Looking to learn the basics of Adobe InDesign without delving into the entire program? 

This course, available online or face-to-face, is perfect for those working with smaller documents (one or two pages). Learn essential skills such as setting up documents, image manipulation, text formatting, and preparing files for print or PDF export. Exercises include creating stationery, flyers, and ads. For those needing to create multi-page documents like newsletters, catalogues, magazines, brochures, or fact sheets, the two-day InDesign Essentials course offers more comprehensive coverage of necessary features.

The InDesign Interface

• Operating Systems, Versions, Menus and Shortcuts
• Dialogue Boxes & Panels – Efficiency Tips
• The Start Workspace
• File Types
• The InDesign Interface at a Glance
• InDesign Preferences
• InDesign Panels
• InDesign Workspaces
• The Tools Panel
• The Control Panel
• Using InDesign Help
• The Pasteboard
• The Context Menu
• Zooming and Scrolling
• Adding and Navigating Pages
• Display Performance
• Document Tabs
• Control Panel Reference Points
• Selecting Frames and Moving
• Resizing Frames
• Selecting Text
• Hidden Characters
• Screen Modes
• Undoing, Redoing and Reverting
• Saving Files

Creating Documents

• Best Practice Workflow
• Colour – RGB versus CMYK
• New Document Dialogue at a Glance
• Page Margins and Margin Guides
• Columns
• Bleeds
• Page Sizes
• Modifying the Document Setup
• Modifying Margins and Columns
• Creating a Document Preset
• Document Rulers
• Ruler Guides
• Smart Guides
• Creating and using Template Files
• Adding and Deleting Pages

Adding Text and Graphics

• Working with Text
• Making the Frame Fit the Text
• Selecting Text
• Adding Placeholder Text
• Placing Text Files
• Importing Images
• Resizing Images and Frames
• Fitting Images
• Positioning an Image within the Frame
• Placing Multiple Images
• Placing Multiple Images in a Grid (Gridify)
• Creating Shapes
• Corner Effects
• Rotating Text, Images or Shapes
• Grouping Objects
• Stacking Objects
• Working with Text Frames
• Text Frame Indicators
• Text Frame Options
• Threading Text Frames
• Text Flow
• Import Options for Placing Text
• Using Glyphs
• Inserting Break Characters

Formatting Text

• Formatting Text
• Character Formatting
• Selecting a Type Face and Type Style
• Setting Type Size
• Leading/Line Spacing
• Kerning and Tracking
• Capitalisation
• Superscript or Subscript Characters
• Underline and Strikethrough
• Baseline Shift
• Paragraph Formatting
• Paragraph Alignment
• Space Before or After
• Indenting Text
• Hyphenation
• Applying Colour to Objects
• Creating a New Swatch
• Editing Swatches
• The Eyedropper Tool

Paragraph and Character Styles Preview

• Paragraph Styles
• Applying Paragraph Styles
• Editing Paragraph Styles

Using Graphics and Links

• Graphic Formats
• Resolution
• Managing Links (Linked Assets)

Publishing

• Preflighting Documents
• Preflight Errors
• Defining Export Format
• Producing PDF Files for Approval and Screen Use
• Exporting to a High-Resolution PDF
• Packaging a Document InDesign

Private/ Group Enrolments:
This course is available for individual enrolment and Private classes (min 10 students). Please contact Lumify to organise a quote.

What do I need to know to attend?

No prior InDesign knowledge is required, making this course perfect for beginners.

Ideal for people who'll use InDesign infrequently for smaller projects. Those focused mainly on simple documents (one or two pages long). Users primarily editing existing documents rather than building them from the ground up.

Learning Outcomes

• Navigate the InDesign workspace with confidence.
• Set up new documents correctly, considering things like colour modes.
• Import and work with both text and images.
• Apply basic text formatting to make your work look polished.
• Prepare files for print or create PDFs for sharing.

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