Dumb InDesign questions

[bulgariacalling]

After my recent attempts to teach myself Illustrator, I think I've finally cracked it (well, enough for what I'll ever need it for). So, now it's time to teach myself InDesign (dumb questions alert)!

I've created a few InDesign documents (CS3 version) without too much trouble (apart from trying to use Quark shortcuts the whole time and having totally different windows pop up!). However, a couple of real basic n00b questions if I may...

1. When I create a new document in Quark, the first thing I do is 'Edit --> H&J's... so that I can tighten up the spaces and set some H+J rules. I haven't been able to find where to set this for the entire document in InDesign?

2. Keyboard shortcuts don't appear to be working (actual size, fit to window, fit spread to window, etc.). However, I can use apple-plus and apple-minus to zoom in and out. Any ideas?

3. In QXP I can use an 'alt-tab' between text on the same line. Text before the alt-tab is aligned left, and the text after it aligned right. Is there a way to do this?

4. If I use the default 'export' options for a PDF, will this be OK for most print folks? I've ensured all colours and images are CMYK and also ensured that all images are 300 dpi. Also, is it a wise move to convert all text to outline prior to supplying the files to prevent possible font errors at the RIP stage?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

I'm sure I'll be back with plenty more!

[garricks]

Hey Chris! Good to see you. Let's see now...

1. I rarely work with justified text. As far as I know, in InDesign H&J's are set at the paragraph style level. I poked around in Preferences and didn't see a global control.

2. What kind of keyboard do you have? (You say "apple+ & apple-, so I'm guessing you're on a Mac) Make sure your System Prefs are set to the correct keyboard.

3. You can approximate that by using Shift-Tab.

4. Your printer rep is the best source of that information, but I've used the "Press Quality" setting before with good results. I NEVER convert text to outlines. Just make sure all of the fonts are imbedded. (Check through acrobat). And make sure to get a printer's proof.

We're here for you buddy.

[bulgariacalling]

woo hoo ... thanks Garricks ... I'll go have a play around now, but that sounds all good to me!

Ooops, you caught me out on the Mac, I guess the Apple-plus gave me away lol

[hank_scorpio]

1. H&Js are a paragraph attribute. It's best, with no documents open, to create a new style and have it highlighted, you can adjust the H&J in that style. When you create a new style later on, you can choose the "Based on" and your style that you created for the H&Js.

Doing this will allow you change the Master style (the on created for the H&J) and that will ring out through all the other styles, unless you've tampered with the child styles H&J settings individually.

I don't recommend doing it on the Basic Paragraph style at all - as if you copy and paste text from your current document to a new document, it will inherit the Basic Paragraph style of the document you're pasting to.

2. You can edit keyboard shortcuts in "Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts" and you assign your own KBSC to almost any command in InDesign. I'm not sure why it's not working for you though?

3. Yes - it's called a Right Indent Tab and executed with a Shift Tab - again you can alter this in the Edit>KBSC - but I don't recommend it if you are working someone elses computer or something - etc. it can get confusing trying to remember two sets of KBSC.

4. I never ever ever ever ever convert type to outlines - it simply isn't necessary as your fonts should automatically in the PDF. If you convert to outlines it loses the hinting, and this can be very bad if they type is below 12pt and/or printed on a digital press. The hinting is part of the software (font) that intelligently optimises the type for print. Plus you can no longer search that PDF for text. The file size becomes massive, especially with more text as it's all converted to a graphic - and it can become subject to converted to CMYK text when a profile is added, as it's now a graphic.

Don't outline text - I severely don't recommend it. Anything that is underlined, has a strike through, a paragraph rule above or below and may other things are completely lost.

http://indesignsecrets.com/convertin...ay-updated.php

http://forums.adobe.com/message/2742024


For creating the PDF contact the printers and ask them for a PDF JobOptions file and how to use it. That should contain all the necessary settings for the PDF.

It's not a good idea to use a generic PDF export setting as each printer is different and have different workflows.

Best to get in contact with them.


Hope that helps.

[hank_scorpio]

http://www.typotheque.com/articles/hinting/

[garricks]

Originally Posted by bulgariacalling

Ooops, you caught me out on the Mac, I guess the Apple-plus gave me away lol

Heh. True that.

The reason I suggest that is the newest aluminum keyboards have reconfigured F-keys and such, so it has special settings in System Prefs. So just make sure your keyboard matches the settings.

[bulgariacalling]

Many thanks for the input both!

[Bob]

Chris,

On point 4 -- Hank's advice on printer contact is sound. However, if you're like me -- sending ads and such out to 'printers unknown' -- it might be worthwhile to try and get a handle on the 'safest' hand-off job.option settings.

Most of the time, I never see what a lot of my ads sent to such places actually look like in print. Particularly in foreign countries. You have to plan for the lowest common denominator.

[Nobert]

If you're used to Quark, there's an option in InDesign to use Quark's keyboard shortcuts (you still get a few bonus ones that are InD-specific).

[hank_scorpio]

I have a fairly generic one - as you're in England now I think this would be fairly safe.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17210757/Gen...int.joboptions

Right click the above link and save it to your drive. Then in the InDesign go to File>PDF Presets... Define and then choose Import.

I use this particular setting for about 90% of the work I send out, and I deal with 5-10 different printers per week.


If you're only dealing with one printer - then it would be best to get their PDF joboptions file.