One of the reasons I LOVE Blurb and will probably never stop making at least several books a year with them is because I can use Adobe InDesign and publish my books through them.
Why do I love InDesign???
Because I can create almost any artistic vision I want with this program. I’ve been using InDesign for 14 years and I used Quark Express (a book publishing software) 3 years before that. In that time, I’ve learned to design efficiently and use the program to achieve particular layouts.
If you’re intrigued by what InDesign can do but don’t know much about it, I’m sharing the numerous reasons I love InDesign. Plus, I’m sharing a few layouts that I would not attempt without InDesign. And seriously, for about 85% of my books, I use InDesign.
62 Reasons Why I Love InDesign
1. I can see all of the pages in my book at one time in the pages panel.
2. I can easily add as many pages as I want, where I want.
3. I can move the pages with a simple drag and drop.
4. I can delete the pages by dragging them to the trash can.
5. I can change the properties of the page with a right click.
6. I can add any size of photo box.
7. I can type in the dimensions I want for each photo box.
8. I can place the photo box exactly where I want by using guides or typing in coordinates.
9. I can overlap and layer as many photo boxes as I want.
10. I can add a simple border to the photo boxes (and text boxes).
11. I can rotate my photo box to any degree.
12. I can rotate only the content within a photo box to any degree.
13. I can scale a photo within a photo box.
14. I can scale the photo to fill the frame.
15. I can size the frame to match the photo.
16. I can add a grid of photos by using the arrow keys.
17. I can make a circle photo box.
18. I can make a photo box out of any shape.
19. I can place my text any where on (or a portion off) the page.
20. I can adjust the text to any style, size, color and alignment.
21. I can align the text toward the spine or away from the spine – which is awesome for book design.
22. I can adjust the leading and tracking (vertical and horizontal spacing between lines and letters).
23. I can make the text all caps or small caps with one click.
24. I can increase the size of only the first letter of the paragraph with one one click.
25. I can easily outline the text.
26. I can add a photo inside of the letters.
27. I can add a gradient to my text.
28. I can add a gradient to my photos.
29. I can adde a gradient to only my photo box outline.
30. I can use a gradient color or transparency.
31. I can wrap text around a particular area of a photo.
32. I can connect the text between multiple text boxes and pages.
33. I can align the top, bottom, right, left and center edge of any box.
34. I can space boxes by a specific dimension.
35. I can use smart guides for placing and spacing. They are super smart guides.
36. I can create lines with a particular weight, color, and style.
37. I can create a style for objects within my book.
38. I can create custom colors.
39. I can use color for boxes, shapes, text or outlines.
40. I can make a gradient of several colors or shades of colors.
41. I can use transparency for photos, text, and colors.
42. I can create a paragraph style of all text properties and alignment.
43. I can create specific styles for bold, italic, color, hyperlinks, etc.
44. I can link color to a particular text style.
45. I can change any aspect of a color or style and it immediately changes everywhere it’s used.
46. I can create multiple master pages for different sections or types of pages in my book.
47. I can apply a new master page to pages already in my book with a simple right click.
48. I can make a master page that is dependent upon another master page.
49. I can set up consistent margins for a cohesive book.
50. I can customize my page numbers.
51. I can create a Table of Contents with proper page numbers without having to go through my book.
52. I can use layers or I can ignore them.
53. I can display all of my photo book links.
54. I can refresh links when I make a change/edit to a photo in my book.
55. I can spell check, of course.
56. I can easily find out where my text doesn’t fit in a box or my photo resolution is too low.
57. I can create hyperlinks to my text or images.
58. I can assemble all photos, text, and graphics when I’ve completed a project.
59. I can export to blurb in one click.
60. I can export to pdf or jpeg in one click.
61. I can customize my export options.
62. I can make an interactive pdf with embedded hyperlinks.
If you’re interested in learning more, you’ll be excited to hear that I’m opening up my InDesign Workshop where I show you exactly how I design a photo book using InDesign. If you’re unfamiliar with InDesign, I walk you through every tool you need know. Each lesson comes with a pdf download and video tutorials.
This workshop experience is unlike any other because it is a combination of a workshop and a mentorship. I’ll open up the program for three months. Within that time, you can tell me when exactly when you want the lessons to start.
You’ll receive the lessons via email, access to a private Facebook group and two private 1:1 calls to discuss how to apply the material to your specific project.
For more information, click here.
If you want to remember this tutorial, make sure you pin this image.
