Toronto InDesign User Group

Meeting Notes Archive

February 7, 2007

Overview

This second meeting for the Toronto Chapter of the IDUG boasted an impressive registration number of 149, with about 100 people confirmed attended.

I have done my best to summarize the events of the meeting below, however I know there is much I missed. It was hard to get it all down due to the rich presentation by Sebastian and the fantastic interaction with the members!

InDesign Tips and Tricks

Sebastian asked the members what the shortcut for selecting all the text within a text frame, all the way until the end of the story, including overset text
- The answer: cmd Shift n (ctrl shift end)
Adobe Graphics Model AGM - display PDF. This is what InDesign is based on, and is responsible for the highly accurate display on screen.
ID is object based, and modular.
Because ID is object-based, there are multiple ways to do the same thing, and many functions within ID are infinitely modifiable.
You can drag and drop files into an ID page (no need to "place")
- From finder, desktop, email app, etc.
- Some questions were asked about this functionality with regards to Library files, and as a result there was a great interaction with questions about Libraries and various functions
Fills and strokes were discussed, along with some single key and multiple key shortcuts:
- x: toggles between stroke and fill focus
- d: resets strokes and fills defaults
- cmd (ctrl) shift a: deselect all
cmd (ctrl) y: text-editor
Stroke styles - you can create your own strokes, or modify some of the preset strokes
You can set the stroke to be inside or outside of a text-frame
Contextual menus were discussed
Direct select tool shortcuts:
- v: move objects
- a: pan a graphic
Fills and strokes were discussed, along with some single key and multiple key shortcuts:
- x: toggles between stroke and fill focus
- d: resets strokes and fills defaults
- cmd shift a: deselect all
Kerning and tracking shortcuts were discussed
Some suggestions were made for product improvements
cmd opt shift apostrophe toggles smart quotes off and on
If text frame is not linked to another, you can modify the text just by selecting the text frame, not the text itself
Text wrap options - using alpha channels to leverage channels from PS files, and can invert the results at a touch of a button

InDesign integration with Bridge

CS3 bridge
- Filter through metadata (e.g. PhotoShop only, landscape images), can "pin" these settings
- Play media files through bridge
- Can zoom in on images
Can fix dust in camera RAW filter
PhotoShop CS3
- Dockable palettes can be docked left/right
- Quick select tool - like magic wand on steroids
- Non-destructive editing
- Refine edge - preview edge before applying
- Convert layers for smart filters
  - when you apply a filter, can be turned off and on, no destructive editing
- panoramic pictures
  - auto align images
  - auto blend images

FREE PDF files!

Macintosh
InDesign Shortcuts
Nine hundred and eighty-six possibilities
Download [PDF: 831 MB]

Windows
InDesign Shortcuts
Nine hundred and twenty possibilities
Download [PDF: 831 MB]

Wrap Up

The evening wrapped up with a variety of prize giveaways, courtesy of Adobe. There was some informal discussion afterwards as the meeting room slowly emptied. Feedback forms were collected.

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