Learn InDesign - Tutorial for beginners

Welcome to "Learn InDesign", the video tutorial for beginners and intermediates by Stefan Riedl, which will help you to understand InDesign and later use it for your own projects.

In order to be able to work with InDesign, it is important to get an overview at the beginning. In this video training course, we will start with the first steps in the program interface. The aim is to find your bearings, get to know the initial setting parameters and explain various terms. In particular, I will discuss the main navigation, its customization and some of the options for InDesign preferences.

Now that we have taken a first look at the program interface, we will continue with the control panel in the upper area and its adjustments. We look at the tool palette on the left and also the different views that the program offers us. Options for customizing InDesign can already be made here.

To be able to work (more) quickly in InDesign, it is a good idea to set up your own workspaces. To get started, we will familiarize ourselves with the individual control panels and get to know them. We will then use the possibilities for individualization and define and save our own workspace in InDesign.

Like every program, InDesign also has its own storage format. In addition to the usual INDD extension, there are also other formats such as the INDT template format and the backwards-compatible IDML format, which is well suited for working with older versions. Sometimes, however, it is also necessary to package entire projects (for example, for colleagues) - InDesign also masters this, whereby all data linked to the original document is output in a compressed ZIP file.

Let's get started with our first design project! In this video training, we will learn one of the two techniques required to create a double-sided business card. InDesign's New dialog reveals many basic settings that will be explained. In this tutorial, the document is created with 4 pages (i.e. 2 double-sided pages). The individual marks, guides and areas are then explained in more detail.

In contrast to the previous video, here we refer to the file layout with two single pages. This alternative therefore excludes the double page and focuses on working with two wider print sheets that contain all four single pages. To do this, we need to know exactly what the print parameters are, which is why we pay a visit to a print shop and ask for more detailed information. We then go through the New dialog again with these alternative options.

In this video training we will learn how to place images. InDesign works with two different selections when dealing with images: the image frame and the image content. Image frames act like a window through which the image content can be viewed. Both selections can be flexibly adjusted and changed. This video shows how this works in practice.

The right image material is not always available. In this case, you can fall back on Stocker material from third-party providers. One of these image databases is Adobe Stock. The plug-in for Adobe Stocker is part of the Creative Cloud and is seamlessly integrated into many Adobe applications. Including InDesign, of course. Here you can find out how to work with this extension, what you can do with it and how images from the database end up in your own layout.

Essential and indispensable in every layout and design: colors! In this video training we cover topics such as the screen color space RGB, the print color space CMYK, working with colors, color fields and color libraries as well as the use of Adobe Color. With Adobe Color, you can quickly determine and search color harmonies and then transfer them into your own design.

Shapes are the starting point for numerous polygonal and complex objects in InDesign. Simple basic shapes can be drawn and inserted using the toolbar. Rectangles, triangles, ellipses and circles ... are all based on vectors and can be assigned contours (outlines).

If the basic shapes are not sufficient, they can be transformed into complex shapes. Here, objects are merged with or removed from each other using the Pathfinder. The result is new objects that contain closed paths and meet your very own requirements. For further fine-tuning, you can also use the drawing pen and the Convert direction point tool, which allows you to move individual anchor points. The motto here is trial and error.

Our business card is taking shape and a structure is slowly emerging. The creation process continues, because in this video training we will get to know the line drawing tool with its different styles and expand our knowledge of working with color fields. We will create a color gradient from two color fields and use it directly on our business card.

In this video training, we will focus on the major building block of fonts. Working with typography is one of the most important elements in InDesign, which means that numerous tools and filters can be used when selecting fonts. In addition to dealing with fonts, we will also look at another chapter, namely the layer principle and the arrangement of elements within it.

With the new Adobe Typekit service, fonts can be synchronized and easily used anywhere on desktop devices. Find out here how to access the complete library conveniently from the font menu in InDesign and what other advantages the service has to offer.

To bring structure and consistency to our opening hours, we work with a table in this example. InDesign allows us to create very simple tables and even change them down to the most complex details. As this is a basic training course, we will essentially limit ourselves to the possibilities of the standard use of tables (row, column and cell) and the simplified range of functions.

Once we have completed the double-sided business card, we want to show the final PDF to our client before exporting it. This video shows a practical feature that shortens and simplifies this process: Publish Online. The service allows us to upload our design to the Adobe Cloud from the InDesign user interface and send it straight to the client as a preview.

Welcome to part 3 of our video training on Adobe InDesign. So far we have made and set all the settings manually, but now we want to use the powerful know-how of InDesign to get to our goal faster and more conveniently with the help of automation. As an example, we will create a multi-page brochure, which is created in this video training using the New dialog.

