InDesign: Picture & Text Power! Script

Warm-Up: Design Scavenger Hunt (15 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's kick things off with a little design scavenger hunt. Look around you, or think about things you see every day – like posters, magazine covers, or even a menu at a restaurant. What makes a poster or a magazine page look good? What makes it look bad or confusing? Raise your hand and share your observations."

(Allow 5-7 minutes for student sharing and discussion. Guide them to think about how text and images are arranged.)

Teacher: "Great observations! We all have an eye for what looks good, even if we don't always know why. Today, we're going to pull back the curtain and learn how to create those professional-looking layouts ourselves. We're diving into Adobe InDesign to master the power of placing pictures and text effectively for print!"

Introduction to InDesign (Slide Deck & Script) (30 minutes)

Teacher: "Let's start with our InDesign Slide Deck."

(Advance to Slide 1: Welcome to InDesign!)

Teacher: "Welcome to InDesign! Ever wonder how magazines, books, and flyers are made to look so professional? Today, we're diving into Adobe InDesign to learn the secrets of beautiful layouts. Our mission? To master placing pictures and text for print. By the end of this lesson, you'll have the foundational skills to create some truly impressive documents."

(Advance to Slide 2: What is Adobe InDesign?)

Teacher: "So, what exactly is Adobe InDesign? It's the industry standard for creating documents that are going to be printed. Think magazines, books, brochures, posters – anything where you need to carefully arrange text and graphics. Unlike Photoshop, which is great for editing photos, or Illustrator, which is for creating logos and illustrations, InDesign is all about layout. Its key concept is that everything lives in 'frames' – these are like invisible containers for your images or your text."

(Advance to Slide 3: Your InDesign Toolkit)

Teacher: "To do all this, we'll be using a few essential tools today. I'll show you where these are in the InDesign workspace. Pay close attention to the difference between the Selection Tool and the Direct Selection Tool; it's a common point of confusion but super important."

(Open InDesign on the projector and briefly show the location of each tool as you mention it. Briefly demonstrate moving a frame with the Selection Tool and the content within with the Direct Selection Tool.)

Teacher: "Now, let's open InDesign and create a new document. Go to File > New > Document. For now, let's choose a 'Print' preset, and we'll stick with a single letter-sized page. Don't worry too much about all the settings yet; we'll learn them over time."

(Guide students to open InDesign and create a new document.)

Importing Images: Hands-On Demo & Practice (45 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 4: Bringing Pictures to Life!)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring some pictures into our document! This is one of the most fundamental skills in InDesign. The command you'll use constantly is File > Place... or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + D."

Teacher Demo (15 minutes):

1. "I'm going to go to File > Place... (or hit Ctrl+D)."
2. "I'll navigate to our sample images folder and select one of the images."
3. "Now, my cursor has a loaded image icon. If I just click on the page, the image will appear at its original size. If I click and drag, I can draw a frame and the image will try to fit inside it. If I click on an existing frame, the image will be placed inside that frame."
4. "Let's try placing it directly on the page."
5. "Now, notice the two different ways to interact with this image. With the Selection Tool (V), I can move the entire frame. If I click the center content grabber (the circle in the middle) or use the Direct Selection Tool (A), I can move and resize the image content itself within the frame."
6. "This is really important: the frame is like the window, and the image is the view through the window. You can change the window size without changing what's outside, or you can pan the view through the window."
7. "Let's look at Object > Fitting. These options are super handy. 'Fill Frame Proportionally' makes the image fill the frame without distortion. 'Fit Content Proportionally' makes the entire image visible within the frame. Experiment with these!"

(Demonstrate each step clearly. Provide a few different images for variety.)

Teacher: "Your turn! On your computers, please open the InDesign Practice Worksheet and follow the instructions for the image import section. Use the sample images I've provided. I'll be walking around to help you out."

Student Practice (30 minutes):

(Circulate the room, provide individual help, and answer questions. Ensure students are comfortable with File > Place, the Selection Tool, Direct Selection Tool, and Object > Fitting.)

Placing Text: Hands-On Demo & Practice (45 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 5: Mastering Text Placement)

Teacher: "Now that we have our images, let's get our words onto the page. Just like images, text in InDesign lives inside frames – these are called text frames."

Teacher Demo (15 minutes):

1. "There are a few ways to create a text frame. The most common is to select the Type Tool (T) and simply drag a box on your page. This creates an empty text frame."
2. "Another way is to draw a regular frame with the Rectangle Frame Tool (F), then switch to the Type Tool and click inside it. It automatically becomes a text frame."
3. "Once you have a text frame, you can either type directly into it... (type a few words)... or, and this is very common for longer text, you can Place text just like you did with images! Go to File > Place... and select a plain text or Word document. The text will flow into your frame."
4. "Let's quickly look at basic text formatting. With the text frame selected (or text highlighted), you'll see options in the Control Panel at the top, or you can open the Character Panel (Window > Type & Tables > Character) and Paragraph Panel (Window > Type & Tables > Paragraph). Here you can change the font, size, color. You can also adjust leading (the space between lines of text) and kerning (the space between individual letters) for finer control."

