs to be presented and how to factor that into your design. For example,

magazine articles often have large headlines, a brief intro to the article, and then body

text. By using various font sizes and styles, you can help guide the readers' eye.

Review several print publications (textbooks, magazines, etc.) in small groups. Discuss

how information is presented and whether or not the message of the piece is quickly

discernable. Each group should present to the whole class which layouts they found most

and least successful.

Discuss combining images and text to form page layouts. In order to make information

flow around images, you must wrap the text using the four options in the Property Bar.

Demonstrate each option.

Discuss using grids and guides to layout information. As in Illustrator, grids and guides

are helpful tools when aligning objects on a page. Demonstrate how to view grids and

customize guides using Designing Page Layouts (9.D.1) as a reference. Aligning every

object on a page with another is an easy way to elevate a design and make it easier for

the reader to follow.

Define Proportion. It can be overwhelming to look at a blank page and trying to

determine what to do with it. Guides can be used to divide the page in an organized way

to aid with layout. Certain proportions are known to be more pleasing to the eye then

others. Using these will help improve your design. Review these using Designing Page

Layouts (9.D.1).

Review The Principles of Design. Discuss how these concepts can be incorporated to

improve a design. Find examples of page layouts that utilize the various principles.

ASSESSMENT

Create mock advertisements with at least two images, a headline, and copy text. If time

allows, create several different layouts and discuss as a class which are more interesting

and why.

Review real advertisements and try to find which, if any, of the above considerations were

incorporated. Pay attention to the hierarchy, the alignment, and the placement of images.



E. Graphic Design Guidelines (45 minutes)

Objective: Create designs using basic graphic design guidelines.


Discuss Graphic Design Guidelines (9.E.1). Make sure students understand these are

not hard and fast rules, as successful designs can result when these rules are broken.

However, these are generally accepted practices and not following them often results in

amateurish work.

ASSESSMENT

Again review your resume design. Make revisions taking into account information learned

in Designing Page Layouts (9.D.1) and Graphic Design Guidelines (9.E.1).

F. Saving and Printing (45 minutes)

Objective: Identify common file formats and prepare work for printing.


Emphasize the importance of saving work. While it is important to save the original files

generated by Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, you also need to learn how to

generate files saved in alternative formats. Discuss File Extensions (9.F.1) and

demonstrate how to save various files.

Discuss how to prepare work for print using Printing (9.F.2) as a guide.

ASSESSMENT

Define the following: File Format, PSD, AI, INDD, preflight, and package. Demonstrate

how to save a PDF in InDesign.



Tactile and Advanced Computer Graphics Module 9 Introduction to InDesign Handouts

PROFITT Curriculum Module # 3 – Scanning and Tactile Graphics in Microsoft Word


Graphic Design Module 3

Scanning and Tactile Graphics in Microsoft Word

Summary

Goal(s): Transcribers-in-training will learn the basics of scanning files for manipulation in design programs, as well as the foundations of creating an electronic tactile graphic for reproduction on a ViewPlus Tiger embosser. SMART Objectives: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive By the end of this module, students should be able to: GD3.1: Realize the value of using the computer. Utilize ABBYY FineReader 10 to scan and recognize text to save to Microsoft Word and to save images to TIFF format. GD3.2: Configure the standard page layout of a graphic page using and become familiar with the tools required for creating tactile graphics in Microsoft Word 2010. GD3.3: Create simple shapes, grids, and graphs to emboss. Comprehend the value of electronic tactile graphics, but realize the importance of interpretation and judgment in the process.

Instructor(s): Braille Instructor Tactile Graphics Instructor Delivery Method(s): Lecture Experiential Activities Length: 6 hours Any Applicable Business and/or Soft Skills? Adaptability, creativity, resourcefulness.

Corresponding LOC Lesson #

Take Away Message(s): Advancing technology is pushing braille and tactile graphics into electronic formats. Transcribers-in-training will gain skills and software knowledge required to render simple tactiles using the computer, and at the very least, create a foundation for further collage. Transcribers-in-training will utilize the information previously acquired to discern the most effective methods for creating graphics.

