Adobe InDesign was first released in 1999 as desktop publishing software. At the time of its release, it was used to lay out print publications. However, in recent years, it’s been used to create digital publications, such as ebooks and presentations. InDesign is best for text-heavy documents and is limited in graphic design creation and editing capabilities that are best suited to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
What is the purpose of Adobe InDesign?
Design professionals use InDesign to create page layouts. Components, such as vector graphics and images are edited with Illustrator and Photoshop, respectively, and are imported into InDesign to complement the text. For example, a single page of a textbook may feature images edited with Photoshop, blocks of reading text positioned in InDesign, and a vector graphic with review questions created in Illustrator. If your document consists of blocks and paragraphs of text, even if it’s just one page, InDesign is best suited to the task.
What can you do in Adobe InDesign?
- Create books with pages of text, supported by images
- Design layout of columns of text and graphics
- Create digital handouts, such as PDFs and presentations
- Design print collateral, such as brochures
- Lay out books, magazines, and newspapers
- Build eBooks, newsletters
- Develop Multi-page Templates
Adobe InDesign vs. Illustrator
For many people, the line between Illustrator and InDesign is not always clear. Since both programs are capable of designing typography and text layout, it may seem the two applications are interchangeable. However, there are limitations on both sides. InDesign has limited graphic editing features.
- If you find that your document is mostly graphics, with single lines of text rather than blocks, Illustrator may be a better fit.
- If your document consists of multiple pages or you require the ability to add page-numbers and create templates InDesign is a better fit.
Adobe Photoshop vs. InDesign
InDesign and Photoshop couldn’t be more different, but thanks to the latter’s popularity, many are unaware that InDesign exists. Adobe Photoshop is best suited to tasks that involve editing images or web graphics. If you’re adding text to an image or graphic, then it may be best to use Photoshop. However, if the purpose is to enhance a page of text, it’s better to assemble images in Photoshop and insert them into InDesign.
InDesign Classes in New York City
InDesign in a Day provides an overview of the application and its most popular features. In this hands-on course, you’ll design a multi-page magazine ad and book layout. By the end of the course, you’ll not only know how to use InDesign, but you’ll also have valid proof and samples for your portfolio.
The InDesign Bootcamp delves deeper into the features of InDesign. In this three-day course, students will work on the magazine advertisement and book layout, adding advanced features to each project. For example, students will learn how to create a table of contents and add additional text styles to their book.
In addition to InDesign classes, students can take advantage of private tutoring to work on specific projects or invest in targeted training to fill knowledge gaps. Aspiring graphic designers can enroll in the Graphic Design Certificate program, which include lessons in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
You can register for Adobe InDesign classes at our sister school, Noble Desktop, in Midtown.