(Demonstrate each text placement and basic formatting option. Show where the Character and Paragraph panels are located.)

Teacher: "Alright, your turn again! Continue with the InDesign Practice Worksheet and complete the text placement and basic formatting section. Use the sample text provided. I'm here to help if you get stuck."

Student Practice (30 minutes):

(Circulate the room, provide individual help, and answer questions. Focus on creating text frames, placing text, and using the Character/Paragraph panels.)

(Advance to Slide 6: Text Flow: Connecting Your Ideas)

Teacher: "What happens if you have too much text for one frame? You'll see a small red plus sign at the bottom right of your text frame. This means you have overset text – text that doesn't fit!"

Teacher Demo (Optional, 5 minutes if time permits within this section):

1. "I'll quickly create some overset text. To fix this, you can link text frames. Click the red plus sign on the overset frame."
2. "Your cursor will change. Now, click on an empty text frame you've already made, or simply drag to create a new text frame. The text will automatically flow from the first frame into the second. This is incredibly useful for multi-column layouts!"

Guided Activity: Creating a Simple Flyer (40 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 7: Ready for Print?)

Teacher: "Before we move to our main activity, a quick word on getting your work ready for printing. When you import images, InDesign doesn't embed them; it links to them. This means if you move or delete the original image file, InDesign won't be able to find it. Always keep your linked files organized! Also, for print, we usually aim for high-quality images, around 300 DPI."

Teacher: "When you're finished with a project, you need to Save As your InDesign document (.indd file). But even better for print, InDesign has a feature called File > Package... This collects your InDesign document, all its linked images, and even the fonts you used into one neat folder, making it super easy to send to a printer or another designer."

(Advance to Slide 8: Your Turn! Flyer Design Challenge)

Teacher: "Now for the fun part – putting it all together! You're going to create a simple one-page flyer using the skills you just learned. Open the InDesign Text and Image Activity. This guide will walk you through the requirements."

Teacher: "You'll need to include at least two imported images and multiple text frames. Experiment with fitting options and if you have enough text, try linking those text frames. I'll give you a theme – let's say, design a flyer for a school club meeting, a local community event, or a promotional flyer for your favorite book or movie."

Student Activity (35 minutes):

(Circulate the room. Offer guidance, encouragement, and troubleshoot technical issues. Encourage creativity while reinforcing the correct use of InDesign tools.)

Wrap-Up & Reading Assignment (10 minutes)

(Advance to Slide 9: Reflect & Look Ahead)

Teacher: "Alright everyone, bring your attention back up here for a moment. Let's quickly recap what we covered today."

Teacher: "Today, you learned to import and manipulate images, place and format text, and understand basic text flow and print preparation. These are fundamental skills for any type of visual communication."

Teacher: "For homework, please read the InDesign Reading: Mastering Your Layout. It will give you a deeper understanding of some of the concepts we touched on and introduce a few new ones. It will reinforce what we learned today."

Teacher: "Next time, we'll have a short InDesign Quiz: Layout Essentials to check your understanding of these core InDesign concepts. Also, know that your upcoming projects will be assessed using the InDesign Project Rubric, which outlines the criteria for excellent design work. You can review it to see what I'll be looking for in your future projects. Great work today, designers!"

InDesign Practice Worksheet: Image & Text Essentials

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

This worksheet will guide you through the fundamental steps of working with images and text in Adobe InDesign. Follow the instructions carefully and experiment with the tools.

Part 1: Importing and Manipulating Images

Objective: Practice placing images, resizing frames, and fitting content.

1. Open InDesign: Make sure you have an empty document open.

2. Place an Image: Go to File > Place... (or Ctrl/Cmd + D). Navigate to the Sample Images folder provided by your teacher and select image1.jpg.

   • Click once on your page to place the image at its original size.
     
     
     

3. Resize the Frame: Using the Selection Tool (V), click and drag a corner handle of the image frame. What happens to the image when you resize the frame this way?
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Move the Image Content: Click the small circle in the center of the image frame (the content grabber), or switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A). Now, click and drag the image. What happens to the frame when you move the image content this way?
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Experiment with Fitting:

   • Place image2.jpg onto your page.
   • Draw a rectangular frame with the Rectangle Frame Tool (F) before placing the image. Then, use File > Place... and click inside your new empty frame.
   • With the frame selected, go to Object > Fitting.
   • Try Fill Frame Proportionally. Describe what it does:
     
     
     
   • Now, try Fit Content Proportionally. Describe what it does:
     
     
     
   • Which fitting option do you think is best for most situations and why?
     
