First Graded Project

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• Goal of this project
  • Create a three-spreads document containing images and text on a topic of your choice.
  • Reuse the format (page guides, text styles, etc) already set up for the InDesign QuickTour document. Replace the text and photos with your own material (placing them on the appropriate layers).
  • To preserve the layout of the sample document, you want to leave all the frames where they are. To replace pictures and text, you will insert your material in the existing frames.
• Replacing pictures in frames
  • Select the frame whose content you want to change, and place in it one of the files created in the previous session.
    1. Use the selection tool (black arrow) to click on the frame.
       • If you can't select the frame, make sure its layer is not locked (no 'slashed pencil' icon next to the layer's name in the Layers palette).
       • If you plan to make changes to the frame or its contents, make sure it is not locked. If necessary, use Object-->Unlock Position.
    2. File-->Place. Turn on the 'Replace Selected Item' checkbox. Select and open the image file destined for the selected frame. The frame's old contents are lost, and replaced by the contents of the file you placed.
  • You can also move pictures already in the document (perhaps set aside on the pasteboard) into a frame.
    1. Unlock any items involved in this operation.
    2. Use the direct selection tool to click on a picture or text item.
    3. Edit-->Cut.
    4. Use the direct selection tool to click on the frame.
    5. Edit-->Paste Into. The frame's old contents are lost, and replaced by the contents of the clipboard.
  • If you want to hide the background of an image, add a clipping path to it.
    1. Use the direct selection tool to click on the picture frame.
    2. Object-->Clipping Path.
    3. Turn on the Preview checkbox to see the effect of your choices immediately.
    4. Choose 'Detect Edges' from the Type pop-up menu (this will work well only if the background is a uniformly light or dark color).
    5. If the program is hiding the parts of the picture you want to see, and showing the ones you want to hide, turn on the Invert checkbox.
    6. If there are areas within the foreground object(s) that you want to turn into transparent 'holes', turn on the Include Inside Edges checkbox.
    7. Drag the Threshold slider to determine how much of the image is hidden. Drag the Tolerance slider to adjust the shape of the outline around the visible areas.
    8. Click 'OK' to exit the dialog and apply the settings you picked. You can now further modify the clipping path by dragging its control points with the direct selection tool.
  • If the shape of a frame hides part of your picture, convert it to a box.
    1. Use the selection tool to click on the picture frame.
    2. Object-->Fitting-->Fit Frame to Content.
• Replacing text in frames
  1. Unlock any items involved in this operation.
  2. Use the text tool ('T') to click on the frame.
  3. Use Edit-->Select All to highlight all the text in the frame (and in other threaded frames, if any).
  4. File-->Place. Turn on the 'Replace Selected Item' checkbox. Select and open the text file destined for the selected frame. The frame's old contents are lost, and replaced by the contents of the file you placed.
  5. Apply stylesheets from the Paragraph Styles palette as appropriate.

How to turn in your projects

• All projects must be turned in for grading by the finals day for this class.
  • There are three projects you will be graded on.
  • Besides graded projects, hands-on activities for the course also include some ungraded exercises.
    • Exercises are just an opportunity to try out new skills, and you need not turn them in.
• Projects must be submitted on disk.
  • Since the instructor won't be able to return your work immediately, you may want to turn in a floppy disk instead of your valuable Zip disk. You will need to check out one of the USB floppy drives in the lab to transfer your files from one type of disk to the other.
  • In other words, you do not need to print out anything.
• Prepare your files as if you were sending them to a service bureau for final output:
  • The disk must be clearly labeled with your name and which project you are turning in.
  • You must include all the information that would be necessary to display and print the work properly:
    • All linked files--typically, photos and other raster images not embedded in the InDesign document.
    • Fonts used must be listed, either in a "Read Me" file, or on the disk label. A font listing should include foundry (if known), format, family, and style.
    • If you take advantage of the 'Package' feature of InDesign, these steps are automated.
  • You must not include any other irrelevant files and folders, or bury the project ten folders deep. If the instructor can't find it, it doesn't get graded.
• Only submit for review finished work that you want graded.
  • Everything you turn in is assumed to be your best effort, and graded accordingly.
  • Do not re-submit work previously graded--unless you have improved on it and wish it to be considered again. The new grade always replaces the previous one.

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This document originally at <http://www.sanedraw.com/LEARN/DTP_I/PRJCT1B/INDEX.HTM> Copyright 2004 by Sandro Corsi. Created 2004-02-08. Last modified 2004-02-24.