 Product Review: Adobe
InDesign CS5
Some new software versions are filled with enchantments rather
than new features. With Adobe InDesign CS5, you get the best of both: tons of
new tools and features as well as a bevy of enchantments to your
favorite functions. Even if you are a veteran InDesign user,
working with the new Adobe InDesign CS5 will be an exciting
experience, not unlike opening the program for the very first
time!
This review of Adobe InDesign CS5 has taken me longer to write
than any of my previous software reviews. The main reason for the
delay: there are so many new and enhanced features that it would be
impossible to mention them all within the scope of this review.
Also, I was having a hard time deciding which new features were
among my favorites. One thing I do know for certain, Adobe has
built in dozens of new and improved featured into InDesign CS5 to
make designing printed and interactive documents not only easier
than ever, but far "too much fun" to call this work!
Just a few of my favorite new features and enhancements in Adobe
InDesign CS5…
The Page Tool
The Page Tool is one of my favorite new feature in Adobe
InDesign CS5. It enables a designer to create and add pages of
differing sizes to a document. As with most of Adobe's great new
features, there are a few rules that must be followed. Always
remember that additional pages added to a document must be resized
after they are added.
For example, when creating a three-page custom foldout, I needed
to follow a few procedures to insure proper page resizing &
placement. First, I created a single new document (5"w x 8"h).
Before inserting two new pages, I first had to uncheck
"Allow Documents Pages to Shuffle" [located in the Page Panel].
Once the pages were added, I used the new Page Tool, to resize
my added pages; making sure that I moved the reference point [see
image below] to indicate which side to resize (left to right, or
right to left).
The new Page Tool is one of the best improvements that InDesign
has made in years. Not only for designing odd shaped pamphlets and
flyers, but also for book jackets and magazine layouts (for print
or online).
Content Grabber
The Content Grabber is a quick, down and dirty way to manipulate
content inside a document. When the selection tool hovers over
content, a "bagel" like "grabber" image appears. This feature
allows for instant manipulation of the content within a frame.
Also, the Frame Edge Highlighting allows designers to hover his or
her cursor over an object, and that specific item's edges will be
highlighted. Taking the guesswork out of knowing exactly where the
frame edges are within a document is vital to a layout editor.
Corner Option
Creating unique corners is not new to CS5. What is new, however,
is the "Live Corners" function, which allows designers to change
"individual" corners of a frame without leaving the document.
To change the corner shape or size using the new "Live Corner"
feature, click on the yellow box (which now appears in all frames
in InDesign CS5). Note that once the single yellow box is clicked,
yellow boxes will appear on all sides of your frame. This allows
designers to be able to utilize the Edit Corners function "within"
a document. A designer can now drag on a corner to set the size;
Alt-click to change the shape; or press Shift to change individual
corners.
If the new shortcut is not for you, you can still change a
corner's shape and size by going to Object/Corner Options, which
brings up the Corner Options box. Also, new within the Corner
Options box in CS5, is the ability to change individual
corners.
Story Editor Enhanced
Although Story Editor is another "not new" to InDesign
feature…tracking changes within the Story Editor is new.
A team of designers can now make changes within a document
(corrections, additions, deletions, etc.), and the new Track
Changes function not only tracks the changes, but also tracks the
person who made the changes.
Redesigned Layers Panel
Long-time Adobe Photoshop users will appreciate InDesign's newly
renovated Layers Panel, which functions similar to the layers panel
in Photoshop and Illustrator. The new Layers Panel allows for easy
access and maneuverability of numerous features and functions
within an InDesign document.
Enhanced eBook Creations
With the ever growing number of "eBook reading devices" flooding
the marketplace, Adobe has enhanced InDesign's eBook creation
function, to allow for easy conversion of documents into the EPUB
format; which then can be read by popular eBook devices (Apple
iPad, Sony Reader, Barnes & Noble Nook, etc.). This enhanced
function alone makes Adobe InDesign CS5 a must have for
all authors.
