Layout 18 - 3 Common but Easy to do Design Techniques
General Document Setup
11in. x 8.5in. Portrait Format
3 pages, with “facing pages” checked off
Start # = 1
Columns 1, column gutter 0.25"in.
Margins = 0.625in. all sides
Bleed = 0.125in. all sides
This is a very important step if you want ANY full bleed images!
Note that you’ll also have to drag out any images that you want full bleed out to the bleed mark
Layout 1: Subject Flying Out of Frame
1 - Removing Subject from Background in Photoshop:
Choose an image and open it in Photoshop.
Make sure it’s an image that you want. The best images for this are ones with a very distinct subject in the photo to highlight.
Use the Object Selection Tool to select the subject.
All you have to do here is to click on the object/subject you want to select. In this case we are clicking on the man on the skateboard.
Refine the selection using tools like Polygon Selection.
Remember you can add to the selection by holding down on the “Shift” key and subtract by holding on the “Alt” key.
Access "Select and Mask," at the property bar near the top of the page. Adjust settings, and output the selection to a new layer.
If needed, feel free to experiment with the sliders that are present with the “select and mask” menu.
Export the image as a PNG with a transparent background.
2 - Okay, Back in InDesign.
Resize and position the image within the frame.
You can double click into the frame to only adjust the image and not the frame. This is helpful especially when you want to resize.
Optionally flip or rotate the image for the desired orientation.
In our case, we reflected the image in the Y-axis so that the skateboarder is facing the opposite side.
Preview the page layout (press 'W') and add text to complement the design.
Here I added a simple title text and filler body texts.
For layout 1, make sure to get all the imperfect edges from the Object Selection Tool.
Layout 2: Fashion Magazine Style with Text Behind Image
1 - Creating Fashion Magazine Style in Photoshop:
Open the image you selected in Photoshop.
Use the Object Selection Tool to select the top part of the subject.
Or for any other layouts, we are trying to get the part where the image will overlap the text.
Refine the selection, similar to what we did with the previous layout.
Make sure that there are no gaps and holes and the edges are contiguous.
Export to a new layer with a transparent background, and export as PNG.
2 - Back in InDesign:
Import the original image into InDesign and position it on the page.
In order to get the correct position of the image, I drew up a black rectangular box (see image below) where I can position the top of my subject.
Duplicate the frame by copy and pasting the same picture to the side. Then, replace the new frame with the PNG (transparent background).
Make sure to also create a new layer by going to the layers panel. Move this new transparent image to the layer on the top, in this case Layer 2.
You can move objects between layers by dragging the small box on the right-hand side of the layers panel.
Add bold text with adjustments for size and alignment.
Putting a black box where I want the text to be to visualize where the background image needs to sit.
Layout 3: Anchoring Element and Text Wrap
1 - Creating Anchoring Element and Text Wrap in InDesign:
Create a rectangular frame (F) in InDesign and import an image.
Use the Type Tool (T) to create an anchoring letter (e.g., 'V').
Usually, the beginning character of your paragraph would do well here, but I’ve also seen successful examples of people using numbers.
Convert the letter to a vector object by creating an outline.
Do this by going to Type > Create Outline.
Enlarge and add an accent color to the letter.
Add another text box (T) and fill it with whatever text you need, this one is going to for the body text.
Adjust the layout by moving elements and ensuring they align with margins.
I like to ensure that the big letter is invading into the picture and clipped off the page just a tiny bit.
Use the Text Wrap feature to wrap text around the shape of the enlarged letter.
Text wrap can be accessed via Window > Text Wrap.
Once the Text Wrap window pops up, you’ll have the option to “Wrap Around Object Shape” choose that and increase the offset to get the text wrap effect.
2- Finalizing and Customization:
Customize colors, fonts, and other elements as desired.
Experiment with variations and adjustments to achieve the desired aesthetic.
Export the final design and share on social media, tagging the creator if applicable.
Adjusting the offset value for the text wrap so that the body text scoot away from my accent letter.
Hope Everybody learned something new in this tutorial! Again, I can do a separate video just on the magazine cover if it gets enough interest. See you all in the next one!
