Typographic Genius InDesign-InDesign DTP

In the past few years, Guangzhou Newspaper Industry has applied InDesign in the design and layout of newspapers and magazines, and has deeply felt that InDesign is powerful and convenient to operate. However, due to the fact that there are not many companies and staffs currently using InDesign typesetting in China, I would like to introduce to you some of my experiences and experiences in the application of InDesign in the actual work. I hope that I will be able to get a good idea so that everyone can recognize this excellent software and Improve your work level.

1, professional layout effects, easy-to-use features

Professional graphic artists know that the main function of typesetting software is to arrange the text and image graphics processed by other software to form a complete layout. Therefore, during the layout, word processing is an important part influencing creative work and work efficiency, and is a “touchstone” for measuring the pros and cons of typesetting software in practical operations. InDesign in this area has brought its characteristics into full play and it is amazing. The following is illustrated by some typical examples in layout design.

(1) Text block has flexible column division function

Generally, in the layout of newspapers, magazines, etc., the placement of text blocks is very flexible, and often it is necessary to cut the line (that is, it is not necessary to press the auxiliary line of the layout bar). If independent text blocks cannot be separated at this time, the layout ideas will be affected. And efficiency. The original PageMaker had to rely on a series of very tedious steps to achieve this simple, but commonly used features, such as: text block first according to the layout column auxiliary column, and then use the "equilibrium field" flusher, and finally The composition again facilitates the change of the size of the text block, without affecting the equivalent column width and so on. InDesign, on the other hand, has flexible columning capabilities and is superior to high-end typesetting software such as QuarkXPress and FIT.

(2) Filling and edging functions with text in magic blocks and text blocks

InDesign not only can fill the text block text with solid colors or gradients, but also can give this text a random thick solid color or gradient edge; At the same time, this text block can also be given a solid color or gradient color background, The text block border can be arbitrarily thick solid or gradient borders. With such a complex effect, InDesign can be easily achieved in one go with its quick function, especially the gradient effect of text in text blocks and text blocks. PageMaker cannot use the "text background" function, which must be achieved with other software. QuarkXPress is very complicated to operate. FIT is this function, but the effect is relatively poor.

(3) Flexible text size change in text blocks

In the layout of the layout, you will often encounter some special emphasis on certain text in a certain block of text, such as: size, length and other changes. The features provided by InDesign are both perfect and easy to use. InDesign allows the text in the text block to change size in the XY axis and can be arbitrarily tilted, whereas the text in the PageMaker text block can only be changed in the X axis direction, and it cannot be tilted. What's even more amazing is that the entire text block in InDesign can be zoomed in and zoomed out like a graphic (where the text is also zoomed in and out), which greatly reduces the workload of changing layouts due to layout changes and improves work efficiency. PageMaker can only re-arrange the layout from the size of the font, which is time-consuming and laborious.

(4) The spacing of text in text blocks is more controllable

Generally speaking, in the text, it is often encountered that the last line of the last column of the text block cannot be flush with the last line of the front bar, and it needs to be adjusted by adjusting the kerning (Tracking). InDesign's text kerning can be easily adjusted by setting any value, which is very quick and easy. PageMaker, on the other hand, has only five levels of control, making it clumsy. In addition, InDesign also controls majors in terms of kerning, word spacing, and letter spacing, and innovates the "single-line/multi-line configuration" function that ensures a beautiful arrangement of texts by selecting a single line. Multi-line imposition to set the line spacing, resulting in an optimized line spacing.

(5) The regular rectangular frame of the text block can be freely changed.

The special shape block effect is often required for layout. InDesign, in addition to several rounded corners and chamfered rectangles, allows the use of "direct selection tool" and "Bezier tool" on the basis of the default rectangular text block. On top of this, more creative shape changes will be made to truly “get what you want”. And it's incredible for PageMaker and QuarkXPress is not convenient either.

(6) Has the artistic effect text in the drawing software - arranges the text along the path. Sometimes, in order to match the layout, it needs to change the text. InDesign only uses the Bezier tool to draw the favorite curve, in InDesign. It is easy to arrange text along the curve. PageMaker must be implemented in other software. If it is modified, it will be very troublesome and affect work efficiency.

