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adelm
adelm
Participant
May 27, 2018
Question

What is the Best way to use InDesign

  • May 27, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 436 views

hello everyone,

I'm planning to use InDesign (for first time) to format and publish my 100-page paper which contains text, tables, charts and figures (images).

What is the best way to do it.

Is it better to use word processing program for the draft version then move to InDesign for formatting and printing? or to do the paper from scratch in the InDesign?

Thank you..

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    M
    Malcolm Whild
    Participating Frequently
    May 27, 2018

    Hi,

    I think it's probably best to do the actual writing  in a word processor that you're comfortable with using - then you won't be distracted by trying to do simple things that you know how to do in a word processor but don't know how to do in Indesign.

    Before you get started on that though, it will make it a lot easier for you if you use styles in your word processor - use them consistently and don't be tempted to manually override. If you can't achieve what you want by using your existing styles then you need to make a new one. It's a difficult balance between too many styles and not enough, and I'm afraid that it only comes with experience.

    Be warned though - Indesign has a fairly steep learning curve - this is an ambitious project for a first time.

    Good luck - lots of helpful people on this forum.

    Malcolm

    adelm
    adelmAuthor
    Participant
    May 27, 2018

    Thank you Malcolm. Probably I’ll give the draft to an Indesign expert for final formatting and touche. So for the draft, I’II use word processor with styles, insert my tables and charts normally then I move to indesign for final format, pages margins, page numbers, footers, etc. is it right? In other words, what to give to the indesign expert and what to leave for him/her to make the paper ready for printing? Thank you ...

    M
    Malcolm Whild
    Participating Frequently
    May 27, 2018

    Tables - yes - they will come through into Indesign ready for your styling.

    Charts & figures - maybe not - strictly speaking they would be separate elements and should be linked (file>place) into Indesign. This will keep your Indesign file size small. If you import them from word you might well end up with an unwieldy and possibly unstable file - same goes for if you copy and paste them because they will embed.

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