Adobe InDesign CC - Level 1

Overview

This 1 day, beginner-friendly, hands-on course introduces participants to the core tools and workflows in Adobe InDesign CC.

This course uses the current version of Adobe InDesign CC. Participants using versions beginning with 2013 should be able to follow, although some of the newest features may not be available in older versions.

Adobe InDesign CC is a professional desktop publishing software widely used for creating and designing layouts for print and digital media. Part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite, it offers powerful tools for typography, image placement, and page composition, making it ideal for producing magazines, brochures, books, posters, and interactive PDFs. InDesign supports advanced features like master pages, styles, and precise control over text and graphics, enabling designers to maintain consistency across complex projects. Its integration with other Adobe applications, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, streamlines workflows, while collaborative features and cloud storage enhance team productivity and accessibility.

Prerequisites

• Solid familiarity with Windows or Mac computing is required.
• Access to Adobe InDesign CC (newer version).
• Having an understanding of graphic design principles (layout, color theory, typography), print and digital media fundamentals (resolution, bleed, margins), and basic project organization skills will be beneficial.

Learning Objectives

Through the use of hands-on exercises, participants will learn to:

• Navigate the InDesign workspace and understand panels, tools, and views
• Create new documents with correct page size, margins, columns, and bleed
• Place and format text using frames, threading, and text styles
• Insert and manipulate images within frames
• Apply basic paragraph and character styles
• Work with colors, swatches, and simple object formatting
• Create master pages and apply them to control repeated layout elements
• Prepare basic documents for print or export to PDF

Course Outline

Module 1 - Introduction to InDesign and Workspace

What InDesign is used for (print, digital, publishing)

Workspace Essentials: Tools, Control panel, Properties panel

Panels: Pages, Layers, Links, Swatches

Navigating documents (zoom, scroll, hand tool)

Understanding frames: text frames vs graphic frames

Module 2 - Creating a New Document

Page size, orientation, margins, columns, bleed

Facing vs non-facing pages

Working with rulers, guides, and grids

Single-page vs multi-page layouts

Module 3 - Working with Text

Creating and resizing text frames

Placing text (File > Place)

Threading text frames (overset text, in/out ports)

Text formatting: font, size, leading, kerning, tracking

Basic paragraph options (space, alignment, indents)

Module 4 - Working with Images and Graphic Frames

Placing and linking images

Understanding the Links panel

Fitting options (Fill Frame Proportionally, Fit Content Proportionally)

Managing image resolution (effective vs actual PPI)

Shapes, rounded corners, stroke and fill basics

Module 5 - Color, Swatches and Basic Styles

Creating and applying color swatches

CMYK vs RGB vs Spot colors

Applying tints and gradients

Basics of paragraph and character styles

Editing styles for consistency

Module 6 - Master Pages and Reusable Layouts

Creating and editing Master Pages

Adding automatic page numbering

Applying Masters to document pages

Adjusting local overrides

Module 7 - Preparing Files for Output

Preflight panel basics

Packaging files (links, fonts)

Export to PDF (print and interactive)

File formats overview

ON-TRACK Corporate Training has a diverse and flexible schedule that can be customized to your needs. We offer group courses (both public and corporate), one-on-one training, virtual (on-line) classroom (Zoom etc.) and on-site training options. We also have easily accessible on-line training videos on OnTrackTV.