Adobe InDesign: a detailed introduction

What is the course about?

In this course, you will learn to use a comprehensive set of tools and techniques in Adobe InDesign. Through creative demonstrations and practical exercises, the course builds on basic skills to quickly evolve to more advanced techniques. Students will learn how to effectively use and integrate a range of tools to create single and multi-page documents, aligned with the latest industry standards, whether you are working as a company employee, freelancer or wish to produce your own personal projects.

Through demonstrations and practical exercises, you will learn to navigate InDesign workspace, work with text and graphics, create simple vector-based graphics, and the basics of design and typography. You will also learn how to apply consistency and work efficiently with text through the use of Styles and how to add and edit colour of page elements, and how to package and export a professional folder to send to commercial printers. InDesign is part of Adobe Creative Cloud and works seamlessly with other Adobe software such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

Participants who will attend the full course will receive a City Lit certificate of attendance electronically for their CV or CPD records. The certificate will show your name, course title and dates of the course you have attended.

What will we cover?

• Navigating InDesign work environment
• Placing and managing images
• Adding and managing pages
• Working with Parent pages
• Placing, in-putting and formatting text
• Threading text frames
• Creating character, Paragraph and Object Styles
• Wrapping text around objects
• Creating and managing colour
• Using Layers
• Integrate Photoshop and Illustrator
• Pre-flight and packaging documents
• Saving and exporting from InDesign.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

Create and manipulate single and multipage layout documents from scratch and work with typography.
• Create, open and save an InDesign Document
• Navigate through Adobe InDesign workspace confidently
• Layout text and images in a document
• Format and style short and long text
• Format and style objects
• Create swatches and apply colour consistently
• Use Layers
• Apply consistent styles to text and objects
• Edit text in the Story Editor
• Identify, find and replace errors in document
• Integrate Photoshop and Illustrator
• Confidently hand-off projects to colleagues or external printers
• Save and export files in Indd, Idml and pdf formats.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

No prior knowledge of InDesign is required, but an understanding of either Photoshop or Illustrator is desirable. You should be a competent computer user and know how to: launch an application, use drop-down menus, create, copy, save and retrieve files and be able to work confidently with the keyboard and mouse.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, and by completing practical exercises on Computer. Computers are provided for each student with all the necessary software installed. Student preparation and homework outside class times is strongly encouraged. Notes will be provided.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

No costs. Should you wish to practice outside class time, you will need to have access to your own licensed Adobe® Creative Cloud software.

Pen and notepad for note taking. You may also find that having a couple of sheets of A4 paper and a ruler to hand would also be useful. Handouts for this course will be provided electronically and are best viewed in Adobe Acrobat Reader (or, if you have full Creative Cloud, Acrobat DC) so may want to have Acrobat on your computer.

As a City Lit student, you may be entitled to student discount on Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Please visit the Adobe website Creative Cloud for education webpage for full details.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please click here to view our courses in the Adobe Creative Cloud.

Disclaimer: Use of Third-Party Software
This course might require you to either use your own personal account or create an account for the purposes of this course. City Lit cannot accept any responsibility for any failings of the third party or provide technical support. Whilst using the software you will be responsible for abiding by the providers terms and conditions and maintaining your own work.