Objective

To learn InDesign production skills as it relates to corporate identity.

Discussion

Typical applications of a logo include letterhead, business cards and envelopes. Consistency between these elements is critical in order to project a professional image. Paper is also part of the image and choosing the right paper will often enhance the identity of the company.

Procedure

preparing the masters in Illustrator

1. download starter files
2. examine downloaded files
3. open "HRA Logo Master.ai" in Illustrator
4. file > save as "HRA Logo Black.pdf"
5. copy art and create variations (horizontal, vertical, minimum, maximum, reverse)
6. delete all unused swatches
7. save, save as "HRA Logo Color.pdf"
8. window > swatch libraries > color books > Pantone coated
9. add swatch for PMS 2736
10. duplicate Pantone swatch, convert to CMYK, rename swatch
11. record Pantone and CMYK formulas
12. save, save as "HRA Logo Web.pdf"
13. file > document color mode > RGB
14. change colors to RGB, record HEX values

creating the business card applications in InDesign

1. launch InDesign
2. file > new: letter portrait, margins=0
3. save as "HRA branding.indd"
4. draw box, make 3.5 x 2 inches
5. window > stroke: 1pt, inside
6. file > place "HRA Bus Cards.txt", clean up text
7. spec type as 7/9 Helv Cond Light and 9.5/18 Helv Cond Black
8. make paragraph styles (card-text, card-bold, etc)
9. file > place "HRA Logo Color.pdf", crop
10. fine tune layout
11. dupe art 3x, align
12. new layer "guides"
13. draw guides for 4-up business cards
14. draw crop marks (color=registration)

creating the letterhead layout in InDesign

1. dupe page 1 to make page 2
2. edit text, spec letterhead type as 9/11
3. make new paragraph style (letter, letter-text, etc)
4. file > place "HRA Letterhead.txt" and "Letter.txt"
5. spec letter text as 11/12 Times
6. fine tune layout

creating the envelope layout in InDesign

1. dupe page 2 to make page 3
2. delete unneeded art
3. draw box: 57p x 25p
4. fine tune layout
5. select all art, rotate 90°
6. dupe page 3 to make page 4 (optional)
7. add flap to envelope

finishing the exercise

1. add new blank page: file > place "HRA Logo Black.pdf"
2. repeat with "HRA Logo Color.pdf", "HRA Logo Web.pdf"
3. re-arrange page order
4. add your name and exercise number on the master page
5. file > adobe PDF presets > smallest file size (for web)

grading

1. submit b&w laser proofs with your name and the exercise number on it for grading
2. file your graded proofs in your Process Book for individual review