Introduction to Adobe InDesign

Week Three Outline

 Back to Week Two

Creating a Brochure

Today we will use many of the skills we have built in the last two weeks, and a few new skills we will cover today, to assemble a multi-page brochure.

Design

As with anything you wish to create, it is a good idea to sit down with pencil and paper, and sketch out some ideas of what you would like to create.

For ideas, take a look at other, related documents, or older versions of the document you are attempting to create.

A sample of the document we are creating can be found HERE.

Creating the Project

We will start with a New Document

Project Layout

If you look at the project that was created, you will find a single page (cover) at the top, dual pages (interior) in the middle, and a single page at the end (back cover).

Project Files

The project file can be downloaded from HERE.

Setting up the Front Cover

The front cover is made up of  four elements;
The first thing we will place is the background image. We will create a rectangular frame that covers the entire page, and then place the image within that frame. Finally, since the Image is wider than the frame, we will look at how to select the part of the image we want to have show.
  1. Select the Rectangle Frame tool. (just above the shape tools we normally use)
  2. Draw a frame that covers the entire first page.
  3. From the File Menu, select 'Place'.
  4. Select the image you wish to use (ocean_restaurant.jpg).
To pan the image, and select the view you wish to have in the frame, do the following;
  1. Click the Selection Tool
  2. Double-click the image.
  3. Drag the image side to side.
Placing the Logo
  1. From the File menu, select Place again.
  2. Select the Atomic Logo (AtomicLogo.ai).
  3. Place the logo to the left of the page, as it is rather large at first.
  4. Re-size the frame that has been created by holding shift, and dragging a corner in.
  5. Right-click on the image, and select Fitting > Fit content to frame.
  6. Drag the logo to the upper-right corner of the page.
Placing the Text
  1. Select the Text Tool
  2. Draw a Text Frame over the bottom third of the page.
  3. On the Control Panel, Select the Paragraph properties
  4. Switch the Control Panel to Character mode
  5. Type 'Atomic Island' and press Enter
  6. Change the Font Size to 60pt.
  7. Type 'Dream Vacation'.
  8. Switch to the Selection Tool, and adjust the top of the text frame to position the text as you like it.
Creating the bottom Gradient
  1. Bring up the Swatches panel
  2. Click the menu button (upper right of panel).
  3. Select 'New Gradient Swatch'.
  4. Draw a new Rectangle Shape across the bottom of the page.
  5. Set the fill color to your new color from the Swatch menu.
  6. Adjust the transparency of the Rectangle to your taste (80%).
The cover page is complete.

SAVE YOUR WORK.

Master Pages

We can create a template that is used to define the appearance of a number of the pages in our document. These templates are called Master Pages. We will create a Master Page layout for the interior pages of our brochure. Later, if we have time, we will play with creating sub-master pages, which are masters based on other masters.

Our inner pages have the following features in common;
There are two way to access the master pages in order to edit them.
  1. There is a page selector at the bottom of the screen (lower left). It is a white box containing the page number you are currently editing. You can click the arrow on the right side of this box, and select 'A-master'.
  2. You can access the Pages panel, and double-click on the 'A-Master'.
By default, InDesign gives you one Master, labeled 'A'. All Master Pages are identified by a letter.

Creating the Top Gradient

Since we are using the Facing Pages setting in our layout, we can create an effect that goes all the way across the page spread.

First, we can create the Gradient Swatches to be used on the top, bottom, and background;
Next, we make the rectangles. Make sure these go across the entire spread if you want it that way;
This completes the Master Pages (for now)

This is a good time to Save

Applying the Master Pages

By default, InDesign applies the Master Page to all pages in our layout. We do not want it to affect the Cover page, so we will go in and remove the master from that page.
At the top of the panel, you will see the A-Master, as well as a None master.
All pages except the cover page have a small 'A' at the top, indicating that they are using the Master Page.

Creating Page One

We will start with some freehand placement of items on page one to get into the swing of things. We will place a few rectangles, and place text over those shapes. We will play with beveled edges and drop shadows. Finally, we will place a photo, and apply some of the same effects.

Looking at the example document will give you some idea of a basic layout. I will walk you through a couple of insets, and the photo, and leave you to decorate the rest of this two-page spread.
  1. Draw a rectangle shape in the upper center of the left-hand page.
  2. Select the Text tool, and click inside the rectangle.
  3. Copy the rectangle, and paste it into the layout.
    1. Change the fill color to a different gradient.
    2. Double-click the text, and select it all.
    3. Change the font size to 18pt
    4. Change the style to Bold (no italic)
    5. Type 'Searching for out-of-this-world travel destinations?' and press enter.
    6. Type 'Do you need a Stress-Free vacation?' and press enter
    7. Type 'We have over 15 years of experience in creating dream vacations.'
  4. Select the Selection tool, and re-size the rectangle to show all text.
  5. Drag the rectangle, and position over the page break.
  6. Double-click the text again, and select all of the text.
  7. Copy the new rectangle, and paste it in.
  8. Draw a Rectangle Frame (Not shape) in the lower left.

This is a good time to Save

The Museum Pages

Now we will start pages on which we import existing copy.

Week Four Outline