Customer Reviews

Adobe InDesign CS2 One-on-One

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you know nothing about digital publishing, typesetting or page layout, this book will surely change that. If you already know anything from MS Publisher to Quark Express or Pagemaker, this book will probably convert you to InDesign. The book really is like having a personal instructor, and the step by step exercises give accurate, hands-on training in the many features of this program.

If you are an amateur and have no idea what "leading", "kerning", "bleeds", "slugs" or other typograhical terms mean, you won't be lost in the jargon any longer. McClelland explains these and other terms in the text and graphically, and he does it most effectively.

There are generous numbers of screen shots, and they are done in color. This makes it really feel as if you are in a classroom, able to see exactly what things ought to look like. The illustrations alone set this book well ahead of many others.

I only have two complaints, and one may be my system's fault. The first is that even though I installed the author's set of keyboard shortcuts, they don't all work correctly. Some, like holding Alt to dock a palette, don't work at all. But there are many ways to do each thing, so I don't worry about it too much.

The second complaint is with the accompanying video. The author is evidently in love with keyboard shortcuts. I am sure that when I have the program's features down, I will want to know these shortcuts. But there are so many of them, they confuse the issue for those just starting out. And, he spends way too much of each lesson listing and demonstrating the keyboard shortcuts, both built-in and custom. By the end of the video lesson, your head will be spinning. Since he describes both Mac and PC shortcuts each time, the confusion is increased. (After the fiftieth time you probably know that Alt=Option and Command = Ctrl, already!)

Complaints aside, I recommend this book to InDesign users of beginning or intermediate level. It's a bargain even at list price.

I bought this book because of the extensive amount of instructional video that accompanies the written text. It was something I was looking for in an instructional book - and I didn't find another book with 2+ hours of video. However, after only completing four of the chapters I cannot help but be bothered by the fact that the author has an awful habit of telling you ever possible shortcut configuration for every function. He spends an inordinate amount of time explaining all the shortcut possibilities which is very distracting when you are trying to follow along with an exercise. It's great to know all these handy shortcuts, but if you are just starting to learn InDesign (and I'm guessing here) you initially just want the basics. This approach really slows down the process. Unfortunately, these "shortcut digressions" seem to continue throughout the book. The video content (and the book content) probably could have been reduced by about 30-40% if he didn't labor about every possible shortcut every other sentence. In all fairness the book does contain a lot of content, but I am kinda disappointed by the video. They could have made this potentially excellent book truly excellent if they made an appendix of all these shortcuts rather than cram every option into every exercise. Very distracting.

Using plain language and a no-assumption approach, Deke McClelland succeeds in teaching a very difficult concept to just about anyone. You do not have to know anything about desktop publishing, typography, layout, color, or special effects let alone anything about ANY Adobe program to read this book. If you want to learn about any of these concepts, you will enjoy the quick, indulging read as well as be shocked at how easy Mr. McClelland makes this entire industry seem yet keeps you checked into reality onto how expansive it can be.

Pros:

- Easy to read
- Covers the entire program
- Assumes nothing
- Teaches very well

Cons:

-Repeats some things a little too much but that might be because this is geared towards everyone.

Overall:

This is an excellent book for any designer wether you are in publishing or not. Check it out.

I have needed InDesign Training for a very long time. It is the only program the agency I work for is allowed to use, but I live in the middle of nowhere and have been unable to attend classes. This book and 2 hour DVD lesson totally has gotten me up to speed on making page layouts. I only wish I had bought it from Amazon instead of Barnes and Noble, I would have saved $15. At any rate, get this book. The best thing about it is that the author uses PRACTICAL examples for doing things. Most computer books expect you to know things already. Well, I didn't know squat. Now I do. The author runs you through simple examples, getting more and more complex with functions, until you have it down. I love that! I loved this book so much I ordered his Photoshop book too since I need to learn that program. So, if you bought InDesign CS2 and need help from the get go, GET THIS BOOK FIRST!

We're using this book in my Page Layout class at College and it's one of the best "text books" I've ever used. Deke provides lots of extras on the CD to help visualize the steps and end results quickly. He also gives many details as you work through the lessons to get you to an expert level as quickly as possible. I'll look for the One-on-One books for future software training and especially Deke's books.

This book provides the best way to learn InDesign outside of a classroom; it may even be better than that. Deke explains how his course runs, then provides helpful instructional materials and exercises that are delivered with a common-sense approach that is easy to understand.

The DVD that is included with the book was very helpful. It shows you each step of a lesson and you can replay it as many times as you wish. You won't have classroom instructors doing that. Then, after viewing the video lesson, you go to the book for a step-by-step detail on how InDesign works.

Deke's method of instruction is clear, understandable and logical. After I worked with this book I was so sold on Deke's abilities as an instructor that I bought his book on Adobe's Photoshop.

I can't give a higher recommendation; he knows how to teach and has written a tremendous book on InDesign.

I would never have tackled InDesign CS2 without this book. Deke lays it out, so to speak, in every way. Do-along lessons, The DVD and the large pictures showing you what it should look like create a visual safety net. You almost can't go wrong. The book lessons are so clear and Deke takes you through every way to do a thing in each lesson. If you're a keyboard freak there are keyboard shortcuts galore, include Deke Keys which you can install with the lessons. I am more of a mouse person and Deke makes sure to outline all the ways you can use the mouse to access pallets and work with graphics and text. Deke is enthusiastic about the software but brutally honest about it's few shortcomings. Best of all, he takes you through the trickiest parts of the learning process and manages to be funny all the while. I always love Deke's lesson plans. Instead of using a stuffy business format for the sample documents he presents you with projects like Little Pupper Friend's Cookie Recipe or Professor Shembops 1970's pop music quiz. It all feels less intimidating. Another good thing is the way Deke explains things for those of us who have been using PageMaker or QuarkXPress. Adobe InDesign CS2 One on One is a wonderful way to learn. The book is great for design people who are not particularly "techie". Still, InDesign CS2 is not for sissies.I know this sounds nutty, but I feel like Deke is right here with me every step of the way.

Am a a novice to InDesign CS. I received this book on Dec 26th. By Dec 28 I had solved several problems on documents I had been working on.

I like the idea of the DVD video. I think it is great that Deke give all the short cuts. I speeds my flow and reduces my carpal tunnel pains.

The information is informative, well illustrated and on target.

If you are looking for a good book GET THIS.

Adobe InDesign CS2 one-on-one comes with a CD-ROM tutorial. Nearly 500 pages of hands-on how-to: Very useful in learning to use the software and read the Adobe esoterica. This book is well worth the price.

A disappointing book that is not specific enough and you spend too much time searching for answers.
McClelland tries to be a comedian while teaching his lesson's but it turns out to be blah blah blah. In all fairness he gives some pointers that could be helpful but too much time is spent on blather and not enough on the mechanics of the software. It's like watching a cliff hanger, he stops just short of giving you the information he promises but in this case you have to go and find the answers yourself or do his silly exercises that are time consuming to learn anything.
I am new to page layout and need specific answers to the mechanics of the program which I found this book to be frustrating to work with. I ended up getting a different book and am learning Indesign mostly without frustration.