Wiley InDesign CS3 For Dummies 978-0-470-11865-8 User Manual
Product codes
978-0-470-11865-8
structured or partly structured documents, such as newsletters and mag-
azines, it is usually easier to set up documents up front so that elements
are sized and placed correctly; the less favorable alternative is resizing
elements one at a time later on.
azines, it is usually easier to set up documents up front so that elements
are sized and placed correctly; the less favorable alternative is resizing
elements one at a time later on.
Whether you start by creating frames to hold graphics or text or you simply
place the text and graphics directly on your page, you’re using frames. When
you directly place elements on the page, InDesign creates a frame automati-
cally for each element. The frame that InDesign creates is based on the
amount of text or the size of the graphic, rather than on your specific frame
specifications. Of course, in either case, you can modify the frames and the
elements within them.
place the text and graphics directly on your page, you’re using frames. When
you directly place elements on the page, InDesign creates a frame automati-
cally for each element. The frame that InDesign creates is based on the
amount of text or the size of the graphic, rather than on your specific frame
specifications. Of course, in either case, you can modify the frames and the
elements within them.
The free-form metaphor
Working under a free-form metaphor, you draw a page’s content as if you’re
working on paper. If you’ve been in the publishing business for a while, you
might once have used wax to stick strips of type, camera-ready line drawings,
and halftone pictures to a pasteboard. You would then assemble and
reassemble all those pieces until you got the combination that looked right to
you. The free-form metaphor encourages a try-as-you-go, experimental layout
approach, which is particularly well suited to one-of-a-kind documents such
as ads, brochures, annual reports, and some marketing materials.
working on paper. If you’ve been in the publishing business for a while, you
might once have used wax to stick strips of type, camera-ready line drawings,
and halftone pictures to a pasteboard. You would then assemble and
reassemble all those pieces until you got the combination that looked right to
you. The free-form metaphor encourages a try-as-you-go, experimental layout
approach, which is particularly well suited to one-of-a-kind documents such
as ads, brochures, annual reports, and some marketing materials.
If you use a frame-based approach to page layout, you can experiment with
using the frames as placeholders for actual text and graphics. Visual thinkers
like to work with actual objects, which is why the free-form metaphor works
much better for them. With InDesign, you pick the metaphor that works for
your style, your current situation, and your mood. After all, both approaches
can lead to the same great design.
using the frames as placeholders for actual text and graphics. Visual thinkers
like to work with actual objects, which is why the free-form metaphor works
much better for them. With InDesign, you pick the metaphor that works for
your style, your current situation, and your mood. After all, both approaches
can lead to the same great design.
Understanding Global and Local Control
The power of desktop publishing in general, and InDesign in particular, is that
it lets you automate time-consuming layout and typesetting tasks while at the
same time letting you customize each step of the process according to your
needs.
it lets you automate time-consuming layout and typesetting tasks while at the
same time letting you customize each step of the process according to your
needs.
This duality of structure and flexibility — implemented via the dual use of the
frame-based and free-form layout metaphors — carries over to all operations,
from typography to color. You can use global controls to establish general
settings for layout elements, and then use local controls to modify those ele-
ments to meet specific publishing requirements. The key to using global and
local tools effectively is to know when each is appropriate.
frame-based and free-form layout metaphors — carries over to all operations,
from typography to color. You can use global controls to establish general
settings for layout elements, and then use local controls to modify those ele-
ments to meet specific publishing requirements. The key to using global and
local tools effectively is to know when each is appropriate.
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Chapter 1: Understanding InDesign Ingredients
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