KEEP TRACK OF YOUR WORK

Keep an RPM tab open that's filtered by pages with your name on them to keep track of your CR pickups that may come back for corrections 

DO THINGS ON PURPOSE

When making design choices like photo placement, headline rewrites, odd wrap arounds, cutouts, color...... ask your self the following: 

1. Does this add anything to the design? 

2. Is the design clean?

3. Why this color/placement?

4. Is there page balance and hierarchy?

Problems with attaching FLS jump pages? 

Prior to starting the FLS section, quit Indesign and restart. Once Indesign has reopened, click on Blox Total CMS and then click change domain. Go down to Fredericksburg.com and click on it. Once that is done, open up your cover page through "Documents" under Blox, then click "Open from Blox CMS". Jump pages will attach normally once cover is opened this way.    

SHOW RULERS (CTRL + R)

In most domains, this should come on the page automatically, but if it doesn't, you can always add it back by pressing CTRL + R, or in the BLOX menu it's under the "view" tab. These are imaginary lines that will not show up in print. I think of it as how you would use a straight-edge ruler if you were drawing.

This comes in handy especially on the jump page, where once you adjust 1 text box by -0.8p for the vertical rule, you can use these rules to give yourself another line to work off of and make the boxes the same size. Saves me a few seconds. Sometimes that's all you need.

Also comes in handy on the covers if you're moving assets from one side of the template to the other in order to keep the space in between the vertical rules consistent with the template.

USE THE GALLERY

If you're not sure how to layout a specific item, see if it ran in previous week's papers with the Gallery. too many times i've used it to make sure we had some consistently  

GET AHEAD, IMPROVE PLATE FLOW

Once budgets are in for your publications, sift through them and see if there is any shared content you can expedite or mentally put a timestamp on for when modules are ready. 

Don't camp in shared pages, but if you can't grab them right then post in the group they are available. 

Content flow is most important. 

ALSO: REQUEST BOX SCORES EARLY! The custom content folk that pull boxes are also building modules for you so it takes them time to get to boxes sometimes.  If you put in for them early,  you won't be in a pickle later.

BREAKS ARE IMPORTANT

• Map out your night early in your shift and determine the best time to take your break.

• Stick to that time.

• If something that can get you ahead goes ready when you get up to take your break, talk to a lead or post in the team channel that stuff is there to be worked on if anyone can get there before you return.

• Rely on your team. In turn, be supportive of your teammates when you have time to spare.

• It's best to avoid break between 9-10pm CST but it may be unavoidable.

• If you aren't confident about your break time choice, talk to a lead or senior and ask for some advice. 

• Make time to eat and give your eyes a break from the screen so you can keep fresh and continue solid work.