Objective
To learn the principles of publication
design as it applies to menus. To utilize the
grid system
and
InDesign's
master
pages. To learn Photoshop and InDesign production procedures
by example.
Discussion
Menus are ususally multi-page publications. When working with
multiple pages, each page must relate to the other pages visually.
This
is best accomplished with a grid system on a master page.
The typography system within a publication must also be consistent.
Consistency not only makes publications professional, but the repetition
helps unify the whole design. Consistent typography is best accomplished
with a style sheet.
Finally, a rhythm
should be established so that the sequence of pages has a repetitive
pattern.
This will help the reader anticipate what's to come (just like
in music).
Tip: Print this excellent InDesign keyboard shortcut reference sheet
Procedure
retouching in Photoshop
- download starter files
- examine PDF of finished menu; examine downloaded files
- open "dessert-scan.jpg" in photoshop
- image > image rotation 180
- crop tool: crop & rotate
- marquee tool: constrain aspect ratio (7.5 x 11)
- make selection; select > transform selection
- image > crop
- removing "moire" pattern: filter > blur > gaussian
blur (smallest amount)
- layer > adjustment layer > adjust > levels
- layer > adjustment layer > hue/saturation
- image > image size: width = 7.5 inches, 150 DPI (bicubic sharper)
- filter > convert to smart filters
- filter > sharpen > unsharp mask (radius=2, threshold=2)
- save as "dessert.psd"
- image > mode > CMYK; flatten file
- save as "dessert.jpg"
(quality=10/maximum)
preparing the cover art
- open "cover.jpg" in photoshop
- file > place "miko logo.eps"; size, position
- layer > add layer styles: color overlay (choose a brown)
- rectangle tool: draw box, fill box with a green
- new layer "shadow": cmd+click "rectangle" layer
- fill layer with black; deselect
- filter > blur > gaussian blur
- adjust shadow: edit > transform > distort
- save as "cover-front.psd"
flowing text in InDesign
- file > new: 7.5 x 11 inches; number of pages=3, facing pages=yes, margins: top=2p, bottom=2p, inside=5p, outside=6p; bleeds=1p
- save as "menu.indd"
- practice Adobe navigation keyboard shortcuts
- practice InDesign preview shortcut: W (normal/preview mode)
- go to "a-master": delete text frame on left-hand page
- go to page 3: file > place "Miko.txt"
- shift-click upper left corner of text area (note InDesign creates
new pages for you)
- type > show/hide hidden
characters (cmd+opt+I)
- replace two spaces with one space (cmd+F)
- after "white wine selections": replace RETURN with
RETURN TAB to end of story (cmd+F)
- replace "TAB*[asterisks]" with "*[asterisks]TAB"
- window > pages: add new blank pages as needed (total
of 20)
- reflow text: click on "+", shift+click corner of new blank
page
- make page breaks (refer to PDF) (type > insert > break character > column break or ENTER)
adding leader dots and hanging bullets
- select all (cmd+A)
- type > tabs (cmd+shift+T): left tab at 1p; right tab at 34p with leader dots
(SPACE PERIOD)
(hint: click in ruler first)
- fine tune leader dots: replace TAB with
SPACE SPACE TAB SPACE SPACE
style sheets in InDesign
- select all; make type 10/12 Cochin
- window > paragraph styles: new, "body", hyphenation=off;
apply style
- make select menu items bold, caps
- window > character styles: new, "bold caps"
- type > glyphs (font=Zapf Dingbats): locate the "recommended" dingbat character
- make new character style "recommended"; apply style
- replace *(asteriks) with formatted dingbat character (cmd+F) (hint: copy
and paste the dingbat into the replace field, replace with "recommended" style)
- duplicate "body" style, rename "body+price", based on "body"; add nested styles:
• "recommended" (up to 1 tab characters)
• "bold caps" (up to 2 tab characters")
- duplicate "body" style, rename "body+indent", based on "body";
indents: left=1p, first line=-1p, right=6p, space after=1p; apply
style
- duplicate "body" style, rename "h2", based on "body": Futura Cond Med, size=16, all caps, tracking=300,
horizontal scale=90%, space before=2p; centered
- duplicate "h2" style, rename "h1", based on "h2":
size=24, space before=2p; space after=4p
- apply styles
- make initial cap 120 pt; Mistral, tracking=70, skew=9°,
baseline shift=-10;
save as new character style "cap"
- edit "h1" style: add nested style "caps" (through 1 character)
- go to page 1: proof for bad line breaks, inappropriate use of hyphens, etc; move
Janet's name right; add initial cap (adjust tracking, baseline shift)
- object > text frame options: vertical alignment=justified
- style rest of menu, watching for line breaks
rearranging pages
- go to page 20
- RMB > numbering & section: start page at "20"
- RMB > allow document pages to shuffle = no
- drag page 20 into position (to the left of page 1)
- go to page 21
- RMB > numbering & section: start page at "1" (note small triangle)
finishing the document
- file > place pictures (cmd+D); adjust for bleeds, fit in frame
- repeat with other pages (refer to PDF)
- file > document setup: add slug (bottom=3p)
- go to master page "A": add slug (your name)
- print (all printer's marks, include slug, scale to fit print
area, save preset)
- using tape and glue stick, make a folding dummy of your proof (demo)
- file > adobe PDF presets > press quality (for print)
- file > export: "menu.jpg" (150PPI, quality=high, page 1 only)
- open "menu.jpg" in Photoshop
- file > save for web (preset=jpeg high, image size=800px wide)
grading
- submit folding dummy for grading
- file your graded proof in your Process Book for individual review
- publish your PDF and JPEG as links from your Process Page