PROFITT Curriculum Module # 9 – Introduction to InDesign


File>New opens this dialogue box:

Important things to consider:

What is familiar?Like Photoshop and Illustrator, the document size needs to be selected using either the presets or by typing values in for the Height and Width.

Creating a New Document in InDesign (9.A.1)





Summary







Creating a New Document in InDesign cont. (9.A.1)

How do I know how many pages I will need?You may know right away your document will have 6 pages but you may not be sure. Enter your best guess. This can easily be changed later.

What is the Start Page? Once you create your document, you will be able to view your pages in the pages panel. If you chose to have your document start on page 2, page 1 will not be present. For now, just have this set to 1.

What are Facing Pages?Facing pages should be checked if you intend to create a document that opens like a book, with a left page “facing” a right page.

What is the Master Text Frame? This will automatically create a text frame on each page of the document.

What are Columns?This will automatically create guides for the number of columns you select.

What is the Gutter?Gutter refers to the amount of space between your columns.

What do I do with the Margins?The page margin can be specified. If the chain icon is unbroken (showing the boxes are linked, as is pictured), only one field needs to be updated and the rest will change also. If you need different margins, click this icon and the chain will break (unlink) so you can input the numbers individually.

What is the Bleed and Slug?These are both printing terms refering to areas of the document that will be trimmed after printing. Often the slug will include information that many be helpful to a printer, such as the name of the document.





Summary








The InDesign Workspace:

Pages Panel

• The pages panel shows a thumbnail of each page

• To add additional pages, select the Create New Page icon. Or, grab the page thumbnail, drag it over the new page icon, and release. The page will be duplicated meaning any information on this page will be copied on the new page.

• To delete a page, drag the thumbnail to the Trashcan icon

• To navigate from one page to another, double click on the page thumbnail and the screen will jump to that page.

• Select and drag the thumbnail to change the order of pages

Page

Facing Pages

Paste Board

Layers PanelMaster Pages

Create New Page

Delete Selected Pages

Edit Page Size





Summary








Master Pages

• Located at the top of the Pages Panel, these are very helpful when creating multi-page documents.

• Master pages are like templates which you can use to prevent doing the same work over and over. If every page of a document has the same heading, footing, page numbering, guides, etc. a master page should be created so all new pages added will include this information.

• To place information on a master page, double click on the thumbnail next to A-Master. The screen will change to show only the master page. Edit as desired and then click on a page thumbnail to exit this screen.

• All of the pages that are present when a document is first created will be formatted with A-Master. To add formatting to a page, drag the Master page thumbnail over the page. To remove formatting, drag the None master page over the page.

• Multiple master pages can be created if needed. For example, if a document has preliminary pages with certain information and body pages with alternative information, it would be best to create two different masters.

How to add page numbers:

1) Draw a text frame where you want the number2) Double click so the cursor is blinking in the frame3) Select Type>Insert Special Character>Markers>Current Page Number

Note: Follow these steps on a master page if you want all pages to be numbered.





Summary







Text can be typed directly in InDesign, copy and pasted, or imported from anther file.

Text Frames

• To begin, create a text frame. As in Photoshop and Illustrator, select the Type Tool and draw a box to the desired size. Information can be added directly by typing in the frame, copied and pasted from another document or imported. To import, select File>Place>(chose your document, like a Microsoft Word file) while the text frame is selected.

• Note: When information is copied and pasted, any formatting will be lost but if it is imported, it will remain.

Linked Text

• When long documents are imported, you may see a small red plus symbol at the bottom of the box (which you may recognize from working in Illustrator). InDesign has a feature known as linking text boxes which is useful when text falls on multiple pages.

• Select the red plus sign and the additional text will “load” onto the mouse cursor changing the icon to show there is text loaded. Click the cursor, drag, and when you release a new textbox will appear. (This may have to be done multiple times, depending on the amount of text.)

• These text frames are now linked. If you delete a paragraph on page one, all of the text will move up to fill in the gap (just like what would happen in a Microsoft Word document). Having text boxes linked can also save time when formatting text because you can select and change everything at once.