For more extensive documents, it is typical to work with master pages, as these always reproduce recurring objects such as logos, texts or shapes on all pages. Once we have defined master pages, we will also insert the current page number (pagination) into the document. I will show you the best way to format these.

From time to time it is necessary to convert texts into paths. As texts are based on vectors and can therefore be scaled as required, converting them into a path is also very easy. The converted text can then also be changed using the drawing pen or is often used to highlight special finishes in the print area.

Basically, paragraph and character formats are used for recurring font stylings, as it would be too tedious to repeat each individual formatting. Paragraph and character formats are therefore used so that various style types can be defined once. Paragraph styles refer to a complete paragraph in their formatting. Character styles can format individual letters (characters) and leave the rest unconsidered. In this video training, we take the first step into the world of font formatting using formats. An extensive topic, but one that can be surprisingly fun.

Once the first paragraph format has been defined, more will follow. We will define formats for headings (H1), introductory text (lead) and body text (with and without initial) and let these build up one after the other. We will also find out how the formats relate to each other and what enormous potential lies in this creation process.

A fully formatted column with just one click? It works! The preparatory work from the previous video lessons is worthwhile, because here we will transfer all paragraph formats into an object format and realize that our text, which we received from the editor, can be brought into shape surprisingly quickly. The optimization of our formats leads to a sophisticated system of different settings, which initially takes time, but later allows any text to be formatted in a second. I will also show you the possible uses of imported text.

In this video training, we look at the possibilities of "text wrap" in InDesign. Text can flow around other objects and be displaced by them. In this context, we also look at the options for anchored objects using a quote and check how we can ignore the "text flow" in certain places.

Well-designed fonts contain a large number of glyphs and special characters that we cannot find on the keyboard. In InDesign, we can access, search and reuse these characters using the Glyphs panel. We also make use of InDesign's search and replace function to quickly correct numerous incorrect entries.

You often want to visually enhance images or elements in InDesign. The integrated visual effects are ideal for this. We also learn about the different opacity settings and the gap tool to quickly change the spacing of placed elements.

Hyperlinks to external web addresses, links to document-related page numbers - InDesign has many options for internal and external links that will be visible in the PDF. In this video training, we look at two typical types of link creation and create them using the corresponding functions.

There are different ways to export the created files from InDesign. In this video training I explain the data export for interactive PDFs and for JPG files. The web-optimized PDFs in particular take up less storage space than a printable template. You can find out how to create them here!

This video training takes up the creation of reproducible PDFs from InDesign. We will export our created double-sided business card into a PDF that can later be sent to print shops for offset printing. In addition, I will show you where you can download the corresponding color profiles (ICC profiles) and how to use the dictionary to prevent errors before submission.

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored - Part 1 of 3. In this video training we have a real regular guest for indoor and outdoor catering. The video covers a complete workflow in Adobe InDesign for planning, conceptualizing and designing a menu in DIN-long portrait format. In addition to the entire design, practical features for better visualization of the printed product are also presented. The menu can also be ordered from the viaprinto online store. The highlight is the unboxing, in which I unpack the delivered and beautifully designed menu in front of the camera. Ideal for hotels, gastronomy, restaurants, the hospitality industry and anywhere where people want to be entertained. The menu was printed in 4/4 color on a water-repellent, 234 g/m2 synthetic paper. I wish you good and informative entertainment. Would you like to give me feedback? With pleasure! Just leave me a comment. Yours, Stefan Riedl - with the kind support of viaprinto.de

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored - part 2 of 3. In this video training, we start the second round of our print-fresh gastronomy safari. We create the matching door tag in the identical design to create a uniform "look & feel". The tutorial covers the complete workflow in Adobe InDesign for planning, conception and design of the double-sided printed door tag. In addition to the overall design, practical features for better visualization of the printed product are also presented. The door tag can also be ordered in the online store of the professional printing company viaprinto. The highlight is the unboxing, in which I unpack the delivered and beautifully designed door hangers in front of the camera. Ideal for the hotel industry, gastronomy, restaurants, the hospitality industry and anywhere you want to leave a message for people. The door hangers were printed on 300 g/m2 thick (matt) picture paper and coated with dispersion varnish on both sides so that the print is shown off to its best advantage. I wish you good and informative entertainment. Would you like to give me feedback? With pleasure! Just leave me a comment. Yours, Stefan Riedl - with the kind support of viaprinto.de

