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Adobe Indesign for Nonfiction Book Layout - Complete Guide

Name: Adobe Indesign for Nonfiction Book Layout - Complete Guide
Rating: 4.8 (278 reviews)

Design professional Indesign nonfiction books: layout, typography, color management, and graphic design tools.

Created byAaron Linsdau

Last updated 3/2023

English

What you'll learn

Learn to create print-ready PDF files
Professional nonfiction book layout and design
Resize, scale, rotate, and adjust images
Professional nonfiction book layout techniques
Earn money with your Indesign nonfiction book layout skills
Create table of contents, headers, footers, and book structure
Importing manuscripts from multiple sources
How to manage and choose fonts
Create color swatches and manage colors
Professional shortcuts and workflows
Adjust object opacity
Manage multiple layers in a document
Save time with rapid techniques
No time-wasting stories or annectdotes
Nonfiction, memoir, history, guides, textbook layout

Course content

16 sections • 111 lectures • 6h 37m total length

Overview - Preparing Indesign for Nonfiction Layout0:45
Aaron describes this section and the value of getting started in quickly creating an Indesign project.
Overview of mouse clicks and keyboard shortcuts1:45
You will learn the mouse click standards, graphics, sounds, and meaning used in this course and in Indesign.
Setting up Preferences in Indesign so Everything is Ready to Go2:56
You will learn how to set up & configure section numbering options, units and increments, turning on grids, and setting display performance.
Creating Your First Project3:12
You will create your first book project. You will learn how to set book dimensions and other important setups to make everything run smoothly during your layout work.
Setting Up and Customizing the Indesign Workspace For Your Needs5:28
You'll learn to configure the toolbars, controls, and panels necessary to do your book layout.
Creating and Saving Workspaces2:16
Once you configure your workspace, you will want to save it. You'll also learn how to manage and delete your custom workspaces, too.

Overview of Your First Book Layout0:51
Learn what you will take away from this first book layout effort. You'll go all the way through a basic book layout process to grasp the fundamentals.
Adding the First Text Box to Your Layout2:00
You will learn how to add text boxes, which are called objects, to your layout. You'll also learn how to add text to that box and place it on the page.
Text Box Adjustments & Mini Exercise4:22
You'll learn how to scale, adjust, and rotate a text box with multiple interfaces. You'll also learn how to correct any text box position and rotation mistakes you might make.
Font Selections and Adjustments5:50
You'll learn how to choose system fonts, select the different styles, what different styles might be available, how to adjust point sizes, and other text-related skills.
Text horizontal and vertical positioning4:02
You will learn how to change the horizontal and vertical alignment of text in each text box or object.
Snap and Smart Alignment2:44
You'll learn what Snap and Smart Alignment can do for you to make layout easier and faster.
Preview Your Layout, Bonus Pro Tip3:35
Learn the different page preview modes. You'll learn different ways to preview your book layout without so many distractions. You also get a good bonus technique to prevent hard-to-find mistakes, too.
Zoom and Navigation Controls, Plus Shortcut Keys2:11
You will learn the different zoom controls and how to navigate around your book layout. You'll also learn the fast way using keyboard shortcuts to zoom in and out of your document.
Pages Panel - Your Book Overview1:50
Learn the all-important pages panel so you can navigate around your book easily. You'll get the overview easily and see what's on pages without having to scroll through the book.
Create the Book's Title Page, Pro tips8:06
Learn how to create the main title page of your book. You'll also learn the "technical terms" for the pages so you're not embarrassed when you start talking with a book printer and you don't understand what they're saying.
Creating the Basic Copyright Page, Bonus Content, Student Challenge6:41
Learn how to add a copyright page for your book. The downloadable sample is yours, free to use as you wish. The sample also includes a student challenge. You will learn to handle your first text formatting challenge, depending on how your software handles the included resource document.
Adding a Dedication Page, Common Book Standards3:19
Learn where the dedication page goes, what it might look like, and how to format the text.
Generate Filler Text to Start Your Book - Pro Tip1:49
You will learn to add placeholder text generated by Indesign. Pros use this to test things out. This is handy when you don't have your own text ready to add.
Body Text Formatting Basics, Pro Critical Layout Tip5:34
Learn how to format body text and pro tips to make your text look better.
Copying Text Boxes - Pro Tip For Speed2:42
Learn how to copy and move text boxes between pages.
Pro tip - Learn the secret keystroke to make copying objects faster and easier.
Adding an image to a page4:40
Learn how to add a picture or image to a document page. You'll learn basic image controls to get started.
Pages Panel: How to Manage Pages, Pro Tip to Avoid Errors4:27
Learn how to make your book with the Pages Panel. You'll learn how to insert, delete, shift around, and sort pages in the Pages Panel.
Handling Older or Incompatible Files, Samples Included2:32
Learn how to save, open, and send files to other people. Sometimes others may be using a different, older version of Indesign than you. This may make the file impossible to open. Learn how to create and open IDML files as another option.
Saving File Formats, Generating a PDF, Sample Included6:32
Learn the proper format to save your book in.
Learn how to set up and generate a PDF to make your first book.

