Online Flipbook from PDF, InDesign or Adobe Express
Hi Everyone, this is a pretty important one because we always want to share our designs with others. This is a great way for anyone to design something and immediately have it accessible to anyone with an internet connection! In this video we are using Issuu, a free publisher that allows you to publish flipbooks online with some additional features like analytics as premium features in their various pricing plans.
Nevertheless I go over 3 different ways you can utilize Issuu. The first being with a expedited design creator like Adobe Express, the second as a PDF upload, and finally the third as an Adobe InDesign Plugin. Let’s go over all 3.
Using Adobe Express
Search for what you need in the search bar on Adobe Express.
Here in my example, I’m looking for catalogues.
Select a suitable template.
Make sure to check for multi-page documents if you are making a one that requires more than one page.
Customize the template according to your requirements.
If you need some help with Adobe Express, I’ve made a video on it before. Mastery of Adobe Express or Canva can dramatically improve you design efficiency.
The link to this video is here: https://youtu.be/2qDnDd3QunU
In the bottom left of Adobe express, you can find the “plugin” icon. Click that and search for Issuu
After you’ve gotten the plugin, you can see the “Preview on Issuu” panel where you can select whether you want it as a Flipbook, Embedment on a website, GIF, or Social Post. You can click on the arrow beside the preview link to view your new design as a flipbook!
That’s it! Hit publish and your design will be live and ready to share.
2. Using PDF Upload
If you already have the file that you created in a PDF format, you can simply upload that file onto Issuu.
Make sure your file is exported as pages since Issuu will automatically format it so that it reads like a book.
Double check whether or not you want/need a cover page.
Go to Issuu.com and after you log in, you be confronted with a big “upload” bar at the top of the webpage.
You can click “upload a file” or simply drag and drop your file in the box provided.
The preview will be pulled up and you’re free to adjust any settings. After hitting “publish” you’ll be ready to hit the ground running!
3. Using InDesign Integration
Ah yes, the good ol’ InDesign. We’ll need to go to the “plug-ins” dropdown menu at the top and hit “browse plugins”.
Search for “Issuu”, click into the result and hit the “get” or “Install” button at the top right.
Unfortunately you’ll need to close out of your InDesign when doing this and reopen after you’ve downloaded it. (I know, not the best UI/UX experience)
Navigate to Window > Extensions > Issuu to publish your design online.
If you don’t see this, try to uninstall and reinstall the Issuu plugin.
It will also ask you to save your file before upload so make sure you do that.
Sign in to Issuu by clicking the “Connect to Issuu” button, this will bring up a webpage. You’ll need to click the big Issuu button and then log in.
I’ve found traditionally that google logins are the easiest and fastest way to do this, plus now you’ll have a secure place to store your publications.5. Your design will be uploaded and you have the choice to open the draft or publish now.
After publishing, if you ever need to change your design, simply make changes, hit save, go to the extension window again and this time Issuu will prompt you to “update changes” instead.
This is a great function as we are always updating our designs. This allows us to not re-upload every time there’s a new design but simply update the existing one.
And that’s it! You’re good to go.
Note that you can use other integrations on the Issuu website to add in links, see analytics, and start selling your publication!
I think that the linking is very useful for any kind of catalogue or magazine while analytics will augment market studies and user fit-tests.
