How to Create A Digital Portfolio - Adobe InDesign:

InDesign is great for combining multiple file formats, and even Word files for bodies of text that you may want to include. It also allows you to use linked files which can be edited and then updated within the combined file, and also give the option to add a bleed to each page. The biggest plus is however the ability to use master templates, which can be used to give a consistent layout throughout a portfolio.

a. SETTING UP…

• open Adobe InDesign.

• go to file > new > document.

• under intent select print (even for a solely digital portfolio).

• type number of pages required in the portfolio – note that you can add or subtract these later. Tick the facing pages box if you would like the pages to be set out as facing (for double page spreads), if left un-ticked, these will scroll as single pages.

• choose page size i.e. A4, A3, or custom, and next to orientation select either the portrait or landscape icons.

• if required choose margins to add a border to the page.

• click more options to add a bleed (note that a bleed is not needed for a digital portfolio). A 3mm bleed on all edges is common, however certain printers may specify particular allowances.

• click ok > the pane with the empty pages will now open.

b. MASTER TEMPLATES…

• Master template aren’t necessary, however if you would like to set up a master template that can be used to create a format for the layout of pages, go to the pages window in the panels menu, and at the top double click on A-Master > the A-master pages will open. Here you can create defined areas (boxes) for images to go, as well as ones for text, that can be repeated throughout the portfolio.

• To create blank areas (frames) for images, in the tools panel click on the rectangle frame tool (icon of a rectangle with the cross through it) > on the master page click and drag to create a box (you can resize and move this around with the black selection tool. Repeat if required.

• To create blank areas for text (text frames), create a plain frame as above, and then in the tools panel click on the type tool (T icon) > then select the frame you would like to convert to a text frame by clicking on it.

• for multiple repeating formats you can use additional master pages. To create new master pages: in the top right corner click the downward triangle symbol > a dropdown list will appear > choose new master > a new master window will appear where you can select page size, orientation and number of pages, a well as name (i.e. B-Master, C-Master, etc.). To over-ride a master page on an existing document page, whilst in the pages window simply drag the icon for the new master page over the document page icon in the panel below and it will convert.

• On the document pages, the master pages frame templates will first need to be unlocked in order to use them to insert images or text. You can do this by clicking on the frame with the selection tool (black arrow), and pressing the command and shift keys at the same time.

c. FILLING THE PAGES…

• to populate the pages with images, simply drag and drop the individual files from Finder(Mac)/ My Computer(PC) into the artboards - resize to fill bleed area (if necessary).

• these images are linked to the original file, and this can be edited by selecting the file in the links window in the panels menu, and clicking the edit original (pencil) icon on the bottom right. The image will open up in its respective programme to be edited, and when edited the file can then be updated in InDesign.

• Repeat until all pages are filled.

d. SAVING THE FILE AND EXPORTING PDFs…

• to save, go to file > save > select save location. This will save the file as an InDesign file (.indd), which is not a shareable format.

• to save it as a PDF (which can be shared) you will need to export it, go to file > Adobe PDF presets > underAdobe PDF preset choose the version of PDF to save the file as in the dropdown list. The higher file size is at the top and the lowest at the bottom (PDF/X 2008 is fine).

• a new window will appear > choose save location >click save.

• an export Adobe PDF window will now appear > here again you can choose theAdobe PDF preset.

• under pages select whether you want to export the portfolio as individual pages (pages), or double pages (spreads). Note: individual pages are best for digital portfolios, and double pages for printed portfolios.

• under marks and bleed select if you would like to include the document bleed, and crop marks - for digital portfolios do not include this.

• click export. Note: portfolios/documents with many pages and images may export slowly, to view the status of the export go to > windows > utilities > background tasks > this will show a percentage bar for the export.

• All done!