Using Adobe Creative Cloud desktop publishing software – which applications to use, what they do, and how to use them
Learn about using the Adobe Creative Cloud DTP software to create different type of documents, graphics and illustrations and photographs and other images.
This is an overview of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop) which you may use for desktop publishing.
Which Adobe Creative Cloud applications are used for desktop publishing?
The main Adobe applications used for desktop publishing are InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
You will probably use Adobe InDesign for the page layout, Adobe Illustrator for graphics and illustrations, and Adobe Photoshop for photo enhancement and image editing.
Which applications you will need to use, and the level you will need to work to, will vary depending on the type (and style) of documents and designs you will want to create.
Adobe InDesign
InDesign is used for creating single-page or multi-page documents, mainly for print or PDF (e.g. leaflets, newsletters, brochures, magazines, books, manuals, etc.).
You can import your text, illustrations and graphics (prepared with Illustrator) and photographs (prepared with Photoshop) into an InDesign document to create the overall page layout.
We usually recommend starting with a 2 day beginners and intermediate InDesign course. This covers the basics of Adobe InDesign as well as looking at multi-page documents and time saving and consistency features, such as styles and master pages.
Advanced InDesign training is available if you want to produce complex document designs or multi-section documents, or want to work on long documents such as books and manuals.
Have a look at our Adobe InDesign Courses.
Learn more about Adobe InDesign:
What is Adobe InDesign and what does InDesign do?
Learn more about desktop publishing software.
If your documents just contain text, then you may only need to use InDesign.
However, if you would like to use photographs and graphics in your designs, please read on.
Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is used for anything to do with photographs and pixel-based images: colour adjusting, image enhancing, cropping and resizing, photo-retouching, image cut-outs, creating composite images and photo-based designs, and for preparing and saving images in the correct size and file format and colour mode for either print or web use.
If you want to use photographs in your InDesign documents, these will first need to be correctly prepared in Photoshop before placing them into InDesign. This includes checking and adjusting image size and resolution, setting colour mode, making brightness and colour adjustments and saving the images as the correct file type.
You may also want to do more complex image editing, such as image cut-outs, photo-based designs, artistic effects, or photo retouching, and this can all be done with Photoshop.
We have a one day beginners introduction course which covers the basics of Photoshop, the main tools, basic editing and how to save files correctly for different uses such as print or web.
If you want to cut out photographs, create photo composites or photo-based designs for any of your documents (maybe for a magazine cover design or a web banner design) then you will need to learn intermediate Photoshop, or higher.
We have some beginners courses which concentrate on specific areas of Photoshop use, including using Photoshop to create images and designs for print or using Photoshop to create images for websites and on-screen use.
Have a look at our Adobe Photoshop Courses.
Learn more about Photoshop:
What is Adobe Photoshop and what does Photoshop do?
Learn more about photo editing software.
Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator is vector graphics software and is used to edit or create illustrations, graphics and artwork for print documents or web sites, e.g. logo designs, diagrams, illustrations, infographics, graphs.
Illustrator can also be used for creating posters, leaflets, book cover designs, technical information sheets, etc.
If you want to use graphics and illustrations in your InDesign documents, these will first need to be created in Adobe Illustrator.
Some simple shapes, blocks and lines can be created directly in InDesign.
Illustrator is also useful for checking and editing any existing artwork which you may have, such as a logo.
Problems can arise if your artwork is not in the correct format for your intended use – especially when it comes to printing.
If you want to create simple graphics and illustrations, we have a one day Adobe Illustrator beginners introduction which will cover the essential, basic tools and techniques. If you want to create more detailed artwork and custom shapes, the 2 day beginners and intermediate Illustrator course will cover the software in more detail.
If you want to create complex artwork and illustrations, the 1 day advanced Illustrator course may be suitable for you.
We can also create custom Illustrator training which is tailored to your specific requirements.
Have a look at our Adobe Illustrator courses.
Learn more about Illustrator:
What is Adobe Illustrator and what does Illustrator do?
Learn more about graphic design software.
Adobe Creative Cloud (DTP & Design) training courses
We offer Adobe Creative Cloud courses for desktop publishing (using Adobe Creative Cloud DTP software – InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop). These will give you the skills you need to get started in desktop publishing and design, and to work accurately and efficiently as you progress on to more advanced document designs.
We offer 4, 5 or 6 day Adobe Creative Cloud courses for DTP and Design, which cover InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
Adobe Creative Suite DTP courses, also available.