Hot Topics 2012

I <3 InDesign

A design by Amy King.

     One of the things that has hooked me about journalism is the opportunity to explore, create and learn about design.  This afternoon Amy King from the Arizona Republic (AZCentral.com) came to the Reynolds Institute to share some tips and tricks about InDesign.  She was so young but so completely at ease with InDesign  (and she was so full of personality!).  Once I realized I couldn’t keep up with her I decided to take as many notes as I could.  Enjoy!  Debbie 

Consistent Design

Create a Library

            Start with the File prompt in the tool bar and follow it to New Library

            (this will give you the benefit of saving everything you’d want to repeat in your publication…page layouts, masthead, folio, etc…)

            As you work to set style be sure to click on File Save As:  FORMAT TEMPLATE

From here you can create a section name with simple boxes for a folio that you can repeat or also create Body Copy boxes with consistent style including size of font, drop caps. 

            Right click on the box you want filled with body copy to fill with placeholder text.  You can also click on the word Window on the tool bar and click on P text…frame options or on the button that looks like columns

            Staffs can create two pallets…1.  Paragraph styles or 2.  Character styles

Paragraph Styles (body copy)

            P options

            T options

            Format

                        Indent

                        Font size

                        # of columns…

Character Styles (headings, subheads, by-lines)

            Click on object then click on bottom box within a box to get what you want saved.  Go to Window in the tool bar and click on styles

Right click on rulers to switch to inches, picas, points, etc…

P style options…can break columns and lots of other cool stuff…check it out

Creating a Table of Contents

            Layout-ToC…click on more options

            Make P style…add headlines or any other “box” you want

            When you get the “entry style” prompt-click ToC body text

            Draw the box

            For the ….. in between the headlines chosen to the page number…Go to Type in the toolbar…click on tabs…then header (put in what you want like a . or x ) place tabs

Inserting Photos

            Save photos to desktop

            Draw a box

            Use Control D to place the picture from the desk top

            Use the white arrow…click on the photo and you’ll get a red outline.  You can use Command shift to click and pull  (this doesn’t do fitting) but you can use the commands under Object for that.  Command, option, C will fit the box to the content…snap the box to the content…saving space)

Links & Preflight

            Find Window in the toolbar…click…output…click…preflight.  Have kids do this so when it’s just you and the editor left to send the pages to the printer you don’t have to find the picture on Sally’s desktop under “cool stuff I like.”  J

Master Pages

            Find Pages in the toolbar…click…tab…click…A-Master.  Draw a text box at the bottom of the page or wherever you want page numbers.

            Find Type in the toolbar…click…special characters…current page number

Command/Shift/Click can change master pages

Type on a Path

            Create a line.  Go to the left toolbar…click on the T to get the drop down menu.  Click on “type on path”  (duh!).  Drag curser to beginning…click…drag to end…click.  Get rid of the line or path and save the words by going to the swatches pallet…click on “non.”  Bam!

Photo in Type

            Start with a pretty thick font.  Click on the box.  Find Type in the toolbar…click…create outlines…click.  Now click on the white tool.  (You’ll see the little vectors…you can pull the letters to reshape if you want.)  Click again…Apple D (file place), choose picture…open.  Bam…picture is in text.  Picture can be moved by selecting the white selection tool…click on the picture…you’ll get the red box around it again…and you can move it around.

To make font bigger or smaller…Hi-lite the type in in the box…hold down Command/shift and then the < or > to get the size you want.

Selecting ALT and right or left arrow changes ledding. 

Kerning…optimal kerning should be selected…can go in and out

Grouping

            Command shift G, make a big box.  To release an object…command, shift, G

Layers

            Can add to designs by putting items on top of design elements that are already grouped.

Effects

            Inner shadow is nice

            Fun for cut-outs…click on effects-then click on drop shadow

            Feathering can be done in Photoshop or InDesign

White Backgrounds

            Find Object in toolbar…select Clipping path…options…detect edges.

            Takes away what is outside the actual object that creates weird overlap or transparency issues.  J

Copying Objects

            ALT Shift…copies objects and keeps them in line

            Align pallet by going to Window in the toolbar…select object and then layout line.  Use pallet to distribute.  Align to page or distribute to page

Stock Sites

            Open Source Photos

                        http://sxc.hu  (Stock.xchg)

                        flikr.creative commons…just have to give credit

                        Wikipedia

            www.thenounproject.com

                        graphics of…you guessed it….nouns

            www.newspagedesigner.org

                        share portfolios and get inspiration...to see more of Amy's amazing designs...click here... http://newspagedesigner.org/profile/AmyKing

            www.dafont.com

            www.losttype.com

            Steve also suggested checking out government sites and agencies who share a great deal.

Sign up for media sites to get lots ‘o free stuff.

Amy also volunteered to give feedback on any of the work done by our students.  Just send work to Amynking@gmail.com.  She said she thinks it’s fun!  What a doll!  J