Adobe InDesign CS3 One-on-One |
 |
 click here for more details, find new or used items |
Deke McClelland
|
|
Pages: 560 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0596529767
Pub: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
Pub date: 2007-12-14
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 19426
Reader Reviews:
Thorough book for the serious InDesign starters (2/2 people found this helpful)
This very thorough book teaches you systematically how to use InDesign in the most efficient way. This is achieved by detailed and well explained instructions in the book, with about 3 hours of Deke on video (DVD).
While many design software programs can be approached with a trial-and-error attitude, in my opinion InDesign CS3 can not be used in that way. I tried to do it, but soon I was pretty much lost in the various panels and pointers.
In comes the detailed video explanation by Deke. The practical lessons in the chapters are to be used with the practising documents on DVD.
There's no rushing in this book. For example, the entire first lesson teaches you how to handle documents and the 'bridge' to the other Adobe software. Placing text is lesson 2, basic formatting of text is lesson 3. Only in chapter 6 can I are we taught how to insert images. But after completing the chapter, I'm sure you can take full control of most of the possibilities in scope.
Sometimes you may feel the urge to skip forward. This is facilitated by the structure of the lessons: basis first, followed by extras. Some people may also lack the curiosity to read the indepth explanations on subjects such as fonts, the importance of bleeding, blend mode etcetera. This is of course possible, but you will miss valuable knowledge of the trade.
All lessons stress the use of keyboard shortcuts to increase productivity (Apple keycodes between brackets) - we even get an additional file to set up more shortcuts in InDesign. A mini-cheatsheet is added to every chapter - too bad this is not added as a complete cheatsheet at the end of the book. This is one of the reasons the book is less suitable to quickly look up how to do things.
The book is layed out very well, of course (as is stressed several times) with the software in question. The book opens easily, with only one disadvantage: the front cover already curled after the first read.
As a PHP coder I was very curious how InDesign might be used to automate the production of documents. My curiosity is partly satisfied with the lesson on how to work with XML files. Unfortunately for me but probably sensibly, the book does not go into every detail of automation.
Conclusion: this book is a very good course on using InDesign CS3, best suitable for serious beginning users who are willing to spend a few afternoons on practising.
Similar Products
Adobe InDesign CS3 Bible (Bible (Wiley))
Illustrator CS3 Bible
Adobe InDesign CS3 Classroom in a Book
Mastering InDesign CS3 for Print Design and Production
Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One (One on One)
Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Software & Graphics -> Graphics & Multimedia -> Image Manipulation & Creation
Books -> Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Software & Graphics -> Desktop Publishing -> Adobe InDesign
Books -> Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Digital Lifestyle -> Online Shopping -> Amazon
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)