Denver InDesign User Group

Meeting Summary

Event Details

A. Meeting Business
We were so close to meeting our attendance goal at this meeting! When the 50-member mark is hit, there will be a free drawing for a copy of Adobe Creative Suite CS3, which has a retail cost of about $1,200! We're almost there and we have no doubt we'll make it next time, so spread the word and be sure to join us in August!

Don't forget about the Denver InDesign User Group Web site www.idugdenver.net for announcements, a community forum, and more. This is where you can get the most up-to-date information about anything going on in our group.

Bring a friend and get $5 in Auction Bucks to use on any of the wonderful books and software available at each meeting's auction. Auction Bucks can even be applied to the full version of InDesign CS3.

The product auction was a success! We had all types of products and software available for bid and raised around $300. We auctioned off a variety of items, everything from books to InDesign plug-ins to iPod and iPhone accessories to trade magazine subscriptions. The money raised goes to help support our meetings (food, venue, and speakers). Thank you to everyone who bid! There will be a variety of items available at each meeting. Before the meeting some of the items available for auction will be available for preview at www.idugdenver.net/forum.

We are also looking to starting up a marketing committee to help publicize the meetings and bring more people into the loop. If you have any suggestions or would like to be a part of this committee, please send an e-mail to admin@idugdenver.net.

We need more volunteers: someone to shoot video on occasion and someone to help with food set up. If you are interested, please send an e-mail to admin@idugdenver.net.

Want to continue a meeting discussion after the meeting? We are carrying over all the fun to the Exchange Tavern in Westminster between Federal and Sheridan Blvds on 120th. They provide us with delicious specialty coffee and other beverages at our meetings. The Exchange Tavern is a locally owned and operated Irish Pub, serving great Irish fare, full bar, and coffeehouse specialties. The pub is equipped with Wi-Fi throughout (as well as electrical access and even wired internet connections at every table.)

Share and post your work on our user group site www.idugdenver.net/forum.

Have a meeting topic that you would like to see covered or would you like to do a presentation? Please send an e-mail to admin@idugdenver.net. Please be sure to fill out your evaluation forms each meeting to let your voice be heard!

B. Presentations:
1. Extreme Makeover Presentation Edition
Presenters: Kevin Zirker and Peter Lynch from AIMCO

Presentation Summary:
Make your presentation engaging and interesting while giving the audience the important information. There are many things to consider when creating your presentation: Your Audience-What is the information that you want your audience to leave with? How are you going to present the information? How you are going to present the information?

Presentations and slideshows don't have to be dull, fact-filled, and busy. They can be concise, interesting, engaging, and still remain informative. You need to sell your ideas in the most effective manner possible. You have to remember that you are the presentation, not the slideshow. Make your presentation visual and engaging by using descriptive words, create good design, practice before your presentation, and focus.

One thing to remember is that the slideshow is not the take-away. Create separate documents for your audience if needed. When planning your presentation, make a storyboard to add the details to the main points. While presenting use storytelling to illustrate a point and images to create a memory. But the main thing to remember when doing a slideshow presentation is practice, practice, practice to help everything go more smoothly!

2. Using InDesign for a Slideshow Presentation
Presenter: Brian Reyman
Brian is co-chair of the Denver InDesign User Group as well as a Director at AIMCO, a large Real Estate Investment Trust. At AIMCO, Brian oversees graphic design, content development, and technology for their Technical Standards team.

Presentation Summary:
Why use InDesign for a slideshow presentation? Flexibility, easier to create Master Pages, ability to pull in any kind of graphics (including flash animations) and video. Why use PowerPoint? Easier templates to use, more user friendly for the novice, and the ability to add slide transitions.

First, in InDesign create a new document sized 10 x 7.5 (File > New Document). Make sure "Facing Pages" is unchecked. Then create Master Pages with whatever elements you want to remain consistent. In this type of document, images can have a lower resolution (72 DPI) because it will be viewed onscreen. If you need to print the document for the audience, the DPI will have to be higher (at least 150). Always consider the end usage when determining resolution!

Like PowerPoint, you can create a notes section that you can print off for yourself. Go to File > Document Set Up. In the dialog box, click "More Options" if you don't see "bleed settings," and make only the bottom bleed setting 5". The flexibility in what you can add to your document is greater than in PowerPoint. After you add all of your elements and content to your document, you will create a PDF. In Acrobat you can add additional video, set up slide transitions, and more. Set your document to full-screen and you are ready to go!

Thank You

Dan Mulligan, Yellow Dog Printing, for the awesome banner
Erika Barnard for taking the meeting and auction notes
Julie Geary for being the greeter at each meeting
Robert MacLeay for taking the great photos
Kevin Zirker and Peter Lynch, AIMCO, our guest speakers
All of our members for making our little InDesign community great!

Comments from the evaluation sheets

"...it was fantastic and helpful. I can think of so many who need to see something like it."

"Peter and Kevin did a great job."

"Excellent presentation on...presentations! Much needed...spread the word - they should broadcast that presentation on every media outlet!"

"The presentation-presentation was very good. It was helpful to see how to use InDesign for slideshows."

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, August 5. If anyone has meeting feedback, questions, or if you just want to pass along some useful information that might benefit the group, please visit our chapter's website at: www.idugdenver.net.

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