Character PanelUse to adjust individual characters (letters, numbers, symbols, etc.)

Placing and Adjusting Text (9.B.1)





Summary







Placing and Adjusting Text cont. (9.B.1)

Some of the features in the characters panel will already be familiar including the name and size of the font. You also have the ability to adjust:

What is Leading? The amount of space between lines of type

Kerning vs. Tracking? Kerning is adjusting the spacing of two characters while tracking is adjusting the spacing of a line of text. Generally, kerning moves letters closer together and tracking moves letters farther apart.

What is Vertical and Horizontal ScaleAdjusting the vertical and horizontal scale will stretch the type longer or wider.

What is Baseline Shift?When letters are created, they all rest on the baseline (with the exception of letters like j which have “descenders”). The baseline shift moves characters higher or lower from the baseline. It can be useful for adjusting positioning of bullet points, parentheses, etc.

What is Skew?Adjusting the skew will tilt characters, similar to italicizing. Positive number skew to the right and negative skew to the left.

Skew

Font Size Leading

TrackingKerning

Language

Baseline Shift

Horizontal ScaleVertical Scale

Font Family

Font Style





Summary







Paragraphs Panel Use to adjust a whole block of text

Some of the features in the paragraphs panel should already be familiar including alignment of paragraphs (to the left, center, or right). You also have the ability to adjust:

What is Justification?Justified text aligns to both the left and right margins. The spacing between characters and words is stretched and compressed to make the line the needed length. When text is justified, make sure the lines are not too “loose” (too much space) or too “tight” (not enough space). If needed, use tracking to correct lines.

What happens if Hyphenate is checked?This box is generally checked by default. The computer will automatically hyphenate words at the end of a line. Be careful, sometimes nearly every line will end with a hyphen. Try to avoid hyphenating more then two lines in a row.

What about everything else?These are additional ways to adjust a paragraph. In the beginning, you do not need to worry about these too much but continue exploring as you become comfortable.

Placing and Adjusting Text cont. (9.B.1)

AlignmentJustify

Align towards or away from spine

Drop Cap Number of Lines

Align to the baseline grid (On/Off)

Space After

Drop Cap One or More Characters

Last Lign Right Indent

Right Indent

Hyphenation

Space Before

First Line Left Indent

Left Indent





Summary







Place an image

• Select File>Place. The cursor will load with the image so when you click, the graphic will be imported at it’s original size. Any graphic file format should open without a problem.

• Before placing, you can also select Rectangle Frame Tool and draw a box the desired length and width. Select the frame and place the image (File>Place or Ctrl + D). Adjust the placement of the image within the frame using the Direct Select Tool.

To adjust the size of the image:1) Use the Selection Tool to adjust the image frame. Then click Object>Fitting>select desired action. You can fit the frame to the image, or fit the image to the frame. It is usually best to keep the image proportional.

2) With the image selected, hold Ctrl + Shift + Click and drag the bounding box. This will make the image resize with the bounding box.

3) Adjust the image within the frame using the Direct Select Tool. Select the box with this tool so the image edge appears in gold. The size can then be adjusted while the frame remains the same. (Careful, stretching the image larger may cause it to become pixilated.)

What is the benefit of placing an image?When an image is placed, the original file is linked to the InDesign document. This is beneficial because:

1) The InDesign file size is smaller

2) It is easy to edit the original image. Select the placed image, then select the Edit Original Icon in the Links Panel and the image will open in the program in which it was created. Likewise, if a change is made to the original document, when InDesign is opened again, select the Update link icon and the most recent version of the image will appear.

Note: This link connection is only true for graphics. If text it placed and then the original text file is edited, these edits will not be made in the InDesign document.

Placing and Adjusting an Image (9.C.1)





Summary







Placing and Adjusting an Image cont. (9.C.1)

Linked Images

• In order for InDesign to maintain image links, the program keeps track of the location where images are saved. If the image is moved or deleted, the link will break. This is problematic, especially when the file is printed. For this reason, it is very important to keep all of your images together. It is best practice to keep all images for a given job in one folder, along with the InDesign file and any other files used.

