3. Liquid Layout is probably the most useful feature for writers who find themselves now producing documents that go beyond the static PDF or print. It's an improvement over Layout adjustment, where the document adapts to the new layout/dimensions you need. That said, I haven't tested how efficient it actually does this though I did get mixed results with a fairly basic layout. One thing I would like to warn users about when using Liquid Layout is to consider Layers (multiple layers can be a problem when adjusting layout using this feature).
Category: Techwriter
4. Adobe didn't exactly toot its horn with the new InDesign templates for iPod, iPad, Kindle Fire, Nook, and Android 10" screens and it's easy to understand why. I tested a document for my 2nd generation iPod Touch (exporting a straightforward article to EPUB) and it worked well enough though it was no better than an EPUB from Gutenberg.org or a PDF document printed in Linux. In the end, it really depended on the features of the app opening the EPUB or PDF, not so much the software that produced it. iBooks, Bluefire reader, and Stanza all had settings to make the document easier to read in case InDesign's template (or any EPUB or PDF software for that matter) wasn't accurate.
5. Preflight gets a slight makeover for digital publishing.
6. PDF forms and inserting HTML is easier than ever though I would hazard writers accustomed to print publications will still prefer Dreamweaver or Acrobat for adding controls such as List boxes and radio buttons and editing code. InDesign's markup isn't exactly standard XML and understanding how HTML5 markup fits in a WYSIWYG environment without a Code View or Split View can be a bit tough. Adobe Framemaker users are accustomed to this mixed approach but it goes without saying even veteran InDesign users might need to find their legs before playing around with forms and code.
Finally Here but not a must-have?
InDesign CS6 has some long-requested features such as remembering recently used fonts and styles, instant captions for images (which is a standard feature in structured authoring like Docbook and DITA), exporting a document to greyscale (which previously had to be done in Acrobat), align to selection, and a Text Frame auto-resize feature (which has been around in products like Microsoft Publisher and Corel Draw for years). The interface is also now much friendlier for newcomers and less obtuse unlike previous InDesign versions that lacked context descriptions and sported microscopic icons.
A clever time-saver is the Conveyor feature, a fancy way of reusing text, images, and even code to different parts of a document. It's nothing groundbreaking but the number of controls Adobe included with the Conveyor feature demands that users of InDesign CS6 should invest some time learning it first.
Get it now
Adobe InDesign CS6 has a lot of interesting and useful features. I would certainly love to try out the Liquid HTML5 more and create some media for the Kindle Fire and iPad using this release. As it is, however, I do fine with using Adobe InDesign CS4 (and a few open source Linux applications when needed). New versions of software from Microsoft (see Office 13), Corel, and Adobe are always fun and exciting for users who are devoted to the product. There's nothing like to trying out a new feature and finding out it really does make things easier. But in this economy, Creative Suite CS6's staggering price isn't exactly pennies for a freelance graphic artist. Even a company manager running the creative department would rather purchase a few new iPads or Core i5 machines than spend on a standalone InDesign even if it is an upgrade or discounted.
In the same way consumers are moving away from PCs to more portable devices like tablets, the use of desktop publishing software is somewhat being left behind by technologies that are interactive and dynamic. The physics of traditional print is just so limited compared to digital media. That's not to say InDesign is not an excellent platform to produce content, but there are cheaper ways to produce digital content – though you will have to get your hands dirty (i.e. code) and you'll have to do without the nifty toys in Adobe InDesign CS6.
0 comments:
Post a Comment