How to Improve Adobe InDesign Skills

To improve Adobe InDesign skills, you must thumb through the manual or reference book and determine what’s in your skill set and what’s lacking. Which skills you decide to focus on will depend on the types of projects you will produce. In longer publications that are more text-heavy, you will focus on master plans and style sheets. However, if the publication makes use of photos, it is essential to practice importing and handling various formats and sizes of photographs and graphics.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe InDesign manual and/or reference book
• High-resolution digital images

Instructions

1. Locate an InDesign manual and purchase a user-friendly reference guide that will help improve Adobe InDesign skills. Thumb through these texts and make note of which things you need improvement in; determine specific goals and deadlines for reaching each milestone.

2. Begin the first lesson by selecting skills that will be most utilized, or the weakest skill in your arsenal. It is often useful to ask a coworker, supervisor or a friend with design expertise for feedback on which topics need the most work.

3. Create a faux project that most resembles something that would be accomplished on the job and that uses the skill that is being studied. For these purposes, gather a couple of digital images and story text, although there is a function on the program that allows you to import dummy text. Use the manual and reference text as needed.

4. Save the file and print. These two steps are where many glitches will arise. You will learn which file types are easier to use, which printer settings will achieve the required effect and other useful aspects that can only be learned through trial and error.

5. Evaluate the results with the final hard copy of the project. Highlight any strength and weaknesses, consulting workplace peers, supervisors or fellow designers if necessary. If the skill isn't up to snuff, do it again until the desired effect is achieved.

Tips & Warnings

• Adobe InDesign classes are often given through local community colleges and other continuing education venues such as local schools and the public library.

Resources

• Adobe InDesign