How to get your nameplate started

How to: Get your nameplate started.

In InDesign

Create Document

1. Go to your DOCK.
2. Click on the pink icon with the letters ID in the center.
3. Go to FILE.
4. Click NEW.
5. Click DOCUMENT.
6. In the PAGE SIZE dropdown box, select CUSTOM.
7. In the WIDTH box type 14i, which stands for 14 inches.
8. In the HEIGHT box, type 23i, which stands for 23 inches.
9. In the COLUMNS box, type 6.
10. Hit OK.

Create Nameplate’s Frame

1. On the InDesign toolbar, select the RECTANGLE FRAME TOOL, which is represented by a rectangle with an X through it.
2. Move your mouse over to the DOCUMENT window and draw a square inside of the page’s borders, which are represented by a purple box that surrounds the page.
3. Go to the TOOL menu, which appears at the top of the page when a tool is selected.
4. In the WIDTH box, labeled W, type 13i, which stands for 13 inches.
5. In the HEIGHT box, labeled H, type 3i, which stands for 3 inches.
6. Move your new box to the top of the page, where a nameplate would be anchored.

Select Type

1. On the InDesign toolbar, select the TYPE tool, which is represented by a T.
2. Go to the document window and click inside of the box.
3. Type the name of the newspaper.
4. Highlight the text.
5. Go to the TOOL menu, and click on the CHARACTER FORMATTING CONTROLS, which is represented by an A on the far left-hand side of your screen.
6. Choose a FONT.
7. Choose a FONT SIZE.
8. Adjust the TRACKING, which is in the middle of the TOOL menu, and is represented by an AV with a horizontal arrow running underneath them.

NOTE: Tracking is the horizontal space between letters in a word.

9. Adjust the SET HEIGHT, which is represented by the T with a vertical arrow running beside it.
10. Adjust the SET WIDTH, which is represented by the T with a horizontal arrow running below it.
11. Go to the left-hand side of the TOOL menu and click on the PARAGRAPH FORMATTING CONTROLS, which is represented by a paragraph symbol.
12. Choose a HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT for your nameplate, from the left-hand side of the TOOL menu.
13. On the InDesign toolbar, select the SELECT tool, which is represented by a BLACK ARROW.
14. Click on the box with your nameplate.
15. Go to the TOOL menu, and adjust the VERTICAL ALIGNMENT of the text, which is represented by four boxes on the right-hand side with lines differently placed within them.

Add Color

1. Go to your WINDOW menu.
2. Check SWATCHES.
3. To change the color of your TEXT, highlight the text and select a SWATCH color on the right-hand side of your screen.

NOTE: Double-click on a color family to get other colors.

4. To change the color of your BOX, go to the InDesign toolbar and click on the SELECT tool.
5. Select the BOX.
6. Go to the bottom of your InDesign toolbar and click on the FILL tool, which is represented by a plain, white square.
7. Go to your SWATCHES menu and select a color.

Save for Web

NOTE: ONLY SAVE WHEN YOU ARE COMPLETELY FINISHED.

1. To save ONLY your nameplate, hit APPLE + A simultaneously, to SELECT ALL.
2. Go to the FILE menu.
3. Click EXPORT.
4. Pick a DESTINATION for the file.
5. Name your document in the SAVE AS box.
6. In the FORMAT box, select JPEG.
7. When the EXPORT JPEG menu pops up, click SELECTION.
8. In the IMAGE QUALITY box, select MAXIMUM.
9. Hit EXPORT.

In Photoshop

Create Document

1. Go to FILE.
2. Select NEW.
3. Name your document.
4. In the WIDTH box, type 13 and select INCHES.
5. In the HEIGHT box, type 3 and select INCHES.
6. In the RESOLUTION box, type 200 dpi.
7. In the COLOR MODE box, select RGB.
8. In the BACKGROUND CONTENTS box select WHITE.
9. Hit OK.

NOTE: Use layers, the type tool, color and filters to create a nameplate.