InDesign Quickstart
A quickstart guide for InDesign
1. Create a New Document
- Open InDesign.
- Select New File on the left or File > New > Document in the top menu.
- Select a preset from the New Document window and/or customize your settings using the guide below.
Preset Details Setting Guide
2. Add/Reorder New Pages
- Click the Pages tab on the far right to open the Pages window.
- Select the thumbnail (miniature picture) of the page you want your new page to appear after.
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Click the New Page icon
on the bottom right of the Pages tab - and voila! Your new page appears! - To change the order. of a page, find the thumbnail of the page you want to move within the open Pages tab.
- Click and hold the mouse on the thumbnail, then drag it to your desired location within the same Pages tab.
3. Place Images
A Frame is a tool InDesign uses to place an image in a predetermined location.
- To create a Frame, select the Rectangle Frame Tool
from the Toolbar. - Go to the document itself, then click and drag to create your frame.
- In the top menu, go to File > Place, then select your image.
- Click within the frame to place your image!
4. Add Textboxes
- Select the Type Tool
from the Toolbar - Go to the document itself, then click and drag to create your textbox.
5. Color Fill and Border
- Create or select the object (text or shape) you wish to change the color of.
- Locate the overlapping Fill and Stroke boxes (at the bottom left in the Toolbox)
- Double click the box of what you would like to change the color of and select your color.
Interface
Saving and Export
Which File type should I use?
InDesign Document (.idd)- Special file type just for InDesign
- Allows you to make unlimited edits to the original parts of the document (text boxes, shapes, colors, etc.)
- Will not open in any other program
How To? File > Save or File > Save As...
Portable Document Format (.pdf)- Global standard for the documents
- Ensures document will look the same no matter where or how it is sent or opened - considered the universal file type.
- Does not allow for changes in InDesgin
When to Use? If you want to save or send your completed project to preserve it forever!
How To? File > Export
You can also save a file as many different file types through File > Export, then selecting the Save as type : dropdown.
We Recommend : Save your project as each of the two file types! You never know when you might want to go back to your project to edit it again in the future( using an .idd file type) and it is always useful to have a file that can be opened anywhere using a .pdf file type. Be prepared!