Overview of Preparing a Microsoft Word Document for Layout0:46
Paragraph styles3:39
Learn how to adjust and remove paragraph styles to reduce work during layout in Indesign.
Use the downloadable Word file to use for this lesson.
Special Characters2:39
Learn how to remove special characters to reduce errors during layout in Indesign.
Manage and remove tabs2:34
Learn how to remove and replace tabs with a better option to reduce problems during layout in Indesign.
Double and triple spaces, spaces before and after paragraphs3:47
Learn how to find, identify, and remove double and triple spaces. Also learn why it's important to eliminate spaces at the beginning and end of paragraphs.
Use a single font1:27
Learn the value and importance of using a single font whenever necessary. Learn when more than one font is necessary and justified.
Paragraph style management2:49
Learn how to avoid wasting time by using correct paragraph formatting rather than overdoing paragraph styles, reducing the amount of manual work to format your document.
Tracking and changes1:24
Learn why it's important to remove or disable tracking changes and also why it's important to clear and remove comments from your Word document.
Grammar and spelling0:24
Learn why a final grammar and spelling check can save you troubles down the road in your layout.

Overview of Preparing a Google Docs Manuscript for Layout0:46
Paragraph formatting and styles1:31
Learn how to adjust and remove paragraph styles to reduce work during layout in Indesign.
Use the downloadable free RTF or Word resource file to use for this lesson in Google docs.
Finding and removing special characters2:31
Learn how to remove special characters in Google docs to reduce errors during layout in Indesign. Google docs has limited support, so you'll see some of the tricks to make layout efforts easier. Use this link to learn more: https://support.google.com/docs/thread/1998170?hl=en
Removing tab indentation from Google Docs2:24
Learn how to remove and replace tabs in Google Docs with a better option. This will help reduce problems during layout in Indesign.
Remove spaces before and after paragraphs1:59
Learn why it's important to eliminate spaces at the beginning and end of paragraphs. You’ll learn how to search for them using Google Docs. You'll also learn about spacing after periods, too.
How to set to a single font if possible2:08
Learn the value and importance of using a single font in Google Docs when possible. Learn when more than one font is necessary and justified.
Grammar and Spelling1:05
Learn why a final grammar and spelling check pass in Google Docs can save you troubles down the road in your layout.
Exporting from Google Docs for Indesign2:12
Exporting your Google Doc file so it's compatible with Indesign. Learn the best formats and tradeoffs.

Prepare an OpenOffice Manuscript for Book Layout0:39
You'll learn the process of preparing an OpenOffice document for layout in Indesign.
Removing paragraph styles1:47
Learn how to adjust and remove paragraph styles in OpenOffice to reduce work during layout in Indesign.
Use the free downloadable .ODT file to use for this lesson.
Finding and removing special characters1:01
Removing tab indentation1:51
Learn how to remove and replace tabs with a better option to reduce problems during layout in Indesign.
Removing spaces before and after paragraphs1:26
Learn why it's important to eliminate spaces at the beginning and end of paragraphs. You’ll learn how to search for them using OpenOffice.
Removing extra double spaces from text1:34
Set to a single font if possible2:00
Learn the value and importance of using a single font in OpenOffice when possible. Learn when more than one font is necessary and justified.
Remove tracking and comments1:36
Learn why it’s important to remove or disable tracking changes and also why it's important to clear and remove comments from your OpenOffice document.
Using your spelling and grammar checker1:34
Learn why a final grammar and spelling check pass in OpenOffice can save you troubles down the road in your layout.
Exporting for Indesign2:08
Exporting your OpenOffice file so it's compatible with Indesign. Learn the best formats and tradeoffs.

