Introduction to InDesign - live online training

Learn to use the core features of InDesign, from the comfort of your home, or place of work with this 2-day Introduction to InDesign course.

The topics covered include setting up new documents, shapes, frames and placeholders, textual content, formatting text, working with styles, placing images, using layers, creating special effects, tables, object libraries and preflighting.

Training is highly practical, combining lecture, demonstration and plenty of practice.

Our Armada approach to Live online training

You participate in the same course as in-class delegates, and we do everything possible to make your experience as close as possible to actually being in the classroom…

• Your course is hosted by an expert trainer, with vast experience of using InDesign professionally.
• You can see and hear our trainer, the other delegates and our trainer’s screen.
• Our trainer and the other delegates can see you (via your webcam) and hear you.
• We’ll post you a printed training guide, and make the course files and resources available for you to download.
• Your training is hands-on: you’ll practice and carry out exercises throughout.
• If you're learning to use an application and don’t have access to the software, we’ll send you a link to fully-functional trial software that you can download and install.
• If you need assistance, you can share your screen with our trainer, and pass control to them.
• Should you want to send a private message to your trainer, you can do so using chat.
• You’ll receive an e-certificate confirming successful completion of the course.
• You’re entitled to 30 days’ email support from your trainer.

We also offer in-class attendance at our centres in Bromsgrove (near Birmingham), Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Nottingham,Sheffield, and Reading.

Certificate of completion

Digital certificate - Included

• Course outline - > download

Our trainers have with vast experience of using InDesign professionally. The use their professional experience to make everything as relatable to real-life environments as possible.

Sessions in our Introduction to InDesign course include...

The work area

• Using toolbox, panels and menus
• Opening, saving and closing files
• Navigation
• Customising the work area
• Preferences and defaults
• File export

Setting up new documents

• Creating new documents
• Setting up master pages
• Using ruler guides, smart guides and grids

Text

• Inserting text
• Placing text – incl. file formats
• Threading text – flowing text
• Import options – what can be imported
• Entering special characters
• Using the Story Editor
• Tracking changes
• Using Find/Change
• Spell checking – incl. languages

Colour

• Colour theory – RGB/CMYK/Spot colours
• Applying colour
• Colour swatches
• Gradients
• Filling and stroking shapes and transforming objects
• Eyedropper tool

Typography

• Formatting text
• Size/leading/tracking/kerning/ indents/spaces…

Stylesheets

• Formatting Paragraphs
• Character, Paragraph and Object styles
• Importing and deleting styles

Working with images

• Placing images
• Using the content collector tool
• Modifying graphic frames and their contents
• Using the spacing tool
• Creating in-line frames
• Wrapping text around objects and managing links.

Pages

• Master Pages – creating ‘page templates’
• Auto page numbering

Layers

• Creating, locking, hiding, printing

Effects and styling

• Transparency
• Feathering

Bullets and Numbers

• Bulleted and Numbered Lists
• Customising Bullets and Numbers

Tabs

• Setting up Tabs

Tables

• Creating and editing tables
• Adding content and formatting tables

Libraries

• Creating assets for use in InDesign and across CC

Preflighting, packaging and outputting

• Managing Links

Online features

• Publish online feature
• Publish on Behance

Mobile apps

• Adobe Comp
• Adobe Capture

This course is ideal for newcomers to Adobe InDesign, and those with limited InDesign experience.

Training is based primarily on InDesign 2024. The techniques taught are relevant to all recent releases of InDesign.

All InDesign training is suitable for both Windows and Mac users.

No prior InDesign knowledge is necessary.

Delegates need access to a Windows PC, or Mac, to use throughout the training. If Adobe InDesign is not installed on the computer, Armada can provide details of trial software to download prior to the course commencing.

A stable internet connection, and a webcam are essential.

InDesign is used in a wide range of roles in the design, print, prepress, publishing and marketing industries, amongst others. Jobs that require InDesign skills include graphic designer, page designer, studio artist, advertisement designer, marketing executive and art-worker.