How to Customize Your Workspace Using Adobe InDesign

If you use the same tools repeatedly and want to de-clutter your workspace, rearrange the size and position of your favorite palettes. Adobe InDesign is a terrific way to customize your workspace, planning each aspect of it for complete functionality.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe InDesign CS2
• Windows XP

Open and Resize Palettes

1. Launch Adobe InDesign.

2. A workspace consists of the document window, menu bar and palettes. By default, the Tools and Control palettes are displayed after you launch Adobe InDesign. The options in the context-sensitive control palette will vary depending on the type of object you have selected.
   
   Select SWATCHES from the Window menu.

3. Move the mouse pointer over the Swatches palette border until the double-edged arrow appears. With the double-edged arrow displayed, click and drag the border up or down to resize the palette. Click the SWATCHES tab again to hide the palette.

Create Custom Palette

4. Select TRANSPARENCY from the Window menu. Reopen the SWATCHES palette. Resize the Transparency and Swatches palettes so that they do not overlap.

5. Select PARAGRAPH from the Type menu. Use the maximize button on the blue bar of the Paragraph palette to expand the palette, if necessary.

6. Open the GLYPHS palette from the Type menu.

7. Drag and drop the SWATCHES tab into the GLYPHS palette. Drag the PARAGRAPH tab into the Glyphs palette. Drag the TRANSPARENCY tab into the Glyphs palette. You cannot merge one palette into another. You must drag and drop the individual tabs.

8. Allow the new palette you created (Swatches, Glyphs, Paragraph and Transparency tabs) to remain open. Close or hide all other remaining palettes (except the Tools and Control palettes).