- WEEK 7: Creating Digital Books
Lesson - Creating Graphics
IntroductionAlthough InDesign isn’t usually considered to be a drawing application, it can be used to create your own graphics. In this chapter, you will learn to use the drawing features of InDesign CS5. You will get to use the Pen tool, which is probably the most difficult tool to use in this program. Be sure to read carefully and follow the directions on this tool. A video will also be posted. In addition to the pen tool, you will also learn how to use some of the other drawing tools and how to reshape frames and define strokes. You will also learn some advanced features for positioning text on a path, converting text to outlines, and adding corner effects and drop shadows to polygons.
Use the Pen Tool
As noted earlier, this is probably the most difficult tool to use in InDesign. You use the Pen tool to draw line segments and to draw open and closed paths. When you first draw something, there’s no need for perfection. You can make changes to your drawing once you have the complete idea on paper.When you position the Pen tool over a line segment, it changes to the Add Anchor Point tool. You use this tool to add an anchor point by clicking the path. You can then manipulate the anchor point to change the shape of the path.Also, when you position the Pen tool over an existing anchor point, it changes to the Delete Anchor Point tool. You can click the anchor point to delete it from the path. It will not break the path into two paths. This is different from the way the Cut command or the [Delete] key work. If you use either of those tools, the two line segments on either side of the point are also deleted creating a break in the path.The Convert Direction Point tool changes a smooth point’s direction lines, which usually work together, to let you move each direction line independently. You can also use this tool to change a smooth point to a corner point or a corner point to a smooth point.A link to a video is included in the Readings. Be sure to view the video to make it easier to understand how this tool works.
Reshape Frames and Apply Stroke Effects
In Lesson 2, you will draw and then reshape frames and apply stroke effects. You may still have difficulty distinguishing between anchor points and bounding box handles. It’s a good idea to take the time to review these terms. Figure 16 on page 7-15 should help in making this clear.There are some very important terms to understand in this lesson. There are three types of joins (miter, round, and bevel) and three types of caps (butt, round, and projecting). The miter is the length of the point from the inside to the outside of a path. The default miter limit is 4, which means that when the length of the miter reaches 4 times the stroke weight, it is squared off to a beveled edge. Figures 20 and 22 on page 7-16 in the textbook should help you understand this.You will also learn to create a dashed stroke in this lesson. Make sure to look over the Strokes panel and view all of the different patterns that dashed strokes can create.
Working with Polygons and Compound Paths
The compound paths feature is introduced, and while you may think of the compound path as something like a “hole punch,” it can also be used creatively to create some really interesting graphics. Make sure to practice with this and see what type of graphics you can create. Finally, in this lesson, you will learn to use the Polygon and Ellipse tools and then learn to fill the shapes with images instead of colors or gradients. This is a really cool effect that you will enjoy!See Figure 38 on page 7-23: Identifying two paths compounded as a single path
See Figure 39 on page 7-23: Using compound paths to design interesting graphics
See Figure 44 on page 7-25: Positioning the witch polygon
Working with Polygons and Compound PathsThis final lesson in Chapter 7 covers advanced text features, such as positioning type on a line and converting text to outlines so that you can fill each letter outline with a color or gradient. When you position type on a path, you have many different options for special effects that aren’t specifically covered in this lesson. The Type on a Path Options dialog box offers many ways to manipulate Type. References/Works Cited:
Botello, C. (2011). Adobe InDesign CS5 Revealed. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.