InDesign - 10 tips

  • to view your exact colours - select Window/Output/Separations and turn off and on
  • create an alien? Create a new print-preset called ‘Friendly Alien’ and then select it from the ‘print’ menu (wow!)
  • on the Mac - hide away your desktop with the application frame (Window / Application Frame)
  • Global or local? Change your preferences - have nothing open for global changes and a document open for local
  • Create the perfect Print PDF. Choose the preset called ‘PDF/X-1a: 2001’
  • Want your panels to auto-collapse when clicking somewhere in the document? Right-click a panel and select ‘Auto-collapse iconic panels’
  • Have your office and home InDesign Cloud synchronise PDF presets, keyboard shortcuts etc? Command (Mac) or Control (Windows) - K and configure the ‘Synchronise’ option
  • Having trouble panning around your page inside type mode? Hold down the ‘alt’ key
  • Create or re-size a shape from the centre? Use the ‘alt’ key to shrink/expand
  • Export your content to a graphic and have a transparent background - export as a PNG (from CS6 and upwards)