June 2013 Archives

Shortcuts to Success: Get A Perfect Fit for Graphics

Shortcuts to Success: Get A Perfect Fit for Graphics

Tips and Tricks   06.20.13   posted by Student Editors


Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.
 
SPD-U SHORTCUTS OF THE WEEK
 
Fit Frame to Content
command + option + C

Fit Content Proportionally
command + option + shift + E

Fill Frame Proportionally
command + option + shift + C

Every graphic in InDesign has two parts: the content and the frame, and you'll often have to resize one or both when designing a layout. These shortcut triplets let you decide what you want to fit and how, and do it in seconds. Learn more after the jump.
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Shortcuts to Success: One Step Scaling

Shortcuts to Success: One Step Scaling

Tips and Tricks   06.13.13   posted by Student Editors


Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.
 
SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK
 
Proportionately Scale both Container and Content 
command + shift + drag bounding box handle

Every graphic placed in InDesign has two parts: a graphic frame, which is the container, and the placed image file, which is the content. Making them bigger and smaller is a big part of doing a layout, but working with each part individually takes more time than it needs to. To proportionately scale the content and container together, while holding down the command and shift keys, click hold and drag a handle of the bounding box with the Selection Tool (black arrow).

HOT TIP: This works with text and text frames, too.


Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto. 
Shortcuts to Success: Flipping for Ruler Guides

Shortcuts to Success: Flipping for Ruler Guides

Tips and Tricks   06.06.13   posted by Student Editors


Sure, there are huge lists of InDesign keyboard shortcuts out there, but are you going to sit down and memorize them all? We're here to help you learn some handy new ones, one by one, making it easier to add them to your mental list. Each week, we'll highlight a different shortcut to help you work faster, better and smarter.
 
SPD-U SHORTCUT OF THE WEEK
 
Change Orientation of a New Ruler Guide
option + drag guide

You probably know that you can make a new guide by clicking holding and dragging on one of the rulers, but did you know that as you do it, you can quickly convert a horizontal guide to a vertical one, and vice versa? To switch the orientation of a new ruler guide as you create it, hold down the option key while dragging it out. 

HOT TIP: Check out our shortcut from January 2013 to see how to quickly show and hide your rulers.


Got a favorite keyboard shortcut you'd like to share with everyone? Email it to us at spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com and we'll include it in our series, along with your own commentary if you'd like.

This week's shortcut brought to you by Joseph Caserto. 
Call for Submissions: Student Publications

Call for Submissions: Student Publications

New Work: Student Publications   06.05.13   posted by Student Editors

Our SPD-U Spotlight is now officially closed to entries, but if you have work from your campus magazine, newspaper, yearbook or other official student publication, we'd love to consider featuring it in our "New Work: Student Publications" blog series (like we did with last year's  Inside magazine from Indiana University and SMH Magazine from NYC College of Technology). 

Much like the "New Work" series over on the main SPD homepage which features the most recent work from professionals, this student version of the series highlights what your campus publications have been up to.

If you think your publication is worthy of recognition, then send us samples and tell us the backstory (check out our previous entries for examples on what to write). Magazines, yearbooks, newspapers, zines, literary journals, newsletters ... if it's an official student publication, we want to see it and hear about it! There's no deadline as this is an ongoing series, but the work does need to have been published within the past few months.

Please reduce your layout images to no larger than 1200 pixels wide, and don't forget to include all relevant credits and a little background about the publication. Send submissions or questions to spdstudentoutreach@gmail.com.

(Even if you entered the work in our SPD-U Spotlight, you can still submit it to this blog series.)
(Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that your publication will be featured.)
SPD-U Spotlight: Deadline Extended till Wednesday!

SPD-U Spotlight: Deadline Extended till Wednesday!

SPD-U Spotlight   06.03.13   posted by Student Editors

As you know with our Student Design Competition, we NEVER extend our deadline. But between all the graduations and internship-finding and summer plans, it sure seems like summer's flying by without enough time to do anything! So we're giving you a bit MORE TIME to enter our SPD-U Spotlight ... 

The Extended Deadline is now WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 AT NOON (EST).

So if you're having trouble tracking down your professor or getting your files together, you get a little more time. Download the Call for Entries here and see all the frequently-asked-questions here.

Questions? Email us at SPDUspotlight@gmail.com.

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