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hollyc25643971
Participating Frequently
January 29, 2018
Answered

Creating large print documents

  • January 29, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 2515 views

I'm trying to find a way to create large print documents to meet accessibility standards, preferably exported from my original InDesign file. Is there any sort of plug-in or tool that can be used to achieve this?

The publications I work on are initially created in InDesign for print with the body copy laid out at 12pt but I need to be able to create a 16-18pt large print version to meet accessibility standards. At present, all I can do is simply copy and paste into a Word doc and increase the font size/style as necessary but this is obviously time-consuming. I'm hoping someone can help me with a much quicker way of doing this!

Many thanks in advance.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer vinny38

I don't need the design/layout to remain, I need it stripped it back so it ends up as text at 18pt in one column across the page. I can't really keep the layout at that size, the two columns will be unhelpful and possibly confusing for the reader. I essentially need to get the text into a plain, continuous 18pt layout in it's final state. That's what I'm trying to achieve after it's all been laid out.


Right, then why not setting your body text paragraph style as 18pt and use the Span column feature?

2 replies

Jongware
Community Expert
JongwareCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 29, 2018

hollyc25643971  wrote

At present, all I can do is simply copy and paste into a Word doc and increase the font size/style as necessary but this is obviously time-consuming. I'm hoping someone can help me with a much quicker way of doing this!

Is "so do this in InDesign" the kind of suggestion you are looking for? I cannot imagine any possible advantages it would have to edit font sizes in Word over doing the exact same thing in InDesign.

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hollyc25643971Author
Participating Frequently
January 29, 2018

Thanks for your response but no – I've attached an example showing how it's not quite as simple as that... would appreciate your thoughts?

vinny38
vinny38
Legend
January 29, 2018

Do you use CC2018?

If so, I guess you could create a style for your subhead bar using rounded paragraph border and make it span over your two columns?

Then, increasing your body text size should reflow everything properly?

Or am I missing something? ^^

BTW, screenshots are great, but using the Normal view is even greater...

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 29, 2018

The proper use of styles should make it relatively easy. Increase the base font and leading and let the document autoflow.

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hollyc25643971Author
Participating Frequently
January 29, 2018

Thanks for the response. Sorry I should have included an example page to show you what I'm working with. I'm using styles etc properly but the text doesn't flow in continuous text boxes as each section is separated by a sub head bar. As I'm sure you can imagine everything jumps around and misaligns causing more work. Do you see what I mean? The large print version doesn't need to layout the same as this, it's just needs to be exported in some way like into a Word doc so it can be easily read as a whole in a larger font. That's why instead of just adjusting my styles, I've been chucking the final version into a Word doc and styling. This is far easier than messing around InDesign so far...

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 29, 2018

I'm not sure what your guidelines are but if this has to be printed, there is simply no easy way to do this.

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