Adobe InDesign 1.5 Classroom in a Book (Paperback)

~ Adobe Creative Team (Author), Adobe Creative Team (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you've read the manual already and want more training in Adobe InDesign, the tutorials in Adobe InDesign 1.5: Classroom in a Book can help you get up and running in a few hours. You'll be walked through exercises, step by step, using project files and graphics provided on the companion CD-ROM. You'll learn also how to set up new documents, manipulate text, add or create graphics by using the drawing tools, set your monitor for better color management, and prepare your files for output.

Version 1.5 of InDesign has several new features, including the ability to place text along a path and justify lines of type vertically (that is, adjust the leading to fill out a text frame). This edition of the book refers to these new features, although some get only a cursory mention. For example, one of the coolest new tools is the eyedropper, which can copy and apply text or graphic-formatting attributes quickly. But the usefulness of this tool, particularly with respect to text attributes, never is fully explored in a tutorial. On the other hand, the book does have extensive information on the new ability to create clipping paths from Photoshop alpha channels, which even allows choosing from multiple saved clipping paths.

The original edition of this book had an index that was less than thorough; this seems to have been corrected here. Keep in mind, however, that the Classroom in a Book series is best when you read the book from front to back, following along at your computer. The books in the series generally are less effective for jumping around and troubleshooting. Although Adobe InDesign 1.5: Classroom in a Book doesn't make the best desk reference, you can refer back and apply the lessons to your own projects once you've finished. New users especially will appreciate the well-constructed exercises, which incorporate many features, tools, and issues in each lesson. --Angelynn Grant

Product Description

Adobe InDesign 1.5 Classroom in a Book guides users through self-paced lessons in desktop publishing, using the new features and tools available in the latest release of Adobe InDesign. Introductory lessons cover the basics of the interface, and contribute to familiarity with the tools, views, and frames of the InDesign environment. Using the building-block approach, each lesson increases skill and mastery of the application. Files on the CD-ROM accompany each lesson.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 431 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Education (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201710269
• ISBN-13: 978-0201710267
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,524,002 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The worst of the Classroom in a Book Series I've used, December 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe InDesign Classroom in a Book (Paperback)

I speak as a frequent purchaser of Adobe products and books in the AdobePress Classroom in a Book Series; also as an experienced user of PCs, prepress designer, and Desktop Publishing software user and consultant. This CIB is definitely not among AdobePress' best; in fact it is technically poor. The book's index is virtually useless since the page number references are wrong. A book of this nature is generally used as a reference once lessons are completed; but with a faulty index, this one will quickly end up in the trash bin. The lessons are moderately useful, though a number of exercises do not perform as described. Unfortunately, Adobe's website Feedback Page provides no avenue of 'feedback' relative to their AdobePress products (in fact, the site is misnamed, as it only provides resources for tech support, and no avenue for feedback to Adobe at all). Though I recommend other books in the CIB series (like the one's for Pagemaker, Acrobat, After Effects and Premiere) I do not recommend this one.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, February 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Adobe InDesign Classroom in a Book (Paperback)

At over thirty dollars, I expected more from this book. Like a better index. Some organization. And honesty about what the problem can and can't do.

This book is little more than a sales demo of what the product can do. However, even then they haven't done a very good job.

I suppose this book would be OK if I were taking a class and had a teacher there. But on its own there's not enough explanation of why you want to do things.

The visual quickstart book is half the price, but contains much better instructions, is laid out better, and has a good index.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book in progress, August 4, 2001

By	Lawrence Miller (Pineville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Got the book a few days ago and have only, so far, perused it carefully.

Looks like If you want to really teach yourself this program, step by step

If you want to really gain a feeling of solidity that you know the program

This is the book. Seems to cover everything. Chapters on typography (crucial to my design work), on Bézier curves, on color management, seem especially stimulating. And you need not go in sequence, they say, though I prefer to.

Type is big so no page feels overwhelming. Images are clear. Words are easy to grasp.

Two caveats / quibbles:

(1) The index sucks. I looked up simple words and ideas and did not find them. [Shame on you, Adobe.] (2) Do not throw out the original manual that comes when you buy the application, which provides a depth of details beyond the scope of this book. I do wish this book provided page number referrrals to that manual .