Overview of Placing a Manuscript Into Indesign0:48
You will hear in this overview what the process of placing a manuscript into Indesign entails.
Placing a manuscript6:19
You'll learn the overview of placing manuscripts and why Indesign works in this fashion.
Included is a ZIP file with the Pride and Prejudice.indd and Pride and Prejudice.idml files. If your version of Indesign cannot open the INDD file, use the IDML file and save as an INDD on your computer.
The attached resource file contains the Indesign file, both the INDD and the compatible IDML for older versions, for you to review. You'll see how the document was placed so you can compare it to what you've done.
Read the supported file formats for Indesign: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/supported-file-formats-indesign-cs5.html#main_Place
Please note that though the above link is for CS5, the compatibility for the latest CC version hasn't changed.
Also attached is a complete manuscript for Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. You can practice with this full-length manuscript if you wish.
Using File-Place to drop your manuscript into your book layout4:12
You'll learn how to handle overset text, what it means, how to avoid it, and how to identify it.
Using Copy - Paste to add a manuscript3:50
Learn how to place a partial or complete manuscript using Copy - Paste. Learn how it's different than the place tool and why you might use it.
Linked Documents - Pros and Cons6:52
Learn how to create linked documents. You'll also learn the pros and cons of this approach in this lesson.

Overview of the Fundamentals of Indesign Layout0:39
The fundamentals of Indesign layout are presented in this lesson. Aaron gives you a better idea of what the concept of document layout is.
Move the title and other text to another page2:05
Learn how to move the text and title from your imported manuscript to another portion of your book layout.
The attached resource file contains the Indesign file (INDD or IDML) for you to review. You'll see how the document was broken up by chapter using page breaks.
9a
Text threading2:09
Learn how text threading works and how it can be useful to you. You'll see how to enable and disable the text threading feature.
Breaking up chapters4:30
You'll learn how to break up chapters using the page break character.

Overview of the Paragraph Styles Panel1:05
Chapter title paragraph style, apply title style, pro tip and hacks8:46
Learn to set up paragraph styles for chapter titles, how to change the title, and how to adjust spacing before and after the chapter title. You also learn why this is important and valuable.
Chapter body text paragraph style setup and alignment9:11
Learn how to set up paragraph styles for the body of the chapter. You'll learn pro tips for adjusting and aligning text so it looks professional and not hack.
Attached are Indesign files for you to look at and compare your results.
Second paragraph styles in the body2:36
Learn how to handle multiple paragraph styles in your book layout. If you need different paragraph styles in your book layout, this is the lesson for you.
Managing forced line break special characters3:26
Learn to handle forced line breaks that cause paragraph alignment problems.
Managing hyphenation4:36
Learn how to manage hyphenation so it doesn't get out of control. Also learn the first step in managing orphaned text lines on other pages.
Orphans and widow lines - more way to fix them4:27
Learn other methods of how to control orphaned and widow text lines on pages. This is important because your layout will look amateur with hanging words on nearly blank pages, too.
Drop Caps, Character Styles5:54
Learn how to make incredible-looking drop caps with little effort. Drop caps add a classic fiction look for your text. Here's a YouTube link to the extended words/styles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBmxL7e-yVc
Please note this link is not an endorsement of this video/channel, only a student resource.
Numbered Lists and Bulleted Lists7:06
Learn how to create numbered and bulleted lists. Also learn advanced alignment techniques for both list types.

Overview of Master Pages and What They Do For You0:37
What do master pages do for you, how can you access them, and can they save you time? Find out in this overview.
Creating running headers with master pages13:32
You'll learn the master page system, how to set them up, where to use them, how to create running headers, what the traditions are, and how you can make your book look professional.
Page numbers - creating and positioning5:18
An added bonus is the Indesign file for this section. You will be able to see how the master pages are set as well as the page numbering system.
Attached is a sample you can download that shows what master pages look like in this section.
Book Structure - What is in it and what's the order?8:56
Learn the classic book structure. When you want to add parts to your book, you’ll know where they’re supposed to go. You can download the included PDF or Indesign documents that have all of the parts of a book as a resource for your future writing and layout efforts.

Overview of Fonts and Their Impact0:41
Aaron talks about how the wrong font choice can make people despise your book. He talks about the value of this lesson and the incredible importance of it.
Looking at fonts on your system3:51
Before you search the Web for a new font, look on your computer. It likely has dozens if not hundreds of fonts for you to choose from. You'll learn about glyphs, font options, and font restrictions that can lead you to waste countless hours if you're not careful.
Download the free PDF sampler of some of the more common book fonts so you can compare them on your computer.
Searching your layout for different fonts5:10
Indesign has a powerful tool to find all of the fonts in your book layout. Don't miss this lecture - it can save you from embarrassment and problems down the line.
Choosing a font for your book - serif and sans serif fonts6:39
Learn to choose readable fonts, what are some of the common fonts, how to download Adobe fonts, what you can do with them as a preview.

