Learning InDesign

[AndyM]

Just wanted to pop in here and let you guys know that the Adobe website (www.adobe.com) has a 30-day free trail of InDesign that can be ordered.

InDesign is a lot like PageMaker - only bigger, stronger and less sucky. If you can use Ventura, PM, Quark, Photoshop or Illustrator, the learning curve will be pretty quick.

Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign use pretty much the toolbars and the skills port pretty well from program to program.

I believe that there's an InDesign Bible (put out by the same people who put out Photoshop Bible - I think). These books are excellent teachers -- so long as you can refer back to the program.

Andy

[Sketchpad]

Gotta agree with ya Andy ... InDesign is a great program and very adaptable for anyone used to the Adobe format :) Now if only it'd blow Quark out of the water ;)

[Nato]

How DOES it compare to Quark? I've always felt Quark to be bit clunky and counter-intuitive.

[Super Squirrel]

It is better than Quark.

[Sketchpad]

Originally posted by Nato
How DOES it compare to Quark? I've always felt Quark to be bit clunky and counter-intuitive.

Quark IS clunky ;) InDesign is more streamlined and follows in suit with most of the Adobe products ... if you know how to use Quark and any Adobe software, you can pick up InDesign and do some serious work on it. Importing information is also quite easy, as well as PDF exporting, which is SO easy :) I highly recommend it to any designers out there

[keithcurtis]

Originally posted by Super Squirrel
It is better than Quark.

Unless you want to work with other printers and designers...

Seriously, I went to the rollout of Indesign 1.0 and it was seriously lacking in professional level tools. I have heard that 2.0 addressed all of these issues, but I haven't had a chance to try it out.

Although I am a diehard Quarker, I will give Indesign two plusses. It is OSX-native and it works well with other Adobe products.

I have no idea how "plug-in-able" it is. Quark's programability is what makes it the vehicle of choice for most publications.


Keith"Either one kicks Pagemaker heine" Curtis

[John Desmarais]

Originally posted by keithcurtis
Unless you want to work with other printers and designers...

Seriously, I went to the rollout of Indesign 1.0 and it was seriously lacking in professional level tools. I have heard that 2.0 addressed all of these issues, but I haven't had a chance to try it out.


I never used InDesign 1.0, only 2.0 - and it is a slick piece of work. Very intuitive and easy to learn, it's now my DTP of choice (although a small part of my soul still misses Ventura).

John Desmarais

[Crimson-Hawk]

I just wanted to thank you all for this thread. It's given me food for thought. I plan on eventually picking up both InDesign and the InDesign Bible. As a matter of fact, theres a large Barnes & Nobles store just down the street from me... I might pick it up tomorrow! :D