     
     
     
     
     

6. Your Turn: Place image3.jpg. Create a unique frame size and use a fitting option that makes the image look good within your chosen frame. Briefly describe your choices:
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Placing and Formatting Text

Objective: Practice creating text frames, placing text, and applying basic formatting.

1. Create a Text Frame: Select the Type Tool (T). Click and drag to create a rectangular text frame on your page.
   
   
   

2. Type Directly: With the Type Tool active, click inside your new frame and type the following sentence: "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
   
   
   

3. Apply Basic Formatting:

   • Highlight the text you just typed.
   • Using the Control Panel at the top or the Character Panel (Window > Type & Tables > Character):
     • Change the Font to something interesting (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, a font of your choice).
     • Change the Font Size to 18 pt.
     • Change the Fill Color to blue.
   • What font did you choose and why?
     
     
     
     
     
     

4. Place Text from a File:

   • Create a new, larger text frame on your page.
   • Go to File > Place... and select the sample_text.txt file from the Sample Text folder provided by your teacher.
   • Click inside your new text frame to place the text.
   • Observe: Does all the text fit? If not, what symbol appears at the bottom right of the text frame?
     
     
     

5. Link Text Frames (if needed):

   • If you have overset text (the red plus sign), create a second empty text frame next to the first one.
   • Click the red plus sign on the first frame, then click the empty second frame. Describe what happens:
     
     
     
     
     
     

6. Paragraph Formatting:

   • Highlight some of the text you just placed.
   • Open the Paragraph Panel (Window > Type & Tables > Paragraph).
   • Experiment with Alignment (left, center, right, justify). Which alignment looks best for this text?
     
     
     
     
     
     

Reflection

In your own words, explain the difference between the Selection Tool and the Direct Selection Tool when working with images:

What was the most challenging part of working with images or text today?

What was the easiest part?

InDesign Reading: Mastering Your Layout

The Power of Frames: Your InDesign Building Blocks

In Adobe InDesign, everything you see on your page—whether it's an image, a block of text, or even a colored shape—lives inside a frame. Think of frames as invisible containers that hold your content. Understanding how to work with these frames is key to creating professional and organized layouts.

There are two main types of frames we use:

1. Graphic Frames: These are designed to hold images or other visual elements. When you File > Place an image directly onto your page, InDesign automatically creates a graphic frame for it. You can also draw empty graphic frames using the Rectangle Frame Tool (F), Ellipse Frame Tool, or Polygon Frame Tool before placing an image inside.
2. Text Frames: These are created specifically for text. You typically draw a text frame using the Type Tool (T). Once you have a text frame, you can either type directly into it or File > Place a text document (like a Word file) into it.

Why are Frames so Important?

Frames give you incredible control. You can move, resize, and rotate a frame independently of the content inside it. This means you can create a specific placeholder for an image or a column for text, and then adjust the content to fit perfectly within those boundaries.

Placing Images: More Than Just Drag and Drop

While InDesign might feel similar to other programs, how you handle images is crucial for print quality.

File > Place (Ctrl/Cmd + D): The Golden Rule

Always use File > Place... to import images into InDesign. Avoid copying and pasting from web browsers or other programs, as this often results in low-resolution images that look blurry when printed.

When you place an image, InDesign doesn't actually embed the image file into your document. Instead, it creates a link to the original image file on your computer. This keeps your InDesign file size small and allows you to make edits to the original image in programs like Photoshop without having to re-import it into InDesign. However, it also means you need to keep your linked image files organized and accessible.

Adjusting Images within Frames

Once an image is placed, you have two primary ways to manipulate it:

• Selection Tool (V): This tool lets you select and manipulate the frame itself. You can resize the frame, move it around the page, or rotate it. The image inside will adjust according to its fitting options.
• Direct Selection Tool (A): This tool allows you to select and manipulate the content inside the frame (the actual image). You can move the image within its frame, or resize the image independently of the frame. This is how you crop an image visually by moving it around in its frame.

InDesign also offers Fitting Options (Object > Fitting) which automatically adjust your image within its frame. Common options include:

• Fill Frame Proportionally: Enlarges or shrinks the image to completely fill the frame, while maintaining its original proportions. Parts of the image might be cropped.
• Fit Content Proportionally: Enlarges or shrinks the image to fit entirely within the frame, while maintaining its original proportions. This might leave empty space in the frame.

Text Power: Flow and Formatting

Text in InDesign isn't just a block of words; it's a dynamic element that you can precisely control.

