Software Tip of the Month - April 2009

This month’s tip is for Adobe InDesign.

        In the Edit menu there is a handy tool called “Step and Repeat”. If you need to set a bunch of shapes or objects in a single row, single column or grid this tool can make it faster. To start create an object on the page. Once you have that object created make sure it is selected and go to Edit --> Step and Repeat. In the dialog box that pops up choose how many repeats you want (The repeats are in addition to the original shape), the horizontal offset (Spacing from the left edge of one object to the next, horizontally), and the vertical offset (Spacing from the left edge of on object to the next, vertically). So lets set up an example. You want to make a horizontal row of four, 1 inch squares and you want there to be a 1/4 inch gap between them. Make the first square, go to step and repeat and enter the following: Repeat count = 3, Horizontal Offset = 1.25 in, Vertical Offset = 0 inches. If you check the preview box you can see the results and make sure that they are what you need. To make a grid you simply select the row of boxes that were created and follow the same steps except for the offset values. Change the Horizontal Offset to zero and the Vertical Offset to 1.25 inches. This will create multiple rows of blocks. This gives you a four by four grid of squares.

        Next month I’ll show you a cool way to use this to make interesting image graphics.

Software tip of the Month - March 2009

        So we at LMCB are starting a new monthly feature for the site. Over the past few years I have been to several conferences. I usually make it a point to make it to the InDesign or Photoshop sessions. I have learned what I know about these programs from these sessions, books, and talking with others who use the programs. So the Tip of the month will share some of that information.

        This month’s tip is simple but extremely time saving. Did I say it’s simple? Alt key and Drag. Got it? Alt and drag. This combination in InDesign allows you to click on an element while holding the alt key and drag to make a duplicate immediately. It is actually faster that copy and pasting the old way. As I continued to play with this I found that it works in the OS as well. In OS X if you Alt drag it will make a copy of the file folder, etc. In XP if you hold control and drag it will do the same thing in the OS, but in In Design it should be Alt drag (I’m not a PC confident as Mac confident).

Printing Time

So we have gotten to the time of year when the printer comes around. I would be interested to here from you how your magazine is printed. Do you do it yourself? Do you use an Internet printer? Do you use a local printer?
Our philosophy (The advisers) is to use a local printer. We feel it is important to keep our business in the area. In the past, we have had problems with a local printer, only to have another local printer come to our rescue. After that company was bought out we found another local print shop and we are now working with them for a second year.
We met with our account representative from the printer last evening. He came to the school to talk with us. We outlined our ideas with the rep and looked at samples. I cannot tell you how important it is to be able to have a face to face. We were able to see and touch actual samples of the cover stock and text stock that we wanted to use in this years mag. We were able to talk about the paper size and the colors we wanted to use.
The other benefit that we found, with our present printer, is the technological aspect of printing. We are able to work on our file in Adobe InDesign CS at school, burn it on a CD and send it to them. They pull it into their system and we have a proof in a few days. Now it's gotten better! The have an FTP site that we can upload the file to! That means that when we are finished we send it to their server and they pull it down. The amount of time that this saves us, from even two years ago, is staggering. Going from printing our magazine completely ourselves, to sending the file electronically, in less than three years?!

Find a printer that will talk to you. Better yet find a printer that will sit down and show you printing and paper samples. The printer has probably done this for a while and can help you with problems as they arise.