InDesign: Creating a New Document

Creating a new document might be difficult for some individuals, and here is a hopefully quick and easy explanation on how to do so within InDesign.

In my previous tutorial InDesign: The Startup Screen you learned the many functions of the helpful startup screen. One of those functions within the create new section is creating a new document, and once you click that a window opens. You can access this window through clicking document in the startup screen, but also through the key board shortcut Ctrl + N (Windows) or Command + Option + N (Mac). You can also just go to File > New > Document. And the window below will appear:

This is the new document window within InDesign CS5.5.

Within this window there are initially four sections, but if you press more options a fifth section will show (this is displayed in the image above). Below I will explain in detail which each of these sections do and how they change the document set up.

InDesign: The Startup Screen

If you a new individual looking to begin using InDesign there is a basic thing that everyone needs to know about and that is the startup screen. There are several options within this screen that shortcuts to many of the options that might take three or four steps to get too.

Here is what the startup screen for InDesign CS 5.5 looks like on a Windows machine.

This is the startup screen for InDesign CS5.5.

This screen varies from version to version but the functions pretty much stay the same.

This screen lets you reopen recently closed file, start new documents, books, and libraries, access the InDesign Adobe Community, and view tutorials. Below I will explain what each section does and why it is so handy.

To Open a Recent Document you can shortcut your process by clicking here on an old file.

OPEN A RECENT ITEM

The Open Recent Item section lets users within the startup screen access their recently opened InDesign files. This allows users to have easy access to these files, and removes unnecessary file hunting from your day. Seen in the image to the right are a few of my recently opened files. If I click on any of them the file will open up, and I don’t have to go diving within my enormous amounts of file folders to find them.

CREATE NEW

The Create New section lets users create the three main document types of InDesign files: document, book, or library.

Adobe Suite: Paragraph Formatting

InDesign is known out of all the Adobe Suite programs to be the text editor; however Photoshop and Illustrator also are great character and paragraph formatting programs. To find out more about character formatting, click here to see my tutorial from last week. Paragraph formatting is a powerful tool and when used properly can give users the options for alignments, indents, spacing, hyphenations, and more. So today I will be talking specifically about paragraph formatting through the Paragraph Window.

ACCESSING THE PARAGRAPH WINDOWS

Accessing the paragraph window within each program varies, but here is how to access them:

• InDesign- Windows > Type & Tables > Paragraph
• Photoshop- Windows > Paragraph
• Illustrator- Windows > Type > Paragraph

When using the Type Tool you can also easily access the paragraph settings, through the Control (AKA Options) Window. Here are some images and instructions how to get the paragraph settings within the control window for InDesign and Illustrator. Please NOTE that Photoshop does not offer a paragraph setting option within the control window.

Adobe Suite: Formatting Text

The Adobe Suite is a powerful tool, and within the suite there are tools that are applicable in several of the programs. Today I would like to talk about Formatting Text, which along with the Type Tool is a universal application in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. To format text you have several options and functions. These functions are imperative to making your text look good but also fit within the required space you need. All of the functions I will talk about today are located in the Character Window, which allows you to format text.

ACCESSING THE CHARACTER WINDOW

To format text the Character Window is the tool you will most likely enjoy using. Above is a photo of each Character Window in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

To access the character window for each program go to the Window Tab on the Menu Bar. In Photoshop just click Window > Character, Illustrator Window > Type > Character, and InDesign go to Window > Type & Tables > Character.

These functions are also available when using the Type Tool and are located in the dock right below the Menu Bar.

Here is the Menu Bar for editing text within InDesign, which is a more in depth text editor.

InDesign: Creating Space Through Margins

When working with text in InDesign it is important to remember margins throughout your work. Margins allow separation between different text boxes and columns. And for me as a layout designer there are a few shortcuts and rules of thumb that come in handy.

PAGE MARGINS

For me remembering to set up my page margins is difficult especially when you are initially setting up the document. The New Document frame (below), gives you the option in the second to the bottom section labeled Margins. If you want different margins for each side, remember to unclick the little link button in the center of the section.

This is the initial menu for InDesign, where you have the option at the second to bottom menu section to set up your margins.

Adobe Suite: Creating A Custom Text Box

If you read the post on Using the Pen Tool, you might have learned that along with the Pen Tool − which allows users to create their own vector shapes − there are several other interchangeable tools that exist for the three main Adobe programs (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign). Today though I would like to show you how the Pen Tool and the Type Tool, both interchangeable can be combined in the three programs to create a custom text box.

NOTE: Most of this tutorial will be done within Illustrator unless noted.

CREATING THE SHAPE

To create your custom text box you must first create either a shape or line. With the Type Tool alone you can only truly create either a rectangular or lined text box. You can use the typical rectangle tool, rounded rectangle tool, ellipse tool, polygon tool, star tool, etc. Within each program these options will vary, however the ones shown below are for Illustrator.

Above are the shape options within Illustrator.

To create the shape in any of the programs just select the shape you would like, then click and drag to create it on the canvas of the file.

The Pen Tool can also be utilized to create custom shaped text boxes. Please refer back to my tutorial on using the Pen Tool for a more details, you can find it here!

If you’ve created a shape, then we are ready to add text!

ADDING TEXT

To add text to just the shapes within any of the programs, just select the shape and then the Type Tool. Place the cursor over the text box’s outline and then click. You should then be able to type within the shape.

Here is an example using a circle:

Here is text written inside of a circle.

Adobe Suite: Using the Pen Tool

Some might not know this, but Adobe has many tools that are universal between the three main design programs: Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Even though they all handle different types of designs—Illustrator does vectors, Photoshop is photo editing and for some a painting program, and InDesign is a design text editor— all three are pretty much compatible and several of their tools perform the same functions. Some examples are the Type tool, the Pen tool, the Eyedropper tool, the Pencil tool, etc. However the main one today I would like to feature is the Pen tool.

The Pen tool is a tool that is typically something that a designer either loves or hates. I personally have a love hate relationship with it. And is an interesting feature, because it allows you to create your own shapes, vector images, and allows you to easily trace images. But you can also create text boxes with it as well.

Today’s tutorial though will cover the basics of the Pen tool, which is universally applicable to Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and After Effects. Since I have no experience with Adobe After Effects, I suggest going to this Adobe TV link for more information. However, if you would like to find out more about the other programs continue reading below. I will be showing the information in this tutorial through Adobe Illustrator, everything I will be doing is applicable in Photoshop and InDesign.

THE BASICS

The Pen Tool has several settings that help create shapes and effects. If you’ve never used the Pen Tool before, or are completely new to the Adobe Suite this is what it looks like in Adobe Illustrator:

The Pen Tool is an essential item for any designer that uses Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator. This is the location of the Pen Tool in Illustrator.

The Pen Tool looks pretty much the same in Photoshop and InDesign, with the same features, just located in different places.