AGI Dynamic Learning: InDesign CS3
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Photoshop transparency effects

InDesign has borrowed some great features from Photoshop CS3, making it easier to design and apply interesting and artistic effects to images and objects from within InDesign. Many effects and designs that previously required you to work in both InDesign and Photoshop can now be achieved in a single place.

In the id01.indd file, choose the Selection tool from the Tools panel.

Click to select the picture of Stockholm located at the top of the layout.

Choose Object > Effects > Gradient Feather. The Effects dialog box opens.

In the Effects dialog box, click the Preview checkbox to preview the effect. The image now fades from full opacity to transparent. Keep all other settings unchanged, then press OK.

Apply Photoshop transparency effects without leaving InDesign.

Choose Edit > Deselect All so you do not affect this image with future modifications.

Keep the file open, you will continue to work with it in the next exercise.

Customizable Interface

You can customize your version of InDesign yourself, without the need for power tools or safety glasses. Simply make a trip to a couple menus and you can customize most menu choices and some of the panels.

Choose Edit > Menus. The Menu Customization dialog box appears.

 

In the Menu Customization dialog box, click the arrow to the left of File to display all the commands available from the File menu.

Locate the Save As command and click the eye icon to the right of this command. When the eye is not visible, the command does not appear in the menu choices. Repeat this process to hide the Check In and the Save a Copy commands from the File menu, then press OK to close the Menu Customization dialog box.

Use the Menu Customization dialog box to personalize your menus and navigate InDesign more quickly and easily.

Click the File menu and notice the three choices you disabled are no longer visible.

Choose Edit > Menus. The Menu Customization dialog box appears. Click the area in the visibility column next to Save As, Check In, and Save a Copy so that the eye icon is once again visible. These items now appear in the File menu. Keep the Menu Customization dialog box open.

Click to select the Save command, then click the word None in the Color column. The word None becomes a drop-down menu. Click it again and choose Green from the choice of colors, then press OK to close the Menu Customization dialog box.

Click the File menu and notice that the Save option is highlighted in green. This feature makes it easier for you to locate certain commands.

The Control panel can be similarly customized.

From the Tools panel, choose the Selection tool.

 

Click once to select the picture of Stockholm. Notice that the Control panel, located above the InDesign workspace, displays the size, position, and other information about the selected image.

At the far right-side of the Control panel, click the panel menu button and choose Customize. The Customize Control Panel dialog box opens. Click the checkbox to deselect the Object option; all the Object options become deselected. Click the triangle next to Object to display additional options and click the Transform X-Y-W-H so it is the only item selected. Press OK to close the Customize Control Panel dialog box.

Disabling the Object option leaves only the transform information in the Control panel.

Reselect the image of Stockholm. Notice that the Control panel now only displays the transform information relating to the selected object. While we chose to hide all of the attributes, it is possible to display only certain attributes while hiding others by choosing certain options.

Along the far right side of the Control panel, click the panel menu button again and choose Customize. The Customize Control Panel window opens. Click to reselect the Object option. All of the Object options are once again selected. Press OK to close the Customize Control Panel dialog box.

Keep the file open; you will continue to work with it in the next exercise.

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