answers to some of your InDesign questions

INDESIGN QUESTIONS - from Ali

First, don’t let InDesign win.

Second, if you’re not first, you’re last.

What happens if

/when you print your document, nothing shows up? Or if you ‘preview’ (shift+w)

nothing shows up on your page?

First, check your layers. A lot of you have been placing your images on the

“Tschihold grid” layer, rather than “layer 1”. So to avoid a lot of

rearranging, select all (click and drag your mouse over all of the objects, or

click each individually while holding shift), copy (edit: copy), paste in

place on layer 1 (edit: paste in place). You can view your layers on your

layers tab on the right hand side.

/you have objects you want in front or in back of others?

click the object: right hand click: arrange: send to back/front

/you want a photo to have a transparent background?

Open the photo in Photoshop. On the right hand side under ‘layers’ you should

see a thumbnail version of your image with the word ‘background’. Double click

the lock button: click ‘ok’ to the pop up window. This will unlock the object

and let you erase things. Now, using your eraser tool, erase the areas you

want transparent.

Once you’re done: file: save as: format PNG. If you don’t save as a PNG, you

will have a white background and all of your erasing will be for nothing.

/as much as your clicking an object, it won’t grab it?

You have your object locked. The reason you would lock your object is so it

stays in one place and you can move others around it. To lock an object:

select the object: object tab: lock. To unlock: object tab: unlock all on

spread.

/you want to export as a PDF/JPG?

Simply go to file: format Adobe PDF (print). Remember, choose high quality

print preset when you’re ready to print, smallest file size for emailing.

/when you preview your file, images look pixelated despite the high

resolution?

Because InDesign is running a lot of information at once, it cuts corners

where it can, aka your photos. It will automatically decrease your resolution

so the program can run faster/doesn’t lag. To see how your file will actually

print, right click: display performance: high quality display. If your image

/I want to group images together so they stay together?

Then you’re going to group them! Select all of your images (either click and

drag your mouse, or select individually by holding down shift): option tab:

group. To ungroup, select the grouping: object tab: ungroup. Easy peasy.

/you want to work on your InDesign document on a school computer v. your

laptop?

When you trade computers, you lose all of your links to your InDesign

document. To keep these links/photos and all of your fonts in one place,

you’ll need to package the document. File: Package: Package: Continue: Save As

Package: OK. As long as you copy this entire folder to the next computer

you’re working on, you shouldn’t have problems with broken links or missing

fonts.

Make sure your files are linked.

Make sure you’re using Helvetica or Georgia.

Make sure you’re using the grid.

Make sure it’s 18x24 or 24x18.

Make sure you’re asking questions.

Make sure you’re using good craft.

Make sure you Google what you don’t know.

Linda SamsonTalleur: ltalleur@ku.edu

Ann Hossler: ann.hossler@ku.edu

Tom Huang: tomahawk@ku.edu

Ali Fisher: alimfish@gmail.com

thank you Ali !