• If links break, they can be relinked by selecting the image and clicking on the Relink icon.

Why can’t I just copy and paste?Documents with many embedded images have large file sizes which take up more memory and often cause computers to run slower. Additionally, you will not have the link to your graphic files so anytime an image is edited, it will have to be recopied and repasted.

That’s not what my image looks like!Do not panic. InDesign automatically shows a low resolution version of your image because it is less work for the computer, thus making the program run faster. If you want to see your image at full resolution, select View>Display Performance>High Quality Display. Likewise, if you do not need to see the images at all, you can select View>Display Performance>Fast Display which will render images as gray boxes. No matter what the image looks like on screen, it will print at full resolution.

StatusPageRelinkGo to LinkUpdate LinkEdit Original





Summary







Grides and Guides

InDesign includes two grids:

• Select View> Grids and Guides>Show Baseline Guide (used more for aligning text) or View>Grids and Guides>Show Document Grid (used more for aligning images).

• To hide girds, again select View>Grids and Guides. (Keyboard shortcut Ctrl + “)

• To edit the look of the grids, select Edit>Preferences>Grids.

Designing Page Layouts (9.D.1)

Jump object

None Wrap around bounding box

Wrap around object shape

Wrap objects within text:

When an image is added to a page with text, it will automatically cover the material. The property bar offers 3 additional ways to flow text around a graphic:





Summary







Designing Page Layouts cont. (9.D.1)

Grides and Guides

Alternatively, you can create your own guides:

• Select Layout>Create Guides. Select the number of rows and columns and adjust the size of the gutter. Check the preview box so you can see what the guide will look like on the page. If Page is selected, the guides will divide the entire page proportionally. If Margin is selected, the guides will divide the space within the margin proportionally.

• If you need to recreate guides, check the Remove Existing Ruler Guides box, otherwise the new guide will overlay the old guide.

• Align elements exactly by selecting View>Grids and Guides>Snap to Guides. Turning this feature on makes the guides act magnetic so text and image frames will align exactly with the grid.

Proportion

The Golden Ratio:

• A proportion of 5 to 8 (or 1 to 1.6) is known as the golden ratio. It is considered the ratio most peasing to the eye.

• Divide the page into 5 columns and 8 rows to take advantage of this proportion.

• This ratio can also be applied to font size. For example, if your text is 10 pt, make the headline 16 pt.

The Rule of Thirds:

• Divide a page into a 3 by 3 grid (like a tick tac toe board).

• Placing any element where two of the lines cross makes a focal point that is more attention grabbing and interesting to look at then if the object was centered.

Note: These are not rules, just information you can consider when creating a layout.





Summary







Punctuation

• One very easy way to spot an amateur designer is if they do not use certain characters properly, for example, the en and em dash. To find the correct symbol, ues Type>Glyphs.

• Use open and close quotations marks ( ̏ ̋ ), rather then straight ( " ).

• Only one space is needed between sentences, not two.

Text

• Avoid orphans, meaning do not end a paragraph with a line that has only one word

• Avoid widows, meaning do not have the last line of a paragraph in a separate column or on a different page.

• Try not to use more then two or three typefaces. Use fonts that are very different for contrast, but that complement each other well.

• When highlighting text, try bold and italics rather then underline.

• Avoid writing in ALL CAPS as it makes reading more difficult.

• Be mindful of line lengths. Too long and too short can make reading more difficult. Also make sure lines are not too tight or too loose.

• Watch out for “rivers,” lines of white that the eye sees when looking at a block of text.

Layout

• Always consider the audience. Create designs which communicate effectively to the targeted group. Make sure the message is clear.

• Do not make a layout too busy. Do not fill all the negative space. Leave enough white space so the eye is not overwhelmed and has a place to rest.

• Avoid excessive use of clip art.

• Do not overuse boxes or frames.

• Avoid using too many effects (like drop shadow, beveled edges, etc.).

