Page 15 - Adobe InDesign 2021

STAGE 1 / Setting up the Workspace

As you learned in the Interface chapter, InDesign gives you extensive control over your workspace —
you can choose where to place panels, whether to collapse or expand open panels, and even to save

workspaces with sets of panels in specific locations. Because workspace issues are largely a matter of
personal preference, we tell you what tools to use, but we don’t tell you where to keep the various

panels. Many of our screen captures show floating panels so we can clearly focus on a specific issue.

Likewise, we typically don’t tell you what view percentage to use; you should use whatever you are

comfortable with to accomplish the specific goal of an exercise.
Defi ne a New Layout File

Some production-related concerns will dictate how you design a letterhead. If a
letterhead is being printed commercially, it’s probably being printed with multiple
copies on a large press sheet from which the individual letterhead sheets will be cut.

Most commercial printing happens this way. This type of printing typically means Note:

design elements can run right off the edge of the sheet, called bleeding. Some desktop printers
If you’re designing for a printer that can run only letter-size paper, you have to have a minimum mar-
allow enough of a margin area for your printer to hold the paper as it moves through gin at the page edges;
the device (called the gripper margin); in this case, you can’t design with bleeds. you’re usually safe with

The most basic process in designing a layout is creating a new InDesign file. The 3/8″.
New Document dialog box has a large number of options, and the following exercise
explains them. Don’t be overwhelmed by the length of this process; in later projects, Many newer inkjet

we simply tell you what settings to define without re-explaining every field. printers have the capa-
bility to print 8.5 1 11″
1. Download GCMarket_ID21_RF.zip from the Student Files web page. with full bleed. Consult
your printer documenta-
2. Expand the ZIP archive in your WIP folder (Macintosh), or copy the tion to be sure.
archive contents into your WIP folder (Windows).

This results in a folder named GCMarket, which contains all the files you need for
this project. You should also use this folder to save the files you create in this project.

If necessary, refer to Page 1 of the Interface chapter for specific information on

expanding or accessing the required resource files.

3. In InDesign, choose File>New>Document.
You have several options for

creating a new file:
• Choose File>New>
Document
• Use the associated
keyboard shortcut
Command/Control-N
• Click the Create New
button in the Home
screen
If the Home screen is visible, click
the Create New button to open the
New Document dialog box.

Project 1: Letterhead Design 25