# InDesign in a Day

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/indesign-1day>

## Overview

Learn Adobe InDesign Fundamentals and start creating page layouts with text and graphics. You will quickly learn how to control typography, add photos, work with color, and use the essential tools needed to build clean, effective layouts.

This 6 hour class is designed to help you get up and running with InDesign quickly. It is ideal for those who will use InDesign occasionally and only have one day or two evenings available. If you would like a deeper dive into the software, consider the 18 hour Adobe InDesign Bootcamp. For portfolio focused training, explore the Graphic Design Bootcamp or the Graphic Design Certificate Program.

## What you'll learn

- Create layouts that combine text, color, and graphics
- Import and style text and graphics
- Design a business card and a bi-fold brochure
- Prepare files for final output, including printing and PDFs

## Curriculum

### Section 1

#### Business Card: Setting Up a File & Adding the Logo

- Setting Default Preferences
- Setting Up a File
- Importing & Sizing a Vector Graphic (the Logo)

#### Business Card: Adding Text

- Creating Text Frames
- Basic Text Styling
- Loading Adobe Fonts

#### Business Card: Colors

- Removing the Default Color Swatches
- Creating & Editing Color Swatches
- Swapping Out Graphics

#### Business Card: Adding a 2nd Page (the Back) with QR Code

- Creating the Back of the Business Card (a Second Page)
- Creating QR Codes
- Navigating Documents (Zooming and Panning)
- Copying Appearance With the Eyedropper Tool

#### Business Card: OpenType Settings

- Setting up a Document Bleed
- Placing Images
- Combining Text & Images
- White Type on a Black Background

### Section 2

#### Brochure: Creating 2-Page Spreads & Cropping Photos

- Setting Up Spreads (Facing Pages)
- Importing Pixel-Based Photos
- Cropping & Scaling Photos
- Checking Image Resolution to Ensure Good Print Quality

#### Brochure: Layers, Visual Effects, & Blending Modes

- Creating & Locking Layers
- Rotating Objects
- Drop Shadows
- Gradient Feather
- Blending Modes

#### Brochure: Fine-Tuning Type: Kerning/Tracking & More

- Paragraph Spacing
- Working in Picas (Instead of Inches)
- Metrics vs. Optical Kerning
- Kerning vs. Tracking
- Variable Fonts

#### Brochure: Working with Tabbed Text

- Setting Tab Marker Positions
- Adding & Styling Leader Characters

#### Preparing for Professional Printing: PDFs & Packaging Files

- Exporting PDFs for printing or emailing to clients
- Packaging InDesign Files

## Schedule
- Jun 29, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online
- Jul 21, 2026 – Jul 23, 2026 — Live Online
- Jul 27, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online
- Sep 8, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online
- Sep 9, 2026 – Sep 14, 2026 — Live Online
- Sep 27, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $425