Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Indesign Tips and Shortcuts

there are various ways to work with type in Indesign:

1. use the control menu that runs along the top.
type controls appear only if the type tool is chosen.

2. use the floating character palette
go to window> type> character

3. use keyboard shortcuts.
here are few of the most useful:
[the text has to be selected for most of these. for kerning place the cursor between the appropriate letters.]

note that cmd is the command or apple key

decrease kerning/tracking: Opt+LeftArrow
decrease leading Opt+Up Arrow
decrease point size: Shift+Cmd+, [comma]
decrease point size x 5: Opt+Shift+Cmd+, [comma]
decrease word space: Opt+Cmd+Delete

increase kerning/tracking: Opt+Right Arrow
increase leading: Opt+Down Arrow
increase leading x 5: Opt+Cmd+Down Arrow
increase point size: Shift+Cmd+. [period]
increase point size x 5: Opt+Shift+Cmd+. [period]
increase word space: Opt+Cmd+\

helpful shortcuts for viewing:
got to view > hide frame edges to get rid of those pesky blue lines on the edge of boxes/objects
cmd + 1 = displays page at 100%
cmd + 0 = fits page in window
cmd + ; = toggles guides on an doff

to view all the keyboard shortcuts by category, choose
edit > keyboard shortcuts
then select to see them as a text file