Part 1
INTERACTIVE INDESIGN
This section provides the foundation to get
you up and running with the rich interactive
capabilities of InDesign CC. Youâll learn
guidelines for interactive design, become
acquainted with the interactive design tools,
customize the interface, and get a taste
of what you can really do when you put
InDesign through its paces. Get ready for
a wild ride! Youâre going to be amazed by
the things you can do.
Chapter 1
THE LAY OF THE LAND
Youâre going to be blown away by the rich
variety of digital publishing options that
InDesign puts at your fingertips. This chapter
will help you navigate your options and
provide you with a taste of what can be
accomplished with this awesome tool. Youâll
tour some of the completed exercise files
both in a browser and in Adobe Reader or
Acrobat. Youâll see video and animation in
action, use dropdown menus, play slideshows
and this is just the beginning. When itâs all
said and done, youâll have the rest of the
book to learn how to do all of this and so
much more.
The Stampede from Print to Digital Media
When speaking of the migration from print to digital media, weâre reminded of the
frenzy that must have characterized the days of the gold rush and the wild, wild
west. These are indeed exciting times with emerging digital media technologies
transforming the horizon almost minute-by-minute. While it would be wonderful
to be able to provide a definitive set of instructions with explicit best practices,
tried-and-true workflows and ultimately a reliable step-by-step guide, the fact is that
the digital media landscape is changing so quickly that, at best, we can provide
only a compass and some navigational aids to help you chart your travels.
So what exactly is it we mean when we talk about digital media? And how
does InDesign factor into the mix? Known as the premiere layout application for
magazine and print collateral, InDesign has been evolving to become an extremely
powerful and versatile tool in the digital media space as well. As a creation tool for
both static and Interactive PDF, Flash SWF, EPUB and apps that can be published
for sale in various app stores, InDesign has been blazing a solid trail from
print-to-interactive and helping to define the new PrinteractiveÂŽ paradigm.
As to the digital media side of things, sorting through all the possible digital
destinations to choose the best option for your needs can be a little daunting.
The fact is that the technologies and formats are morphing and converging at a
staggering pace and what may be a clear distinction between them at this writing
may not be so definitive in the near future. That said, letâs take a look at the
assortment of digital publishing options to help you better prepare for this wild and
woolly journey.
PDF, Flash, EPUB, HTML or DPS?
Just as you wouldnât print a magazine when you needed a business card, or a
billboard in lieu of a brochure, different digital modalities are best suited for
different purposes. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses will go a long
way toward helping you determine what direction to take as you navigate the
evolving digital publishing frontier.
PDF
People just donât realize how sexy PDFs can be. When viewed in a desktop version
of Adobe Reader or Acrobat (and other PDF readers with varied support), a PDF
can contain bookmarks, hyperlinks, video, audio, Flash animation, interactive forms,
navigational buttons, show/hide effects and page transitions. PDF functionality
can be further extended in Acrobat Professional by adding form field calculations,
custom JavaScript, attached files and more. You can even view PDFs in full screen
mode for a more immersive interactive experience.
The development timeline for Interactive PDF can be minimal compared to
other digital publishing options if you design your print assets to be able to
accommodate media and interactive elements. Adobe Reader is widely adopted
and freely available and you can easily distribute a PDF as an email attachment
or a download from the web. One of the primary advantages to PDF is that your
audience can zoom in and out as desired without com...