This is a new course with a variety of students. To set a starting point, we will start with a test. The test contains basic questions about working with InDesign. What do you know already and what do you need to succeed?

The test will be shared by the SOFT2 teacher during the first class through a Microsoft Teams assignment. Immediately after the test, we will review the answers together as a class.

In Adobe InDesign, Master Pages are templates that allow you to apply consistent design elements, such as page numbers, headers, footers, logos, and backgrounds, across multiple pages in your document. They serve as a foundation for the layout of your document and help maintain consistency throughout.

Here's how you can use Master Pages effectively in InDesign:

• Accessing Master Pages:
  To view and edit Master Pages, go to the Pages panel (Window > Pages). At the top of the panel, you'll see thumbnails of your document pages and any Master Pages you've created. Double-click on a Master Page thumbnail to access it for editing.

• Creating Master Pages:
  To create a new Master Page, click on the "New Master" button in the Pages panel. You can then customize this Master Page by adding guides, text frames, graphics, or any other elements you want to appear on multiple pages.

• Applying Master Pages:
  After creating your Master Pages, you can apply them to your document pages. To do this, simply drag a Master Page thumbnail from the Pages panel onto one or more document page thumbnails. The applied Master Page elements will now appear on those document pages.

• Editing Master Pages:
  Any changes made to a Master Page will be reflected on all document pages that use that Master. To edit a Master Page, double-click its thumbnail in the Pages panel, make your changes, and then click outside the page to exit the editing mode. The changes will be applied automatically to all pages using that Master.

• Overrides:
  You can override Master Page elements on individual document pages if needed. Simply click on an element on the document page that originated from the Master, and then modify or delete it as desired. This allows for flexibility while still maintaining overall consistency.

• Multiple Master Pages:
  In larger documents or documents with different sections, you can create multiple Master Pages to accommodate different layouts or design variations.

By utilizing Master Pages effectively, you can streamline your design process, maintain consistency, and save time when working on multi-page documents.

Layers are like transparent sheets that allow you to organize and manage different elements of your document. You can think of them as separate levels where you can place content independently from each other.

Here's how you can use layers:

• Organization:
  Layers help you organize your document by grouping related content together. For example, you might have one layer for text, another for images, and another for background elements.

• Visibility:
  You can control the visibility of layers, making it easy to hide or show specific content as needed. This is helpful when you want to focus on certain parts of your design or when collaborating with others.

• Hierarchy:
  Layers can define the stacking order of objects. Objects on higher layers will appear in front of objects on lower layers. This allows you to control which elements overlap others in your design.

• Editing Efficiency:
  By separating content onto different layers, you can make edits more efficiently. For instance, if you want to make changes to only the text in your document, you can lock or hide other layers to avoid accidentally altering them.

• Printing and Exporting:
  Layers can also be used to control which content gets printed or exported. You can choose to include or exclude specific layers from the final output, giving you more control over the appearance of your document.

Overall, layers in InDesign provide a flexible way to manage the complexity of your designs and streamline your workflow.

Grouping objects in Adobe InDesign involves combining multiple elements into a single entity for easier management and manipulation. To group objects, select them and then use the "Group" command in the Object menu or press Ctrl + G (Cmd + G on Mac). 

Grouped objects allow for efficient editing, organization, and maintenance of alignment in layouts. 

Remember to name groups for easier identification and use isolation mode to edit individual objects within a group.

Why use the library function?

• Efficiency:

Libraries allow you to store frequently used design elements in one centralized location, making them easily accessible for future projects.

• Consistency:
  By using libraries, you can ensure consistency in your designs by reusing the same elements across various documents.

• Time-saving:
  Instead of recreating design elements from scratch, you can simply drag and drop them from the library into your InDesign document, saving you time and effort.

• Collaboration:
  Libraries can be shared among team members, promoting collaboration and ensuring everyone has access to the same set of design assets.

How to use the library function:

• Create a Library:

  • Open Adobe InDesign and go to the "Window" menu.

  • Select "Library" to open the Libraries panel.

  • Click on the menu icon in the Libraries panel and choose "New Library."

  • Give your library a name and save it to a location of your choice.

• Add Assets to the Library:

  • To add elements to your library, simply select the desired objects (such as text frames, graphics, colors, etc.) within your InDesign document.

  • Drag and drop these selected elements into the library panel.

  • You can organize your assets into folders within the library for better management.

• Reuse Assets from the Library:

  • Open a new or existing InDesign document where you want to reuse the library assets.

  • Open the library panel (if not already open) by going to the "Window" menu > "Library."

  • Browse through your library to locate the desired assets.

  • Drag and drop the assets from the library panel into your document.

• Update Library Assets:

  • If you make changes to an asset within the library, those changes will automatically reflect in all documents where that asset is used.

  • Right-click on an asset in the library panel and choose "Edit."

  • Make the necessary changes to the asset, and it will update across all documents.

• Share Libraries:

  • Libraries can be shared among team members for collaboration.

  • Right-click on the library in the Libraries panel and choose "Collaborate".

  • Follow the prompts to share the library via Creative Cloud or other means.