Requirements

Installed working CC version of Adobe Indesign

Description

Do you need to make a layout for a nonfiction book for professional publication? Perhaps you are a guide book author and want to learn how the book layout process works so you can make your own PDF. This course is for you! Most other Indesign courses teach lots of extra material that won't help you. This course is specifically targeted at people who want to learn nonfiction and textbook layout without all the fluff.

Walter: "Your course was so helpful. My staff struggled for a month trying to learn Indesign from YouTube. We just wasted our time and missed critical opportunities. Your easy-to-follow teaching style literally hand-held us, taught my team time-saving skills, and saved us $1,000's of dollars in lost revenue. Thank you!" Walter P., Orange and Blue Marketing

From Aaron: "Hi there, my name is Aaron and I've professionally taught Indesign to hundreds of students. I've created hundreds of layouts in Indesign, from simple nonfiction books to complex guides and textbooks. Together we'll work through real projects will real manuscripts. You'll learn everything you need to know to be successful. This course is filled with instruction that gets you to success fast."

This course will save you from wasting $100's if not $1,000's of your hard-earned money. Many "pro" book layout designers learn from YouTube as they go, wasting your money. Other Indesign contractors charge insane amounts of money. That's why I made this course. It's for people who want to learn nonfiction book layout or need to do the job themselves.

Bethany: "What you just taught me almost made me cry. Before your class, my boss made me change the font in our company book twice. It took me a week. With what you showed me, I could've been literally done in a minute. One week cut down to one minute. I hope others find your course." Bethany R., Outdoor Medical Training School

This course helps you avoid these mistakes:

Incorrectly layering images
Improperly typesetting pages
Classic manuscript import errors
Incorrectly setting colors
Making a hard-to-manage table of contents

It's so easy to make mistakes and not see them during book layout. Aaron has seen books with beautiful covers but the inside looked like a mess. Trying to do a book layout in Microsoft Word will make your book look terrible. Word just doesn't have the right tools.

This course includes:

Sample complete manuscripts for practice
Sample copyright page text completely free to use
Ideas for graphic objects and integration with Illustrator

Aaron shares the tricks he's learned over years of doing nonfiction book layout design. The goal of this course is to teach you how to make your own book PDF and not look like an amateur doing it. You'll learn the necessary skills to make turn your manuscript into a pro PDF.

Manuscript software formatting guidelines include:

Microsoft Word
Google Docs
OpenOffice

Even if you used a different program, the instructions for the above software will help you figure out what you need to do. Ask questions in the course forum and Aaron will do his best to help you out.

There are a lot of small but important details in a nonfiction book layout. Avoid making errors with this course. You spent 100's of hours perfecting your manuscript. Don't make the rookie mistake of making your book look like it was prepared by an amateur.

Who this course is for:

Anyone wanting to create a professional PDF from their nonfiction manuscript
Aaron's course is for people with no InDesign experience. No previous publishing knowledge is required.
This course is relaxed and bite-sized. It's broken down into small skills that won't overwhelm you. You only need basic computer skills to succeed.

Save time wasted on huge "master classes" that cover a lot of what you don't need. This course gives you exactly what you need to get the job done. You won't wade through endless discussions and stories that aren't relevant to your nonfiction book layout. Save time and get the job done faster with Aaron's courses.

Aaron Linsdau Learning: Skills. Fast.

Who this course is for:

Students who want to create a professional nonfiction book layout

Adobe Indesign for Nonfiction Book Layout - Complete Guide

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Getting Indesign Ready for You6 lectures • 16min

Creating your first Book Layout and Generating a PDF19 lectures • 1hr 14min

Preparing a Microsoft Manuscript for Book Layout9 lectures • 19min

Preparing a Google Docs Manuscript for Book Layout8 lectures • 15min

Preparing an OpenOffice Manuscript for Book Layout10 lectures • 16min

Adding a Manuscript to a Book Layout5 lectures • 22min

Layout editing fundamentals4 lectures • 9min

Paragraph Styles for the whole layout9 lectures • 47min

Master pages for page templates4 lectures • 28min

All About Fonts4 lectures • 16min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: