Welcome to the companion web site that accompanies the book, Instant InDesign, by Gabriel Powell. Here you'll find a growing library of video podcasts, downloadable exercise files, and short articles on Adobe InDesign.
Episode 5: Getting Cooler Color with InDesign CS4's Kuler Panel
October 31, 2008
This is one of a series of video podcasts dedicated to teaching you my favorite InDesign CS4 features. In this episode, you get an introduction to Kuler, an online community dedicated entirely to color. You'll also learn how to use InDesign CS4's new Kuler panel, which makes it easy and fun to create the perfect colors for any project.…
Read MorePosted in Color, Video Podcasts
Generating CSV Files that are Compatible with Data Merge
October 14, 2008
This question appeared in my inbox about a week ago. At first it had me completely baffled, because I had never seen the issue before. But, I have finally found an answer and would like to share it with everyone. Thanks to Otto from the Netherlands for bringing it to my attention.
"I encountered a problem with Data Merge which I am unable to solve. When I export a file out of Excel to a comma separated file (.csv), I end up with a semicolon (;) separated file instead of a comma (,) separated file. When I import that file into the Data Merge panel, the fields are not imported properly."
– Otto, The Netherlands
The easiest way around this issue is to simply save your Excel file as a tab delimited text file, which is perfectly compatible with Data Merge. However, I prefer working with CSV files since they are easier to open and edit in Excel. So, why do the CSV files that Otto exports use semicolons, while the files I export use commas?
… Read MorePosted in Questions/Answers, Data Merge
Episode 4: Creating an Automatic Numbered List
August 31, 2008
Numbered lists provide an excellent way to organize information, but producing them can be demanding work. Thanks to InDesign, you can entirely automate the list creation process.
This episode teaches you how to use the Bullets and Numbering feature to create a complex multilevel numbered list. You'll also learn to create a series of paragraph styles that can be used together to automatically number and format the list. If you produce technical manuals or textbooks, you definitely want to check out this episode.…
Read MorePosted in Text, Style Sheets, Automation, Video Podcasts
Interview with Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel on the Author Talk Podcast
August 06, 2008
Peachpit publisher, Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel, recently interviewed me about my book, Instant InDesign. Nancy's podcast, Author Talk, features interviews with authors about their latest works, techniques, and technologies. In this interview, we talk about the book's features, the importance of templates, and the principles of great template design. Click here to listen to the interview…
Read MorePosted in News/Announcements
Seven Principles of Great Template Design
July 29, 2008
Great templates are created through a carefully planned combination of individual tools and technologies. Like a machine, all of the various parts work so well together that when using it, everything seems to be operating from a single intelligence.
To succeed in perfecting your page production machine, it's important to understand some of the foundational principles that support the creation of quality templates. Use the seven principles covered in this article to guide the decisions you make throughout the template construction process.…
Read MorePosted in Book Excerpts
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