InDesign Basics

In this course, students will explore a host of essential InDesign techniques and focus on developing efficient workflows.

myAOLCC Hub (Online)
Beginner
60 Hours
What you'll learn
  • Kickstarting Document Design
  • Basics of Print and Digital Publishing
  • Polishing the Document Design
  • Enhance Documents with Character, Paragraph, and Object Styles
  • Using the Swatches Panel to Create Color Schemes
  • Managing Page Elements
  • Learn about the Conveyor Tools and the Links Panel
  • Managing Multi-Page and Liquid Layouts
  • Book Layout and Design
  • ePubs
  • Continuous Text Frames
  • Automated Tables of Contents
  • Adding Interactivity to Your Publications
  • Interactive Movies to Hyperlinks

Course Introduction

Layout designers today need the skills to move seamlessly between print and digital projects. Adobe InDesign is a tool that can handle it all. In this course, students will explore a host of essential InDesign techniques and focus on developing efficient workflows.

Students will develop a working knowledge of InDesign’s main capabilities, from basic features to master pages, importing and manipulating objects, controlling text flow and style, and organizing content with tables, layers, links, and conveyor tools. Hands-on projects provide students with training in a range of real-world print and digital publishing projects, from brochures to catalogs, magazines to ePubs, and an interactive folio for the iPad.

Course Prerequisites

Fundamentals of Typography or equivalent experience.

Course Outline

InDesign Basics

Module 1: Kickstarting Document Design

In this module, students will get an introduction to InDesign and learn the basics of print and digital publishing. They will examine InDesign’s workspace, and learn how to prepare and load a document with text and graphics.

Module 2: Polishing the Document Design

Students will learn how to enhance documents with character, paragraph, and object styles.

They will also explore text formatting and the use of the Swatches panel to create color schemes.

Module 3: Managing Page Elements

This module examines the tools available to create text flow between frames, manipulate objects, manage layers, and produce tables. Students will learn about the conveyor tools and the Links panel, which help select, convey, and keep track of content.

Module 4: Managing Multi-Page and Liquid Layouts

In module 4, students will explore page management tools, as well as liquid and object rules to help designs jump between platforms.

Module 5: Book Layout and Design

This module introduces book design and ePubs. Students will explore continuous text frames, object anchors, GREP searches, and automated tables of contents (TOCs).

Module 6: Adding Interactivity to Your Publications

Students learn how to add interactivity to page layouts, both for a PDF and for the iPad-specific folio format. From movies to hyperlinks, they will examine how InDesign makes incorporating user-friendly interaction a smooth process.

Course Notes

Evaluation is based solely on an Academy of Learning Career College final exam. Prior to taking the final exam, students must successfully complete all the components of the online course material. Participants who receive 75% or higher on their exam will receive a certificate.

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