The Control panel across the top of the page is context-sensitive it offers only the options that are available to the active tool. The text appears in the upper left corner, but it is in the tiny default font. The horizontal line indicates the bottom part of the text frame, but we cannot see the remaining text frame borders because the Snap to Grid feature has caused our frame to align exactly with the gridlines.Īt this point, we want to add and format text-in the form of the publication's name, "Classroom Technology Today." Note also, in this view, the 1" label on the ruler may not be visible.Ī blue, horizontal line appears 1 3/4 inches from the top margin, and we see a blinking text cursor in the upper right corner. NOTE: Five grid squares is 1.25 inches high. Press & Drag the cursor vertically downward five grid squares on the left margin, and then across all three columns Point the arrow at the top left corner of the cursor to the upper left corner of the left column As we move the cursor, our location is shown by dotted lines that move on the ruler: The cursor turns to a text insertion icon. To activate the Type Tool, in the Tools panel, Let's create the nameplate's title frame with the Type Tool. The most straightforward way to create a text frame is to draw it with the Type Tool. There are several ways to create a frame.
The items that make up the nameplate will be contained within several grouped text frames. Our newsletter's nameplate will span the top of the cover page, and include the date and some issue information. A nameplate may appear anywhere on a cover page, but most designs incorporate the nameplate across the top. Often, the nameplate also contains a logo and the date of publication. It should include the name of the publication and issue number information. As such, it uniquely identifies a publication and should span a large area across the cover page. The nameplate can be otherwise called a title. The nameplate is the most important visual object of any publication. This feature of a publication is the nameplate. Since we can create a custom space for our text, we want to add one large frame for the publication's name, which will extend across the columns. Although we have already divided our page into a three-column substructure, our design is not limited to the three columns we can simply add some frames if we want to place our objects in custom spaces and shapes. A frame is simply a container for text or graphic objects. Working with FramesĪll text that appears in documents created with InDesign must be located within text boxes, or frames.
In using InDesign's typographic controls, our primary goal is to maximize the impact of the publication while minimizing the reader's distraction when reading it.
Most people do not specifically notice good typography however, bad typography is easy to spot. If our publication's type is difficult to read or doesn't aesthetically fit the tone of the publication, the intended message is not adequately conveyed. The design of our newsletter should communicate this message as clearly as possible. In our case, we are trying to present to educators of all classroom levels interesting articles about the use of technology in the classroom. Making Typographic DecisionsĪ publication needs to convey a message to a target audience. It is important to understand some fundamentals of good typography and point out a few issues about text in a publication. Before we start adding text to our newsletter, we need to consider some important aspects about typography, which is the art and science of type. In most cases, the use of text is a primary mode of communication.