Graphic Design Exercises

Menu: Miko

 

Objective

To learn the principles of publication design as it applies to menus. To utilize the grid system and InDesign's master pages. To learn Photoshop and InDesign production procedures by example.

 

Discussion

Menus are ususally multi-page publications. When working with multiple pages, each page must relate to the other pages visually. This is best accomplished with a grid system on a master page.

The typography system within a publication must also be consistent. Consistency not only makes publications professional, but the repetition helps unify the whole design. Consistent typography is best accomplished with a style sheet.

Finally, a rhythm should be established so that the sequence of pages has a repetitive pattern. This will help the reader anticipate what's to come (just like in music).

 

Procedure

retouching in Photoshop

  1. download starter files
  2. examine PDF of finished menu; examine downloaded files
  3. open "dessert-scan.jpg" in photoshop
  4. image > image rotation 180
  5. crop tool: crop & rotate
  6. marquee tool: constrain aspect ration (7.5 x 11)
  7. make selection; select > tranform selection
  8. image > crop
  9. removing "moire" pattern: filter > blur > gaussian blur (smallest amount)
  10. image > adjust > variations
  11. layer > adjustment layer > adjust > levels
  12. layer > adjustment layer > hue/saturation
  13. image > image size: width = 7.5 inches, 150 DPI (bicubic sharper)
  14. filter > sharpen > unsharp mask (radius=2, threshold=2)
  15. save as "dessert.psd"
  16. image > mode > CMYK; flatten file
  17. save as "dessert.jpg" (quality=10/maximum)

preparing the cover art

  1. open "cover.jpg" in photoshop
  2. file > place "miko logo.eps"; size, position
  3. layer > add layer styles: color overlay (choose a brown)
  4. new layer "box", draw box, fill box with a green
  5. duplicate "box" layer, rename "shadow", fill box with black; deselect
  6. filter > blur > gaussian blur
  7. adjust shadow: edit > transform > distort
  8. save as "cover-front.psd"

flowing text in InDesign

  1. file > new: 7.5 x 11 inches; number of pages=3, facing pages=yes, master text frame=yes; margins: top=2p, bottom=2p, inside=5p, outside=6p; bleeds=1p
  2. save as "menu.indd"
  3. practice Adobe navigation keyboard shortcuts
  4. practice InDesign preview shortcut: W (normal/preview mode)
  5. help: keyboard shortcuts: keys for working with type
  6. go to "a-master": delete text frame on left-hand page
  7. go to page 3: file > place "Miko.txt"
  8. shift-click upper left corner of text area (note InDesign creates new pages for you)
  9. type > show/hide hidden characters (cmd+opt+I)
  10. replace two spaces with one space (cmd+F)
  11. after "white wine selections": replace RETURN with RETURN TAB to end of story (cmd+F)
  12. replace "TAB *" with "* TAB"
  13. make page breaks (refer to PDF) (use ENTER key)
  14. reflow text: click on "+", shift+click corner of new blank page
  15. window > pages: add new blank pages as needed (total of 20)

adding leader dots and hanging bullets

  1. select all (cmd+A)
  2. type > tabs (cmd+shift+T): left tab at 1p; right tab at 34p with leader dots
    (SPACE PERIOD) (hint: click in ruler first)
  3. fine tune leader dots: replace TAB with
    SPACE SPACE TAB SPACE SPACE

style sheets in InDesign

  1. select all; make type 10/12 Cochin
  2. window > paragraph styles: new, "menu", hyphenation=off; apply style
  3. make select menu items bold, caps
  4. window > character styles: new, "bold caps"; apply style
  5. type > glyphs (font=Zapf Dingbats): locate the "recommended" dingbat character
  6. make new character style "recommended"; apply style
  7. replace * with formatted dingbat character (cmd+F) (hint: copy and paste the dingbat into the replace field)
  8. duplicate "menu" style, rename "menu+price"; add nested styles:
    • "recommended" (up to 1 tab characters)
    • "bold caps" (up to 2 tab characters")
  9. duplicate "menu" style, rename "menu+indent"; indents: left=1p, first line=-1p, right=6p, space after=1p; apply style
  10. duplicate "menu" style, rename "h2": Futura Cond Med, size=16, all caps, tracking=300, horizontal scale=90%, space before=3p; centered
  11. duplicate "h2" style, rename "h1", size=24, space before=2p; space after=4p
  12. apply styles
  13. make initial cap 120 pt; Mistral, tracking=70, slant=12°,
    baseline shift=-15; save as new character style "cap"
  14. edit "h1" style: add nested style "caps" (through 1 character)
  15. go to page 1: proof for bad line breaks, inappropriate use of hyphens, etc; move Janet's name right; add initial cap (adjust tracking, baseline shift)
  16. object > text frame options: vertical alignment=justified
  17. style rest of menu, watching for line breaks

rearranging pages

  1. go to page 20
  2. layout > numering & section: start page at "20" (note small triangle)
  3. window > pages: drag page 20 to before page 1 (hint: make icons small, expand palette)
  4. go to page 1
  5. layout > numering & section: start page at "1" (note small triangle)

finishing the document

  1. file > place pictures (cmd+D); adjust for bleeds, fit in frame
  2. repeat with other pages (refer to PDF)
  3. file > document setup: add slug (bottom=3p)
  4. go to master page "A": add slug (your name)
  5. file > preflight
  6. print (all printer's marks, include slug, scale to fit print area, save preset)
  7. using tape and glue stick, make a folding dummy of your proof (demo)
  8. file > adobe PDF presets > press quality (for print)
  9. file > export: "menu.jpg" (150PPI, quality=high, page 1 only)
  10. open "menu.jpg" in Photoshop
  11. file > save for web (preset=jpeg high, image size=800px wide)

grading

  1. submit folding dummy for grading
  2. file your graded proof in your Process Book for individual review
  3. publish your PDF and JPEG as links from your Process Page