(7) Text in text blocks can be rotated

After the layout is sent to the output center output, if there is no corresponding True Type or Postscript word in the output center, InDesign's text-to-graphics function can be useful, and the unique function of the drawing software in the typesetting software is used. Absolutely. PageMaker can only be done with other software.
By comparing the above examples in terms of word processing, it can be seen that the InDesign design and typesetting have matured, and PageMaker is a little overshadowed.

2. Features of drawing and drawing software and electronic publishing functions

InDesign also has many painting, drawing software features and electronic publishing features, not only greatly facilitate the user, but also closely integrated with other Adobe family products, and Photoshop style palettes, creative Illustrator drawing tools and other similar style interface Allows users to quickly learn and master it. At the same time, InDesign can work highly with these Adobe family products, such as direct input of Ai and PSD format files. The following is illustrated by some typical examples of applying these functions.

(1) InDesign draws on several special effects of Photoshop. Such as creating soft shadows, transparent objects, feathered edges, and mixed-mode effects. These built-in features make these effects in layered Photoshop and Illustrator files not lost when entering InDesign, greatly improving work efficiency, without having to transfer between several software for an uncomplicated effect. go with.

(2) InDesign also draws on Photoshop's "pipette tool" to quickly and easily view and copy colors.

(3) InDesign has dexterous Bezier and Freehand tools. Its drawing function is equivalent to drawing software such as Illustrator, eliminating the need to use professional drawing software for drawing some simple graphics. Trouble; and InDesign has its own automatic trimming command that recognizes clipping paths in graphics created with Photoshop and IIIustrator.

(4) InDesign can freely drag the CMYK control bar of the color palette to get the desired color, so that the user can select the color more quickly when designing.

(5) Adobe's standard Navigator panel makes navigation of documents extremely easy. You can open multiple views of a document (or even the same page) at the same time and view the editing effects, or work at different magnifications. You can also turn any page into a main page so that a series of documents have a consistent appearance. When it comes to ensuring its consistency.

(6) InDesign also has standard tools for supporting long files, such as book editing, automatic pagination across chapters, form catalog generation, and indexing. For example, the table of contents table is edited from the formatted text of the special paragraph format. Although not comparable to Adobe FrameMaker, which is specifically designed for long documents such as scientific publishing, these tools are sufficient for long documents.

(7) InDesign added a built-in table tool. Through the table framework, you can automatically handle text streams for multi-page forms, and also provide alternate color fill capabilities.

(8) InDesign's magical multiple UNDO and REDO features improve the flexibility of the user's design product. The PageMakerQuarkXPress UNDO and REDO functions only once, and even some operations are not even once.

(9) InDesign's "Restore" function can automatically recover the latest operation in the event of a system failure, greatly reducing the accidental loss.

(10) InDesign integrates a variety of key technologies, including images, fonts, and color management technologies currently owned by all Adobe professional software. Through these programs Adobe provides the industry's first ability to achieve consistent screen and printability; in addition it has an excellent validation feature that can be used to determine whether or not you have published or uploaded the final results of your creation to the press. Have all the elements, including fonts, images, and color templates to confirm.

(11) InDesign has extensive support for PDF. It can directly store PDF formats without the need to use Acrobat Distiller's intermediate program, which has obvious advantages when the PDF becomes completely standard in the future.

(12) InDesign can directly output SVG images, supports WebDAV service protocol, and embeds metadata tags (XMP) for automatic workflow InDesign layout.

(13) InDesign adopts an Internet browser (Internet Browser) design method. In addition to a streamlined core program, all function modules are added in the form of extension software, which not only increases the complexity of functions, but also reduces some of the functions of the software. Faster and easier to use.

There are numerous advantages similar to the above, and PageMaker can be outdated in these aspects. Do you want to compete with Microsoft Publisher?

In summary, InDesign after Adobe's repositioning is outstanding in various types of publishing markets. InDesign, the mainstream of specialized professional publishing software in the professional field is an inevitable trend, and used users are called geniuses for typography.