Adobe Indesign Cs3 How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques

InDesign CS4 is more than just a page layout tool; as part of Adobe's new Creative Suite 4, it's a key component of an overall design workflow that lets users work seamlessly among all of their graphics applications to create spectacular layouts. Work faster, create more is what Adobe wants users to do with InDesign, and this info-packed guide lets users get right down to doing just that by focusing on the InDesign CS4 features they're most likely to use and showcasing each in a stand-alone tip--complete with a relevant hint or two and a graphic example. In this fashion, readers learn as they go, exploring the program in a way that makes sense to them. Before they know it, users will be using the Bridge to manage their files, object styles to format their images, and snippets to save layout parts for reuse.

Features new to InDesign CS4 that are covered include: live preflight, customizable Links panel, conditional text, cross references, interactive document capability with the new SWF file, animated page transitions, export to Flash CS4 functionality, Smart Guides and Smart Spacing, spread rotation, and smart text reflow.

Aimed at beginning users of Adobe's InDesign page layout program, this practical guide introduces 100 key tasks that will enable them to produce high quality publications. A sampling of topics includes navigating documents, setting tabs, wrapping text around objects, drawing complex lines, managing graphic links, and filling objects with color. Though there are several ways to perform most tasks, the authors present only the easiest and most obvious for each. Keyboard shortcuts are not covered. Cruise is an Adobe-certified InDesign expert and design instructor. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Build your InDesign expertise, one technique at a time. In Adobe InDesign CS3 How-Tos, authors John Cruise and Kelly Kordes Anton bring you 100 carefully selected techniques to help you get right to work in InDesign, the world's most powerful page layout program. Their strategy is to focus on those features you're most likely to use, showcasing each in a clearly explained, well-illustrated, stand-alone technique--complete with a relevant hint or two. These bite-sized lessons offer a great way to learn just what you need to know when you need it, exploring the program in a way, and at a pace, that makes sense to you. Before you know it, you'll master all these tools and techniques, and more:

- Customize the interface Tip #6]

- Add metadata to documents Tip #14]

- I nsert variable text Tip #29]

- Add special effects to type Tip #34]

- Format tables with styles Tip #45]

- U se spot colors, process colors, and tints Tip #74]

- Paginate a book Tip #86]

- U se PDF presets for output Tip #96].

Build your InDesign expertise,one technique at a time. In Adobe InDesign CS3 How-Tos, authors John Cruise and Kelly Kordes Anton bring you 100 carefully selected techniques to help you get right to work in InDesign, the world’s most powerful page layout program. Their strategy is to focus on those features you’re most likely to use, showcasing each in a clearly explained, well-illustrated, stand-alone technique—complete with a relevant hint or two. These bite-sized lessons offer a great way to learn just what you need to know when you need it, exploring the program in a way, and at a pace, that makes sense to you. Before you know it, you’ll master all these tools and techniques, and more:

• Customize the interface [Tip #6]

• Add metadata to documents [Tip #14]

• I nsert variable text [Tip #29]

• Add special effects to type [Tip #34]

• Format tables with styles [Tip #45]

• U se spot colors, process colors, and tints [Tip #74]

• Paginate a book [Tip #86]

• U se PDF presets for output [Tip #96].

John Cruise is an Adobe-certified InDesign expert, writer, and design instructor. He has been a technical writer at Quark and has coauthored several books including Adobe InDesign CS3 How-Tos and the InDesign Bible. Kelly Kordes Anton is a freelance writer and editor based in Littleton, Colorado. She coauthored Adobe InDesign CS3 How-Tos, and she writes regularly for Quark and works as copy editor for many publishers.

Chapter One: Getting Started with InDesign

Chapter Two: Working with Documents

Chapter Three: Working with Text

Chapter Four: Typography and Tables

Chapter Five: Drawing Lines and Shapes

Chapter Six: Working with Graphics

Chapter Seven: Working with Objects

Chapter Eight: Working with Color

Chapter Nine: Laying Out Pages and Creating Long Documents

Chapter Ten: Creating Rich Interactive Documents

Chapter Eleven: Preflight and Output

Index