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Bookmark Design this lesson is on designing bookmarks with
Adobe InDesign
First we will start with a new document go to the File menu > New > Document
set the width to 2", and the height to 6", make sure the orientation is vertical. Set
your margins to a minimum of 1/8" Now click the "more options" button and set
the bleed to 1/8" Click "OK"
I plan show you a couple of ways to place images with InDesign so add 2 pages to the
layout, go to the layout menu > pages > insert pages. set the number to 2. The document still
has facing pages turned on leaving no room for bleed between the two pages on this spread.
To fix this go to the File Menu > document setup and uncheck facing pages (that setting
is typically used for booklets and catalogs only) now the three pages are all on separate
spreads.
Now to place your image. For this tutorial I have already cropped and sized my images
to the proper size and resolution. For a bookmark that size will be 2.25 x 6.25, this size is
determined by adding the trim size to the amount of bleed on both sides (left and right
or top and bottom) to give us the overall dimension of the artwork if it bleeds.
Now for several ways to place images in InDesign… firs the click-drag method, go to the file
menu > place, select your file. then click and hold down the mouse button then drag the
box out to proper size. Note the picture box shows a proportional preview that scales up
and down as you drag.
Second, the "click to place" method, since I know these images are sized properly I can
just go to the file menu > place, click where I want the image and Pow! there it is at the
right size.
The last way I will show you in this tutorial is if you have a picture box already drawn
(for example from a master page) you select the picture box and use the place command
again. I'll draw a box and use the measurement palette to size and align it on the page.
you can see here I have the image sized properly, but it is aligned at 0, 0, it needs to be
aligned at -.125, - .125, now place the image.
Next we will get to some design, a basic bookmark with a quote.
With a basic bookmark find a nice quote and type it into a text block. Add a phone number
and a logo, I already have this prepared and will cut and paste it in. Arrange the type
and logo how you prefer, make any adjustments as needed.
Now create another rectangle, fill it with white and set the opacity to 50%, now you
will want it behind the type so select the white box and the background and go to the
Object menu > Arrange > send to back. Ill adjust this transparent box and then round
the corners on this box to give it a little polish.
Next to show you another trick I will convert the quote marks to artwork. Go to the Type
Menu > create outlines. then proceed to the Object menu > paths > release compound path.
to split the artwork up. then group the individual marks together "command - G" is the shortcut
for that. Its also under the Object Menu > Group. Now position the quote marks where
you want them.
Now that you have all the elements in place change the colors to something that goes well
with your background.
Here is a quick eyedropper trick to copy the style of the type above and format the phone
number with the same attributes, I think I want the size a bit larger for the number,
just a quick adjustment in the font palette
You can also use a bookmark as a coupon. It is yet another way to use these small marketing
gems, use the same format as we have here and add a promotional code at the bottom.
In conclusion you now have some simple design ideas for any bookmark project. At this point
don't be afraid to play with the settings and images and see what you can create on
your own. The more you get in there and play the easier it gets. Keep designing!