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored - Part 3 of 3. In this video training we start the last round of our print products for the hospitality sector. We create the layout and final artwork of a three-sided table display in Adobe InDesign. The tutorial covers the complete workflow in Adobe InDesign for planning, conception and design of the three-sided table display. In addition to the entire design, practical features for better visualization of the print product are also presented. The table display can also be ordered in the online store of the professional printing company viaprinto. The highlight is the unboxing, in which I unpack and present the beautifully designed table display in front of the camera. Ideal for hotels, gastronomy, restaurants, the hospitality industry and anywhere else where tables are too empty. The table display was printed on a 300 g/m2 thick picture printing paper (matt) and coated on both sides with dispersion varnish, which guarantees longevity and thus impressively shows off the splendor of color. I wish you good and informative entertainment. Would you like to give me feedback? I'd love to! Just leave me a comment. Yours, Stefan Riedl - with the kind support of viaprinto.de

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Look forward to instructive moments and fun with enhancements! In this short InDesign tutorial, we will address the important question of how to create partial finishes in InDesign and make them recognizable for the print shop. This technique can later be used to visually and haptically emphasize certain areas instead of full-surface finishes. Using the example of a finished Christmas greetings card, we will look at four areas:

1. different types of finishing briefly introduced
2. what conditions must be met for finishing to be possible?
3. we will create the parameters for finishing in InDesign. Some selected areas are given a partial relief varnish finish. Spot colors are also created here and the overprint mode is activated.
4. correct data export as PDF from InDesign - and we use the extremely impressive three-dimensional visualization at the online print shop viaprinto.de.

The workflow is identical for almost all print shops. Nevertheless, the process should of course be coordinated in detail with your own printing partner.

I look forward to your feedback! Yours, Stefan
With the kind support of www.viaprinto.de

*** This video training was sponsored / advertisement ***

In this video training, I will show you two ways to create a perforation correctly. Perforations are used on paper or cardboard to make it easier to separate individual sheets or parts of a print project - familiar from vouchers, admission tickets, etc. To do this, the paper is perforated or punched through at regular intervals at the appropriate point.

The video shows the corresponding layout specifications, the marking in Adobe InDesign using spot colors. Alternatively, the perforation editor from viaprinto.de can also be used.

Did the video help you? I look forward to your comment! Your Stefan
With the kind support of viaprinto.de

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored -

In this video training, we will create an Advent calendar in star format together in Adobe InDesign, print it and unpack it later. The tutorial offers you practical help - starting with the question of where to get the template in the first place, through helpful design tips in InDesign to the later ordering process with a 3D preview and the subsequent printing. Discover the Advent calendar in star format for you, your clients and customers. Learn how you can get creative even in the middle of the Christmas season. During the subsequent unboxing, you will gain interesting insights into the product, making it much easier for you to design it.

Did the video help you? I look forward to your comment! Your Stefan
With the kind support of viaprinto.de

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored - In this video training we design a double-sided mini desk calendar together, which is practical for the B2B sector, but can also be a beautiful piece of jewelry on the table for customers. I explain where you can download the right template for later printing and then we create the layout and final artwork in Adobe InDesign. The mini desk calendar is perfect for conveying your own company image, which is why we examine exactly where the logo is best placed. In addition to the entire design and the subsequent PDF export, practical features for better visualization of the printed product are presented. Finally, the Mini desk calendar is conveniently and easily ordered from the professional printing company viaprinto. I wish you good and informative entertainment. Would you like to give me feedback? With pleasure! Just leave me a comment. Yours, Stefan Riedl - with the kind support of viaprinto.de

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored -

Look forward to a special give-away for the B2B and B2C sector: the Advent calendar tea house with its three-dimensional house shape impresses with its design and its tasty inner life - chocolate or tea. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to create the calendar in Adobe InDesign so that you'll soon have a Christmas countdown on your own table. We use a template from our printing partner viaprinto to design a reproducible print file. Learn how to place your elements correctly on the work surface, which areas deserve special attention and which helpful design tips will make the graphic design even better.

We then move on to data export, the ordering process and the interesting 3D preview, which shows us the result before it has even been printed. Impress your clients and customers with the advent calendar tea house to ring in a creative Christmas.

Did the video help you? I look forward to your comment! Your Stefan
With the kind support of viaprinto.de

- Advertisement: This video was sponsored -

In this video training, I present a high-quality metal desk calendar that can be defined in seven colors. Everything is covered, from where to get the right template for printing, to how to proceed once you're in Adobe InDesign, to how to export data to a reproducible PDF later on.

As a highlight, the desk calendar was actually ordered and delivered, so that the quality and the final print result can be scrutinized in the final unboxing.

Did the video help you? I look forward to your comment! Your Stefan - with the kind support of viaprinto.de