• Treat text blocks as an image. Try to make sure every element on the page (including the type) is aligned with another.

Note: These are generally accepted best practices but some rules can be broken with successful design result.

Graphic Design Guidelines (9.E.1)





Summary







File Formats: The way information is encoded for storage

When saving work, it is important to consider the intended use of the file because some file types are more useful in certain situations. Below are brief descriptions of common file formats:

.psdPhotoshop document: When you open this document, it will open the original Photoshop file. It is compatible with InDesign so when it is linked, opacity and layers are preserved. One drawback is .psd files cannot be opened on a computer that does not have Photoshop.

.aiIllustrator document: When you open this document, it will open the original Illustrator file so edits can be made. One drawback is .ai files cannot be opened on a computer that does not have Illustrator.

.inddInDesign document: When you open this document, it will open the original InDesign file and edits can be made. Professional printers generally accept this file format. One drawback is .indd files cannot be opened on a computer that does not have InDesign.

Note: As a general rule of thumb, always keep a copy of the original Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign document so edits can be made easily.

.pdfPortable Document Format: Considered one of the most versatile formats. The file size is generally much smaller then Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. PDF documents are viewable by nearly ever computer which makes them very common. One drawback is once a .pdf is saved, many editing capabilities are lost.

.jpegJoin Photographic Experts Group: A common way to save a photograph. One advantage is the file size can be reduced (though if reduced too much, some quality will be lost). One disadvantage is if edits are made to a .jpeg, when it is resaved, details are often lost. To avoid this problem, save the .jpeg in another format (such as a .psd) and edit that file. This file format can be viewed on all computers.

.tiffTagged Image File Format: Another common way to save a photograph. This image file size is larger then a .jpeg but better quality is usually retained. One drawback is transparency is not supported, meaning if the background of the image is transparent, it will look white when saved. This file format can be viewed on all computers.

.svgScalable Vector Graphic: Combines XML and CSS (file formats used on the web) to display vector based content on the internet. This file format can be viewed on all computers.

File Extensions (9.F.1)

File Extensions cont. (9.F.1)

How do I save a file in one of these formats?Select File>Save and consider the Save as Type dropdown menu which shows your options. Select the one which best fits your needs and press save. Selecting certain file formats will prompt additional screens asking for more information. Alternative file formats can also be found by selecting File>Export.

How do I save an InDesign file as a .pdf?Click File>Adobe PDF Presets>(select best option). Generally, if the PDF will only be viewed onscreen, selecting Smallest File Size is the best option. The file will be compressed (reduced in size) and quality will be lost, but it will generally look good enough. If the file is going to be printed, you need to select High Quality Print. This will yield a larger file size but the quality and details will be retained when printing. When a PDF is created, the graphics are embedded into the file so the graphics folder is not needed to view the file.





Summary











Summary







Printing Work

When work is professionally printed, it is important to go through “preflight procedures” and package the document.

What is preflight?Since images in InDesign are generally links (rather then embedded), it is necessary to provide these links to the printer. Additionally, it is important to send the fonts, colors of ink used, etc. The preflight process confirms that all needed files are present and everything is set correctly.

What should I do before sending my document to the printer?

1) Check file formats and settings. Ask the printer if they prefer a certain file format (for example, is a PDF better then the InDesign file?)

2) Double check the document size and printer marks (like bleed)

3) Check all of your images to make sure they are the correct resolution and color setting (generally CMYK). Also make sure none of your links are broken and none of the images have the same name which would add confusion for a printer.

4) Make sure your font is available at the printers. If not, you will need to send a copy.

5) Delete any unused color from your color palettes to prevent confusion.

InDesign will assist with the preflight process by alerting you to any errors (like missing links). Simply select Window> Output> Preflight.

Packaging Work

After Preflight, work is ready to be “packaged” meaning all your files (including all images) and fonts will be saved into a folder. Select Package> (fill in any printing instructions)> Save. A folder will auto-matically be created with a copy of all necessary files.

Note: It is not necessary to package work when using an at home printer.

Printing (9.F.2)