Creating and Placing Text

As with images, you can create text frames with the Type Tool (T). For longer bodies of text, File > Place... is again the recommended method. InDesign can import text from various formats, including .txt (plain text), .doc or .docx (Microsoft Word), and others.

Overset Text and Linking Frames

Sometimes, you'll place text into a frame, and a small red plus sign appears at the bottom right of the frame. This indicates overset text, meaning there's more text than the frame can currently display. You have a few options to fix this:

1. Resize the frame: Make the text frame larger until all the text fits.
2. Edit the text: Shorten the text content.
3. Link to another frame: This is a powerful feature for multi-column layouts. Click the red plus sign, and your cursor will load with the remaining text. You can then click an existing empty text frame or drag to create a new one, and the text will automatically flow from the first frame into the second (or third, or fourth!).

Formatting for Readability and Style

InDesign gives you precise control over text formatting, far beyond what word processors offer.

• Character Formatting: Found in the Character Panel (Window > Type & Tables > Character) or the Control Panel when text is selected. This includes font family (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman), font style (bold, italic), size, color, leading (vertical space between lines of text), and kerning (horizontal space between specific pairs of letters).
• Paragraph Formatting: Found in the Paragraph Panel (Window > Type & Tables > Paragraph). This controls settings for entire paragraphs, such as alignment (left, center, right, justified), indents, and spacing before/after paragraphs.

Mastering these formatting options allows you to create text that is not only visually appealing but also highly readable and effective for its purpose.

Preparing for Print: The Final Touches

When your InDesign document is complete, the last step before sending it to a printer is crucial:

• Check Resolution: Ensure all your images have adequate resolution for print (generally 300 pixels per inch or DPI for high-quality printing).
• Package Your File: Go to File > Package.... This command gathers your InDesign document (.indd), all the linked image files, and all the fonts used in your document into a single, organized folder. This package is what you would send to a professional printer or another designer, ensuring they have everything needed to open and print your file correctly without any missing elements.

InDesign Activity: Your First Flyer!

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Objective: Apply your knowledge of importing images and placing/formatting text in Adobe InDesign to create a one-page flyer.

Scenario: You need to design a simple one-page flyer for a school club meeting, a local community event, or to promote your favorite book/movie. Choose one theme and create a visually appealing and informative flyer.

Requirements:

Your flyer must include the following elements:

1. Document Setup:

   • Create a new InDesign document (File > New > Document).
   • Choose a standard print size (e.g., Letter) and work on a single page.

2. Images (Minimum 2):

   • Import at least two different images using File > Place.... These images should be relevant to your chosen flyer theme.
   • Experiment with Fitting: For at least one image, use Object > Fitting options (e.g., Fill Frame Proportionally or Fit Content Proportionally) to make it look good within its frame. Describe which fitting option you chose and why:
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Text (Multiple Text Frames):

   • Create at least three separate text frames. One for a main title/headline, one for body text (details about your event/book/movie), and one for contact information or a call to action.
   • Place text: For your body text, you can either type it directly or use File > Place... to import the sample_text.txt provided, then modify it to fit your theme.
   • Formatting: Apply different formatting to your text elements:
     • Headline: Choose a clear, engaging font, a larger size, and a distinct color.
     • Body Text: Select a readable font, appropriate size, and consider alignment (left, justified).
     • Contact Info/Call to Action: Make it stand out but remain readable.
   • If you have overset text (red plus sign): Create a new text frame and link the overset text to it, allowing the text to flow. Describe how you linked frames:
     
     
     
     
     
     

4. Overall Layout:

   • Arrange your images and text frames thoughtfully on the page.
   • Consider balance, hierarchy (what should people see first?), and white space (empty areas).

Instructions:

1. Plan Your Flyer: Briefly sketch out your ideas for layout, image placement, and key text points before you start in InDesign. What is your theme? What information needs to be included?

   • My chosen theme: __________________________________________________
     
     
     
   • Key information to include:
     
     
     
     
     
     

2. Execute in InDesign: Use the skills you learned today to build your flyer.

3. Save Your Work: Remember to save your InDesign document (.indd file) regularly (File > Save As...).

4. Review: Before submitting, look at your flyer. Is it easy to read? Are the images clear? Does it convey your message effectively?

Self-Reflection:

• What was the most enjoyable part of creating your flyer?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What was the most challenging aspect, and how did you overcome it?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• If you had more time, what else would you add or change to your flyer?
  
  
  
  
  
  

When you are finished, save your InDesign file and be ready to share your creation with the class!

InDesign Project Rubric: Picture & Text Layout

Student Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Project Title: __________________________________________________

This rubric will be used to assess your ability to effectively import images and place/format text in Adobe InDesign for print-ready projects.

Teacher Comments:

Total Score: ______ / 24