Adobe InDesign CC - Level 2

Overview

This 1 day, intermediate, hands-on course continues based on Level 1, with the core features of 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

• Adobe InDesign CC Level 1 or equivalent experience.
• Access to Adobe Indesign CC (newer version).
• Having an understanding 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:

• Create advanced paragraph, character, and object styles
• Use nested styles, GREP styles, and style groups
• Build and format tables and cells
• Use anchored objects and inline graphics
• Manage long documents using Book files, TOC, and cross-references
• Use Advanced Typography: OpenType features, glyphs, and text flow options
• Create interactive PDFs with buttons, hyperlinks, and simple animation
• Use transparency, effects, and advanced color settings
• Automate workflows using libraries, snippets, and data merge

Course Outline

Module 1 - Advanced Styles

Paragraph styles: nested styles, GREP styles

Character styles for emphasis

Object styles for consistent graphic frames

Importing styles from other documents

Style groups for organization

Module 2 - Tables and Advanced Formatting

Creating and formatting tables

Cell styles and table styles

Merging, splitting, alternating fills

Importing tables from Excel

Inline vs anchored objects

Module 3 - Long Documents and Automation

Book files (synchronizing styles across chapters)

Build a Table of Contents (TOC)

Create Index entries

Cross-references

Section markers and numbering

Module 4 - Advanced Typography

OpenType features (ligatures, stylistic alternates)

Glyphs panel

Baseline grid and vertical justification

Hyphenation and justification best practices

Optical margin alignment

Module 5 - Graphics, Effects and Color

Transparency and blend modes

Drop shadows, glow, bevel

Working with spot colors and color management

Exporting for color accuracy

Using CC Libraries for shared brand assets

Module 6 - Interactive Documents

Adding hyperlinks

Buttons (rollover, click events)

Page transitions

Exporting interactive PDFs

Basic animation using Object States (optional depending on version)

Module 7 - Data Merge, Libraries and Automation

Using Data Merge with CSV/Excel files

Creating reusable snippets

Creating and using CC Libraries

Workflow automation best practices

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.