Interactive Documents and Presentations
InDesign has come a long way from its original days of enabling
designers to create amazing printable documents. As always, Adobe
is on the cutting-edge of not only technology, but it is also a
company that's cognizant of the creative pulse of its users.
With a visionary look into the future of publication, Adobe
InDesign CS5 has created a gateway that allows its designers to
explore new mediums and media with its ability to easily add and
test "interactivity, motion, sound, and video to documents and
presentations," as well as the capability of "exporting
directly to SWF for playback in the Adobe Flash® Player
runtime."
Integration with Adobe CS Live
Design is only part of the InDesign experience. Layout editors
can now collaborate with teammates by sharing ideas online with
easy access to Adobe CS Review (one of five functions of the CS
Live online services).
Mini Bridge
 Every super-hero needs a
sidekick. And that is exactly what Adobe Mini Bridge is: a sidekick
to Bridge (the super-hero of media organization). Once again, the
innovative minds at Adobe have taken the features and functions of
the big Bridge and condensed them into the multifunctional Adobe
Mini Bridge.
So, why two Bridges? Think of the new Mini Bridge as a shortcut
to getting where you want to go, when you don't have the time (nor
want to spend the time) to take the long road to your
destination.
Instead of jumping out of InDesign and into Bridge to view or
grab content, a designer can now open a mini version of Bridge
inside of InDesign CS5. Within Mini Bridge, not only can
you grab a file, you can also easily access each segment of your
layout and browse linked files. Oh, and once again, there is a
special rule for opening Mini Bridge: Bridge must be opened and
running in the background. But not to worry, Mini Bridge will
automatically open its alter-ego if you forget … after all, isn't
that what sidekicks are for, giving a helping hand?
Enchanted Gridify Tool
The Gridify Tool is another InDesign CS5 enhancement that makes
a designer's life easier (another one of my favorite new features).
All it takes to create the perfect grid is a quick combination of
clicking and dragging. Not only does the Gridify Tool create
perfect grids, but it also allows you to increase the space between
(or above and below) the grids at the same time.
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Within the Gridify Tool is the "Super Step and Repeat" function,
which lets the designer repeat the same image multiple times. This
technique is a real time-saver when creating borders. Not only does
the Gridify Tool work on image frames, but it also is an easy
(there's that word again) way to create text grids with flowing
text.
The Gridify feature also functions as a drawing tool, allowing
for the perfect operation of multiple objects by merely using the
arrow keys to decrease or increase the object's manipulated
size.
Live Captions
InDesign CS5 is overflowing with time-saving features. Even
though Live Captions is on the bottom of this review, the Live
Captions feature is on the top of my new features list. This truly
magical new tool generates static or live captions automatically
from the metadata created in your images (discoverable within
either Bridge or Mini Bridge).
Create captions for your images by right-clicking on your mouse.
Then, click on Captions, and there you will have the option of
either creating a Live or Static Caption. Within the Caption Setup
dialog box, you can select from numerous settings as to how your
caption will appear. Be sure to explore this feature, as its
functions are endless.
Too Many New Features
InDesign CS5 is packed with new features and enhancements to
make a layout editor and designer's life easy and fun. Yet, as I
mentioned at the beginning of this review, it's been an extremely
hard review to write.
The one downside of Adobe InDesign CS5 is that it would take
hours to highlight my additional favorite new and exciting
features: like automatic numbering, paragraphs that span or split
columns with a quick click of the mouse, and the new Gap Tool.
As a long time InDesign user, opening Adobe InDesign CS5 was
like using the program for the first time. I am totally awed by the
new features and enhancements. Adobe InDesign CS5 has replaced
drudgery with play…making me fall in love with layout editing all
over again!
Adobe InDesign CS5 is available as a standalone program and
is also included in the following Adobe Suites: Adobe® Creative
Suite® 5 Design Premium and the Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Master
Collection.
Adobe
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