InDesign CS5: Multi-Object Multi-State Objects

When multiple objects are selected, the Objects States Panel prompts, “Opt-click [the New button] to keep the objects in the same state.” When you opt-click, InDesign creates a multi-state object where each object can support multiple states. This is great when the objects aren’t in a stack.

A Multi-Object Object-State Object.

Opt/Alt Clicking the New Object State button for additional functionality

InDesign CS5 Workspaces: Interactive vs Interactive for PDF

Let’s take a look at the difference between the “Interactive” and the “Interactive for PDF” workspace in InDesign CS5. A side-by-side comparison quickly shows that PDFs do not support the new Animation (and therfore Timing) and Object States features. Bummer. At least you can always place an animation into the PDF as a media file.

PDF exports won't support Animations and Object States

InDesign CS5 New Feature: Color Label for Pages

I am really digging the new features added for pages in InDesign CS5. Not only do we get multiple page sizes via the Page Tool, we also get to color code the pages as well! Imagine the possibilities of coordinating color coded pages with color coded layers!

InDesign CS5 New Feature: Grid Mode (Gridify)

InDesign’s Grid Mode (Gridify) received a massive level-up between CS4 and CS5. Now you can use the feature while drawing new objects, or duplicating existing objects, in addition to using it to using it place multiple images in a grid. The keyboard shortcuts have been changed around too, if things aren’t behaving the way it used to. Here’s a look.

Using Gridify To Drawing Objects

1. Select your shape. Click and drag to draw your shape.
2. Use [arrow keys] to increase/decrease the number of rows/columns. InDesign fits the designated number of shapes into the size of the box you’ve clicked and dragged.
3. Use the [pageup/page down key] to increase/decrease the amount of space between the shapes. edit: If you use [Command + Arrow keys], you can increase/decrease just the horizontal or just the vertical space!
4. Let go of the mouse when you are done.
5. If you are drawing with the Polygon tool, use the [space bar] to toggle between editing the grid and editing the shape. (Thanks Bob Levine!)

Using Gridify to Duplicate Objects

1. [alt+click+drag] to make a duplicate copy of the object. This can be an empty frame, a text frame, or an image frame.
2. If you [alt], then [click+drag] you can actually let go of the [alt] at this point. If you [clicked+dragged] and then hit [alt], you’ll need to hold on to [alt] for the duration of the gridify duplication.
3. Use [arrow keys] to increase the number of rows and columns the object will be duplicated. InDesign will distribute the objects within the size of the space of your click-n-drag.
4. You CAN’T adjust the spacing in between with a keyboard shortcut. The space between objects is determined by the size of your click-n-drag, and the size of the object is set since you are duplicating an existing object.

Using Gridify to Place Multiple Images

This one works pretty much the same as in CS4, just mind the new keyboard shortcuts.

1. Load multiple images into your icon
2. [Click+drag] a marquee.
3. Use [Arrow keys] to gridify the space within the marquee. Alternatively, you can [ctrl+Shift] and then click and drag.
4. Use your arrow keys to change number of rows and columns.
5. Use [page up/page down] to adjust the space between the grids.

Gridify In CS4

1. Load multiple images
2. [Ctrl+shift] to activate the gridify feature. The icon will change
3. Click-n-drag the grid.
4. Use [arrow keys] to modify the number of rows/columns.
5. use [Shift+arrow keys] to modify the space in between.

Any extra insights? Please share! I’m always looking to learn.

InDesign CS5 New Feature: Page Tool

InDesign CS5 allows multiple page sizes within the same document. This is awesome for gate folds, or center folds. Let’s see how it works.

1. The is the Page Tool. The keyboard shortcut is [Shift+P]. Apparently, it is grouped with the Selection Tools.
2. The selected page will be highlighted in blue.
   You can move the page relative to the other page by dragging and dropping.
   You can change the placement of of the Master Page by dragging and dropping the Thick blue outline.
3. You have to change the page size through the Control Panel. It’s not my favorite panel.
4. You don’t have to use the Page Tool. The Edit Page Size button lets you change the size of the currently selected page from a drop down (pull up?) menu.
5. Additional options. These are document settings. Not page settings.
   Enable Page Layout: A quicker way to enable/disable layout adjustment for your document. It’s the same as if you go into [Layout>Layout Adjustment].
   Show Master Page Overlay: Shows the Master Page as an overlay so you can adjust its placement on the page.
   Objects Move with Page: Objects on the page layout will move with any page tool adjustments (so you move the entire page and its contents).

And also, here’s a short of list of things that doesn’t seem to work.

• You can’t scale the master page overlay. I guess it would be weird if you could.
• You can’t drag the page edge while in the Page Tool to re-size the page.
• You can’t move the page away from the spine (even if its to prevent master page items from overflowing to the attached spread)

InDesign CS5 New Feature: Gap Tool

InDesign introduces the Gap Tool in CS5. It’s one of the selection tools, so it can be found in the Tool Bar with the Selection Tool, direct Selection Tool, the also new Page Tool. The keyboard shortcut it [U]. Here are the basics:

• The Gap Tool works to change the size of InDesign frames by letting the user select the white space (the gap, that is) between objects. Additionally, the user can select the gap between an object and the page.
• The Gap tool works by detecting the bounding box of an object, so it doesn’t matter what shape it is.
• If objects are close enough together, the Gap Tool can adjust the edge for multiple objects at once, even if the objects aren’t in a group. [Is there a setting for this? I’d Love to be able to adjust the detection threshold]
• If objects are in a group, the Gap tool will adjust the entire group as a single object.
• The Gap Tool can adjust individual objects within a group.
• Use with Smart Guides for even more fun.
• ALT to move the objects being grabbed by the Gap Tool
• Ctrl to resize the gap by resizing the object
• Alt+Ctrl to resize the gap by moving the object
• Shift to move gap between 2 nearest objects