Thread text frames

Making text move between different boxes on a page is called threading text. You can connect boxes together, and the text can flow from one to another. These boxes can be on the same page or on different ones. When you connect them, it's like linking them up. Each box has a spot where you can connect it to another box. When there's an arrow in this spot, it means the box is connected to another one. If there's a red plus sign (+), it means there's more text to show but nowhere else to put it. This extra text is called overset text.

Add a new frame to the thread

Use the Selection tool to pick a text frame. Then, click either the in or out icon to get a text icon. Clicking the in icon adds a frame before the chosen one, while clicking the out icon adds one after it.

Put the text icon where you want a new text frame, and click or drag to make it. Remember, when the text icon is active, you can do lots of things like turning pages, making new pages, and zooming. If you start connecting two boxes and change your mind, just click any tool in the Toolbox to stop. You won't lose any text.

Add an existing frame to the thread

Use the Selection tool to pick a text frame. Then, tap on either the in port or out port to bring in a text icon.

Put the text icon over the frame you want to connect it to. It will turn into a thread icon.

Connecting an existing frame to the thread: Tap inside the second frame to link it to the first one.

When you connect a frame grid to a regular text frame or to another frame grid with different settings, the text frame of the connected frame changes to match the settings of the original grid.

Add a frame inside a sequence of threaded frames

Using the Selection tool, click the out port at the point in the story where you want to add a frame. When you release the mouse button, a loaded text icon appears.

Drag to create a new frame, or select a different text frame. InDesign threads the frame into the series of linked frames containing the story.

Unthread text frames

When you unthread a text frame, you break the connection between the frame and all subsequent frames in the thread. Any text that previously appeared in the frames becomes overset text (no text is deleted). All subsequent frames are empty.

Using the Selection tool, do one of the following:

• Double-click an in port or out port to break the connection between frames.

• Click an in port or an out port that represents a thread to another frame. For example, in a two-framed thread, click either the out port of the first frame or the in port of the second frame. Position the loaded text icon over the previous or next frame to display the unthread icon . Click in the frame you want to remove from the thread.

There are two different panels that lead to two different types of effects. First the Effects panel which can be found in the Object Menu.

Object Effects Panel: This panel allows you to apply various visual effects to objects such as shapes, images, and groups. Some common effects you can apply using this panel include:

• Drop Shadow: Adds a shadow behind the object, giving it a sense of depth and making it appear lifted off the page.

• Inner Shadow: Similar to drop shadow but applies the shadow inside the object's boundaries.

• Outer Glow: Creates a glow effect around the edges of the object.

• Inner Glow: Similar to outer glow, but applies the glow effect inside the object's boundaries.

• Bevel and Emboss: Adds a 3D effect to the object by creating highlights and shadows along its edges.

• Opacity: Adjusts the transparency of the object.

• Blend Mode: Alters how the object blends with objects or colors beneath it.

• Feather: Softens the edges of the object, creating a smoother transition between the object and its background.

Second is the panel that can be found in de Window menu, Effects. This window can be compared with the way you apply your Blending Modes in Photoshop. Each blending mode has a unique effect, altering how colors interact when overlaid on top of each other.

• Normal: The default blending mode; objects are displayed as they appear without any blending.

• Multiply: Darkens the underlying layers where the top layer is darker and leaves lighter areas unaffected.

• Screen: Lightens the underlying layers where the top layer is lighter and leaves darker areas unaffected.

• Overlay: Combines Multiply and Screen modes, resulting in increased contrast.

• Difference: Subtracts the color of the underlying layers from the color of the top layer, resulting in a negative effect.

• Color Dodge: Brightens the underlying layers based on the brightness of the top layer.

• Color Burn: Darkens the underlying layers based on the darkness of the top layer.

• Soft Light: Applies a subtle blend of Multiply and Screen modes, depending on the brightness of the top layer.

• Hard Light: Similar to Overlay but with a stronger effect.

• Multiply: Darkens the underlying layers and lightens the top layer, producing a contrasting effect.

• There are several others, each with its unique way of blending colors.

• Applying Blending Modes:

  • Select the object or layer to which you want to apply the blending mode.

  • Open the Effects panel and choose the desired blending mode from the drop-down menu next to "Blending Mode."

  • The selected blending mode will be applied to the object, altering its appearance based on its interaction with the underlying layers or background.

Blending modes in Adobe InDesign offer flexibility and creative possibilities for designers to achieve various visual effects and enhance the overall look of their layouts.

Step 02

Insert 5 extra pages after Page 1.

LinkedIn Learning

As a GLR student, you can continue to develop yourself 24/7. The online platform LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of video tutorials and online training sessions, to which you have free access with your GLR email address. 

Once you have completed the virtual training, LinkedIn Learning grants you access to a certification. You can then showcase your success on your LinkedIn newsfeed.

Hurry and visit LINKEDIN LEARNING, log in with your GLR email address, and get started.

Watch the videos from "Cert Prep: Adobe Certified Associate - InDesign" chapter 5.

Note: At the end of SOFT2C, you need to submit the certificate you receive from LinkedIn Learning to your teacher. Watch the assigned chapters every week.