Layout 12 - Creative Effects & “Meet the team”
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to craft an attention-grabbing layout using Adobe InDesign. We'll begin by setting up the document with the right dimensions, and I'll introduce a nifty tool called Pixlr for seamless background removal from your photos. We'll then dive into arranging and enhancing the images with drop shadow effects, adding sleek text elements, and creating a complementary title. By the end, you'll have a professional and visually striking layout perfect for showcasing your team or group of individuals!
General Document Setup
Standard Letter 8.5”x11” portrait sheets
2 pages, with “facing pages” checked
Start # = 2
Columns 1, column gutter 0.1667in
Margins = 0.625 in. all sides
FYI: Futura is a great free replacement to Sofia in all tutorials.
Background Shape
Create a background shape by using the rectangle tool (M).
Double-click on the fill to select a color or paste a hex code for the desired color, here I’m using HEX: f56844
Removing Background from Photos
Instead of manually removing backgrounds in Photoshop, I’ll go ahead and use Pixlr, a web services that is giving Photoshop a run for its money.
Open Pixlr, select the photos, and use the remove background feature.
Save the edited photos as a zip file with transparent backgrounds.
Adding Photos to InDesign
Import the edited photos into the InDesign document by dragging and dropping.
Adjust the size of the photos using shortcuts (Ctrl alt shift and C) for fitting content into the frame and (Ctrl shift alt and E) for fitting it into the extent of the frame.
Arranging and Flipping Photos
Arrange the photos on the page, considering the composition.
Use the "Objects > Transform > Flip Horizontal" to transform and flip photos as needed for the desired layout.
Applying Drop Shadow Effects
Start by selecting the photo you want to apply the drop shadow to.
Access the "Effects" (Window > Effects) panel and choose "Drop Shadow."
Customize the drop shadow settings, such as changing the blending mode to "Normal," opacity to 100%, and spread to 100%.
Effects for Lady in the Middle
Drop Shadow
Blending: Normal
Color: White
Opacity: 100%
Distance: 0in.
Angle: 180 Degree
X Offset: 0in.
Y Offset: 0in.
Size: 0.125in.
Spread: 100%
Noise: 0%
Effects for Man on the right:
Drop Shadow
Blending: Normal
Color: White
Opacity: 100%
Distance: 0.1398 in.
Angle: 153.4 Degree
X Offset: 0.125 in.
Y Offset: 0.0625 in.
Size: 0.0694 in.
Spread: 100%
Noise: 0%
Effects for Man on the left:
Drop Shadow
Blending: Normal
Color: White
Opacity: 100%
Distance: 0.1398 in.
Angle: 26.6 Degree
X Offset: -0.125 in.
Y Offset: 0.0625 in.
Size: 0.0694 in.
Spread: 100%
Noise: 0%
Adding Text
Use the type tool (T) to add names and titles for each person in the photos.
Choose an appropriate font, size, and alignment for the text.
Here I use Futura PT Demi 24pt for the Name and Futura PT Book 18pt for the title.
Create a white background for the text by changing the fill to "paper" and adjust text frame options for consistent spacing.
Styling Text
Add a drop shadow effect to the text boxes for a subtle shadow.
Drop Shadow
Blending: Normal
Color: Black
Opacity: 100%
Distance: 0.1375 in.
Angle: 135 Degree
X Offset: 0.0972 in.
Y Offset: 0.0972 in.
Size: 0 in.
Spread: 100%
Noise: 0%
Creating a Title
Add a title to the layout using the text tool (T).
Select an appropriate font, size, and alignment for the title text.
Futura PT Bold 60pt font for the title and Minion Pro Regular 10pt font for the body.
Enhancing a Photo with Pixlr
Return to Pixlr and edit one of the photos for a unique effect.
Here I’m using Pixlr’s “Photomash” capability.
Experiment with various editing options to customize the photo's appearance, such as adding shapes and changing colors.
Save the edited photo and import it into the InDesign layout.
Final Touches
Add the Rest of the Body Text on the other page, here we are really emphasizing the title.
Title: Sofia Pro Medium at 120pt
Body: Futura PT Book at 10pt and 50% opacity
Balance the layout by adding a caption at the bottom of the page by copy dragging and dropping (Alt + mouse drag) from the “meet the team” page.
Adjust the caption's formatting and spacing.
Review the layout, ensuring everything is well-placed and visually appealing.
And there you have it, fellow design enthusiasts! We've successfully crafted a stunning InDesign layout together. By following these steps, anyone can create a visually appealing layout for photos using Adobe InDesign and Pixlr! Let me know how it went for you :)
