Introduction
Welcome to the InDesign CS3 Visual QuickStart Guide, my sixth version of the book. It’s hard to believe how quickly InDesign has become a major force in desktop publishing and page layout. I feel very lucky to have been working with and teaching InDesign since its very first version. In fact, this is the only third-party book that has had editions for all four versions of InDesign.
Rarely has an application caused as much excitement as InDesign. The first version, released in April 2000, was hailed for its innovative typographic features. Version 1.5, which came out in December of 2000, added more tools and text controls. With version 2, InDesign created great excitement by adding transparency effects, drop shadows, feather effects, and support for transparency in files imported from Photoshop and Illustrator.
When InDesign became part of the Creative Suite packages, things really took off. Now, with InDesign CS3, Adobe has added more sophisticated effects, text variables, and better integration with the other cs3 applications. My favorite new feature is the automatic numbered lists which you will see throughout this book. Just that feature alone has saved me hours and hours of work.
Using This Book
If you have used any of the other Visual QuickStart Guides, you will find this book to be similar. Each chapter is divided into different sections that deal with a specific topic—usually a tool or command. For instance, the chapter on text has sections on creating text frames, typing text, selecting text, and so on.
Each of the sections contains numbered exercises that show you how to perform a specific technique. As you work through the steps, you gain an understanding of the technique or feature. The illustrations help you judge if you are following the steps correctly.
I’ve also sprinkled sidebars, printed in gray boxes, throughout the chapters. Some of these sidebars give you a bit of history or background for a specific feature. Other times, I’ve written out humorous stories about desktop publishing. These sidebars are the same as the little stories and anecdotes I tell my students in the classes I teach.
Instructions
You will find it easier to use this book once you understand the terms I am using. This is especially important since some other computer books use terms differently. Therefore, here are the terms I use in the book and explanations of what they mean.
Click refers to pressing down and releasing the mouse button on the Macintosh, or the left mouse button on Windows. You must release the mouse button or it is not a click.
Press means to hold down the mouse button, or a keyboard key.
Press and drag means to hold the mouse button down and then move the mouse. I also use the shorthand term drag. Just remember that you have to press and hold as you drag the mouse.
Menu Commands
InDesign has menu commands that you follow to open dialog boxes, change artwork, and initiate certain actions. These menu commands are listed in bold type. The typical direction to choose a menu command might be written as Object > Arrange > Bring to Front. This means that you should first choose the Object menu, then choose the Arrange submenu, and then choose the Bring to Front command.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Most of the menu commands for InDesign have keyboard shortcuts that help you work faster. For instance, instead of choosing New from the File menu, it is faster and easier to use the keyboard shortcut (Cmd-N on the Macintosh and Ctrl-N on Windows). Often these shortcuts use multiple keystroke combinations.
The modifier keys used in keyboard shortcuts are sometimes listed in different orders by different software companies or authors. The order that you press those modifier keys is not important. However, it is very important that you always add the last key (the letter or number key) after you press the other keys.
Learning Keyboard Shortcuts
While keyboard shortcuts help you work faster, you really do not have to start using them right away. In fact, you will most likely learn more about InDesign by using the menus. As you look for one command, you may see another feature that you would like to explore.
Once you feel comfortable working with InDesign, you can start adding keyboard shortcuts to your repertoire. My suggestion is to look at which menu commands you use most often. Then each day choose to use one of those shortcuts. For instance, if you import a lot of art from other programs, you might decide to learn the shortcut for the Place command (Cmd-D on the Mac; Ctrl-D on Windows). For the rest of that day use the shortcut every time you import text or art. Even if you have to look at the menu to refresh your memory, use the keyboard shortcut to actually open the Place dialog box. By the end of the day you will have memorized the Place shortcut. The next day you can learn a new one.
Cross-Platform Issues
One of the great strengths of InDesign is that it is almost identical on both the Macintosh and Windows platforms. In fact, at first glance it is hard to tell which platform you are working on. However, because there are some differences between the platforms, there are some things you should keep in mind.
Modifier Keys
Modifier keys are always listed with the Macintosh key first and then the Windows key second. So the instruction “Hold the Cmd/Ctrl key” means hold the Cmd key on the Macintosh platform or the Ctrl key on the Windows platform. When the key is the same on both computers, such as the Shift key, only one key is listed.
Generally the Cmd key on the Macintosh (sometimes called the Apple key) corresponds to the Ctrl key on Windows. The Opt key on the Macintosh corresponds to the Alt key on Windows. The Control key on the Macintosh does not have an equivalent on Windows. Notice that the Control key for the Macintosh is always spelled out while the Ctrl key for Windows is not.
Platform-Specific Features
A few times in the book, I have written separate exercises or instructions for the Macintosh and Windows platforms. These exercises are indicated by (Mac) and (Win).
Most of the time this is because the procedures are so different that they need to be written separately. Some features exist only on one platform. Those features are then labeled as to their platform.
Whether you’re learning InDesign in a class or on your own, I hope this book helps you master the program. Just don’t forget to have fun!
Sandee Cohen
September, 2007