graphic design | parkland college

Graphic Design Exercises

InDesign: Brochure (Champaign Park District)

 

Objective

 

To be introduced to the principles of publication design. To learn layout and production techniques in InDesign.

Download starter files

 

Discussion

 

The six-panel brochure is a very popular format because when folded, it can easily fit into a #10 envelope for mailing. Like all professionally designed documents, one must pay meticulous attention to detail in the typography.

 

Procedure

 

prepping for the exercise

  1. examine downloaded files
  2. launch InDesign
  3. file > new (more options): 2 pages, facing pages=no, letter, landscape, margins=0, bleed=1p
  4. practice Adobe navigation keyboard shortcuts: space=hand; space+cmd=zoom in; space+cmd+opt=zoom out; cmd+zero=fit in window
  5. practice InDesign preview shortcuts: cmd+opt+I (show/hide hidden characters); W (normal/preview mode)
  6. window > pages: palette options: icon=small; vertical=no
  7. InDesign > preferences > display performance: high quality

setting up the master page

  1. window > pages: go to master page A
  2. view > actual size (cmd+1)
  3. rename "layer 1" as "guides"
  4. drag vertical guides for folds: 22p, 44p
  5. drag vertical guides for margins: 2p in from trim and folds
  6. drag horiz guides for margins: 3p in from top, 2p from bottom
  7. window > layers: new layer "text"
  8. draw the three text frames

roughing out the layout

  1. go to page 1
  2. unlock master text boxes: cmd+click on each text box
  3. file > place "cpd.doc" (show options); dictionary=US English, remove extra RETURNS, typographer's quotes=yes
  4. link text through all 3 text frames
  5. flow text from page 1 to page 2 (do not flow into cover text frame)
  6. replace 2 spaces with 1 space (cmd+F)
  7. replace 2 hyphens with em dash
  8. change "normal" style to 11/13 Adobe Garamond, hyph=off
  9. cut cover text, move to page 2, 3rd column
  10. new paragraph style "text+indent" (based on "normal"): left indent=2p
  11. new paragraph style "text+indent+9" (based on "text indent"):
    space after=0p9
  12. new paragraph style "head": 20/18 italic, track=-5, space after=1p, space before=1p6
  13. apply styles
  14. create column breaks (ENTER)
  15. rearrange text as needed (see PDF)
  16. review checklist from Appendix "A": use small caps for "a.m." and "p.m."; use em and en dashes where appropriate; hang bullets (cmd+\); proofread for sensible line breaks

creating charts & boxed text

  1. new paragraph style "chart" (based on "text indent"): 9/10 Helvetica med cond, space after=0
  2. new paragraph style "chart+rule" (based on "chart"): 9/14, rule below=.75pt, left indent=2p, offset 0p3
  3. apply style, add bolds
  4. type > tabs: set appropriate tabs
  5. repeat with 2nd chart
  6. window > layers: new layer "box text"
  7. window > swatches: new spot color PMS 347
  8. draw rectangle to contain text, fill=PMS 347, tint=20%
  9. window > type > text wrap: wrap around box=yes, below=0p9
  10. cut text for box text, draw text box, paste
  11. object > text frame option: ignore text wrap
  12. apply style "chart"
  13. cut large type and paste into new text frame
  14. window > type > glyphs: insert solid square and "check" glyph
  15. make square fill=none, stroke=black (1pt)
  16. make check fill=PMS 347, adjust size and baseline shift
  17. kern check to overlap square
  18. on the cover use Adobe Garamond Italic 20/23 and 48/34, track appropriate amount, kern

adding the art

  1. new layer "art"
  2. place medal art: fill=15% PMS 347 (direct select tool)
  3. place logo art
  4. add gradient boxes
  5. add vertical rules (.75pt green)

finishing the document

  1. window > output > separations preview
  2. file > preflight
  3. file > adobe PDF presets > press
  4. publish PDF as a link from your projects page
  5. submit b&w laser proof with your name on it for grading
  6. file graded proofs in your 3-ring binder for individual review

 

 

 BACK TO TOP

Version 1.0 • Last updated: 11/21/08 • Webmaster: Paul Young