Do I need any prior InDesign experience to take this course?

No prior InDesign experience is required. This course is designed for beginners and starts with the fundamentals of the InDesign workspace and document setup.

What topics are covered in this course?

The course covers the InDesign workspace, working with text and typography, creating and managing objects, placing and managing graphics, using paragraph and character styles, and preparing documents for print and digital output.

Which version of InDesign does this course use?

The course is taught using Adobe InDesign CC (Creative Cloud). The skills and concepts apply to all recent CC versions.

Is this course available online or in person?

This course is available as a live, instructor-led online class via Zoom. Private on-site training can also be arranged for groups.

How long is the course?

This is a 1-day course, typically running from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET with breaks throughout the day.

Will I receive a certificate of completion?

Yes. All students who complete the course receive a SkillForge certificate of completion, which you can share with employers or add to your professional profile.

Can my organization arrange a private InDesign training session?

Absolutely. We offer private group training for teams of any size, either online or on-site at your location. Contact us to discuss scheduling and pricing.

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Adobe

IND0101

Adobe InDesign Introduction Training

Name: Adobe InDesign Introduction Training
Price: 395.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Master professional page layout and design with SkillForge's Adobe InDesign Introduction Training — a live, instructor-led course built for beginners and creative professionals stepping into desktop publishing for the first time. In this hands-on course, you'll learn to navigate the InDesign workspace with confidence, work with text frames and typography, place and manage graphics, build reusable styles, and prepare polished documents for both print and digital distribution. Every concept is reinforced through real-world exercises guided by an expert instructor who can answer your questions in real time. Whether you're a graphic designer, marketing professional, communications specialist, or business user, this course gives you the practical InDesign skills you need to produce professional-quality layouts from day one.

Duration

1 day

Versions

InDesign CC (Creative Cloud) — all recent versions

$395.00

Live, Instructor-Led Training

Up to One Year Access to Recorded Course

Hands-On Exercises

Certificate of Completion

Six Months of Post-Class Instructor Support

Who Should Take This Course

Graphic designers and creative professionals new to InDesign
Marketing and communications professionals who create brochures, newsletters, or reports
Anyone interested in working toward the Adobe Certified Professional in Print & Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign certification
Individuals with basic computer skills who want to learn professional page layout design

What You'll Learn

Navigate and customize the InDesign workspace, panels, and tools
Create and set up documents for print and digital output
Work with text frames, typography, and advanced text formatting
Draw, modify, and arrange objects using frames, shapes, and layers
Place, link, and manage images and graphics from Photoshop and Illustrator
Build and apply paragraph styles, character styles, and object styles for consistency
Preflight, package, and export documents to PDF and digital formats
Build foundational skills toward the Adobe Certified Professional in Print & Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign exam

Course Content

Lesson 1: Getting Started with InDesign
- Explore the InDesign workspace: Application bar, Control panel, Tools panel, document window, and pasteboard
- Customize the workspace using predefined layouts and save custom workspace configurations
- Navigate multi-page documents using the Pages panel, Navigator panel, and keyboard shortcuts
- Set up rulers, guides, grids, and smart guides for precise layout control
- Configure document preferences including units, increments, and display performance
- Understand the difference between print and digital document intent when creating new documents
Lesson 2: Working with Text
- Create and resize text frames using the Type tool and Frame tool
- Apply character formatting: font, size, leading, tracking, kerning, and baseline shift
- Apply paragraph formatting: alignment, indents, space before/after, and drop caps
- Use Find/Change to locate and replace text content and formatting attributes
- Thread text across multiple frames to flow long-form content through a layout
- Insert glyphs, special characters, and typographic symbols using the Glyphs panel
Lesson 3: Working with Objects
- Draw and modify basic shapes using the Rectangle, Ellipse, and Polygon frame tools
- Apply fills, strokes, gradients, and transparency effects to objects
- Arrange objects using stacking order commands (Bring to Front, Send to Back, and others)
- Align and distribute objects precisely using the Align panel
- Group, lock, and hide objects; manage object visibility and stacking with the Layers panel
- Use the Transform panel and Control panel for exact positioning, scaling, and rotation
Lesson 4: Importing and Managing Graphics
- Place images and graphics using the Place command (File > Place)
- Manage linked and embedded files using the Links panel; update and relink modified assets
- Fit and crop images within frames using Content Fitting options and the Content Grabber
- Work with layered Photoshop (PSD) and Illustrator (AI/EPS) files placed into InDesign
- Understand color modes (RGB vs. CMYK) and image resolution requirements for print and screen output
- Use the Object Layer Options dialog to control visibility of Photoshop layers within placed files
Lesson 5: Using Styles for Consistency
- Create, apply, and edit paragraph styles to maintain consistent text formatting throughout a document
- Create and apply character styles for inline formatting overrides within paragraphs
- Build and use object styles to apply consistent formatting to frames and shapes
- Understand style inheritance, based-on relationships, and how to resolve style overrides
- Use the Quick Apply feature to rapidly apply styles without leaving the keyboard
- Load and share styles between documents to maintain consistency across a project
Lesson 6: Preparing Documents for Output
- Use the Preflight panel to define profiles and catch errors (missing fonts, overset text, missing links) before output
- Package documents using File > Package to collect all fonts, linked graphics, and the IDML file for handoff
- Export to PDF for print using PDF/X standards, bleed settings, and printer marks
- Export to Interactive PDF with hyperlinks, bookmarks, and page transitions for digital distribution
- Export to EPUB and other digital formats for e-reader and web publishing
- Understand print settings including bleed, slug, marks, and color management for professional print output

Prerequisites

No prior InDesign experience required
Basic computer skills (file management, copy/paste) recommended

Certification

This course helps prepare students for the following certification exam:

This course maps to the Adobe Certified Professional in Print & Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign exam. See Appendix A in the courseware for the full exam objective mapping.

Frequently Asked Questions

Available Sessions

Select a session to enroll

Mon, Nov 23, 2026

to Mon, Nov 23

Live Online

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET

Mon, Dec 21, 2026

to Mon, Dec 21