But to this “almost soulless” definition (I apologize to all the dictionaries and encyclopedias present in the room) I consider it necessary to add that, in addition, and above all, it is a set of possibilities that allow you to create a new and necessary world, that of visual coherence. And the fact is that creating a layout is above all providing a structure.
Thanks to this proposed order, it is possible to read and visually enjoy a layout thanks to a continuity of logical order that is supported by graphic resources.
This complementary definition is surely related to the creation of a magazine or newsletter, but it can refer to the layout of elements of this type of publication, the activity report of your favorite brand, the instruction manual for your mobile phone, or that infographic that just made your imagination fly on that social network that you say you hardly use...
In addition, in recent years, layout has also been associated with the presentation of web pages, e-books and other multimedia products.
Layout with Indesign
Although we may think that layout is something that emerged yesterday, in reality it has a long history as a profession. It is true that it is new to give it names such as photocomposition or layout and that the main tool to use is a computer on which we use software, such as InDesign, which we will begin to talk about later, but in reality books have been composed for millennia, although this process did not yet receive this name.
Composition of illustrations and text already existed in Antiquity, in gems such as “The Book of the Dead” (really, I put Anubis as a witness) or in many of the volumes of the ancient library of Alexandria (before and after the “warm visit” of Julius Caesar's troops) or even in illustrated books with unknown content written by anonymous authors that still fill us with questions today, such as the so-called “Voynich Manuscript”.
As the centuries progressed, there was an increasing concern about the distribution of space, the aesthetics of presentation, the search for legibility and, as we have said, the coexistence of texts and illustrations. Humanity has come a long way from the figure of the scribe in Ancient History, passing through the medieval copyist and scribe, the Renaissance printer, to today's graphic design.
Now that we know what layout is, how do I do it? How could I learn to layout?
It is best to train in Graphic Design to learn the basics of Form, Typography, Color, etc. And once you have mastered the basics, you can launch into the knowledge of the star software for layout: Adobe InDesign.
Do you know what Adobe InDesign is and what it allows you to do?
This application is a worldwide reference for graphic design and the truth is that it comes to mind just by mentioning the term Editorial Design. With this program you will be able to create documents, use master pages that speed up your creation, transform margins and indentation, add numbering, adjust different page sizes in the same publication, work with grids, apply formatting, etc.
InDesign also offers specific tools and options for composing e-books in formats such as EPUB. You can design the structure of the book, adjust the text flow, add indexes, internal and external links, and export the result for distribution or publication.
Digital creation with indesign
Creating interactive documents with InDesign
Adobe InDesign also lets you create dynamic or interactive documents, such as presentations, digital brochures, catalogs, and digital magazines.
Start by switching your workspace from Essential to Digital Publishing to take advantage of all the possibilities.
And using the Bütton plugin you can create catalogues, interactive magazines or the portfolio you've always dreamed of, allowing you to interact with video, audio, animations, etc., thus improving your workflow. Button is completely free and you can download it from:
https://buttonpublish.com/es/downloads-spanish/
In addition, without any kind of plugin you can create interactive PDFs in which, thanks to bookmarks, hyperlinks, cross-references, etc., it is possible to design anything from a newsletter to a dynamic “home-made” document such as… a fun birthday party invitation!
Web page design with indesign
And InDesign gives you a wide range of tools for designing web pages . You can prototype websites, scale different versions or sketch out designs for interfaces, as well as work on your grid and export your designs in HTML format.
By installing plugins like Webpublication, you can take InDesign to the next level, creating highly enjoyable creations without having to write a single line of code.
From the Creative Cloud app > Stock and Marketplace > Add-ons search for the keyword «Webpublication» . Once installed, go to Window > Extensions > Webpublication and start your adventure!...
Creating presentations
InDesign also lets you design attractive slide layouts , add images, text, and graphics, and apply transitions and animations to take your presentations to the next level. Plus, InDesign offers a range of printing capabilities that other content presentation software can only dream of.
Using Document Templates
T emplates are a starting point that will speed up our work process . They philippines phone number example allow us to predefine the layout, graphics and text space for these documents. We can work from scratch with dummy text or with the space dedicated to the text of our first publication.
This way, you don't have to "reinvent the wheel" in each issue, but rather reuse sections, graphics, etc. And thanks to this, you can vary the content in each new issue. This way, you just have to open the template, then import the new content and customize the changes.
A template can be configured in the same way as a “normal” or commonly used document, the only difference being when saving the document. If we prepare a template for other users to use, it is advisable to add a layer containing instructions for the template. It is also possible to use the Note tool from the toolbar to leave comments or notices that we know will not be printed.
Using Artificial Intelligence with InDesign.
Working with fake text, “lorem ipsums”, etc. doesn’t help you imagine how the text would look accompanying the dream photos you’ve taken? Now it’s possible for AI to lend us a hand in our text creations . If you can use a free tool without registration:
https://textcortex.com/es/generar-textos-de-marketing
And it will help you generate those marketing texts that can make your company known on Social Networks, for example.
In addition, you can use Artificial Intelligence in the same way but to create advertising texts, copies that promote your product or service on other pages.
Shall we prove it? Well, you see, to finish this article I went to the web:
https://copyter.com/
Next, also for free and without registration, I wrote a prompt asking the AI to offer me a copy “encouraging people to enroll in Femxa’s InDesign course.” And do you know what it answered?
Sure! Here's an example to encourage you to sign up:
Do you want to take your design skills to the next level? Then Femxa’s InDesign digital layout course is perfect for you! Learn how to create stunning designs, engaging brochures, and professional documents with Adobe’s powerful tool, InDesign.
Don't miss the opportunity to master this essential tool for any designer! Enroll now and discover everything InDesign has to offer. Boost your creativity and stand out in the world of design!