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Tim Cole's InDesign BackChannel

Spruiking InDesign since 1999

My Favorite New Photoshop FeatureDecember 2 2008

I'm finding that the new Photoshop CS4 feature that I'm using the most is the shortcut for modifying brush size and brush hardness. I like it better than using other methods, because it's fast and gives you a nice visual indicator of both size and hardness.

If you've got a brush tool selected, hold down ctrl + option (Mac) / alt + right click (Win), and then drag your cursor to alter your brush size.To then alter the hardness, you need to first release your mouse button, and then add cmd (Mac) or shift (Win) to the combinations above. Dragging your cursor will then adjust the brush hardness.

InDesign 2 Flash: Part IIIDecember 2 2008

Representing AIM in Flash

When InDesign exports into SWF or XFL, it needs to describe objects using the Flash object model, rather than the Adobe Imaging Model (AIM).

As a general rule, InDesign attempts to use matching native Flash constructs whenever possible, and when that is not possible, it uses whatever means available in Flash it can to maintain the visual appearance of the source objects in InDesign.

Clipping Paths

Suppose you have an image in a frame in InDesign. In InDesign you can modify the size of the frame that clips the image, and you can reposition that image within that frame.

In this example, the image is clipped by a frame with a white stroke.

When that object is exported to XFL and then opened in Flash, you'll see that the image was cropped on export, and the white stroke is represented as a separate path object within Flash.

I've moved the image in order to make the fact that there are two separate objects in Flash clear.

Raster Images in XFL Export

InDesign exports a raster image to XFL as a path with a BitmapFill applied. This enables InDesign to clip the image to the path boundaries.

This differs from what happens when a rast

InDesign 2 Flash: Part IINovember 17 2008

In this post I begin a more detailed discussion of the technical background of InDesign's SWF and XFL export processes. This series will be based largely on a white paper researched and written by Adobe's Matt Laun.

Both of InDesign's Flash export formats are designed to represent InDesign content as accurately as possible, with emphasis placed on preserving the visual appearance of the InDesign document.

The imaging model in Flash is different than that of InDesign. InDesign uses the Adobe Imaging model (AIM) that's the foundation for both PostScript and PDF, while Flash does not. Because of this, there are challenges and choices to be made when converting a layout from one model (AIM) to another (Flash). Whenever choices need to be made, the InDesign to Flash process will typically choose the option that produces the best visual fidelity, even if it means that something is lost in the process. For example, text may in some cases (like ligatures) be converted to outlines or rasterized, and dashed lines--which have no native Flash representation--may be converted to compound paths that are then filled.

One important difference between the two exportable formats is that SWF is a final form for delivery (similar is some respects to PDF) that is not intended for further editing in a downstream tool. XFL is, on the other hand, is, due to the fact it's an XML format, designed to be editable format. This has two main consequences. First, it means tha

InDesign 2 Flash: Part INovember 16 2008

InDesign CS4 delivers the ability to move your InDesign layouts to the web and beyond via SWF and XFL export features. The former creates a web-ready .swf file that's intended to be the final form for delivery, and not editable. XFL, on the other hand, is a new, XML Flash native file format. The purpose of this export path is to enable you to take your InDesign layouts and convert them into a native Flash CS4 documents that can then be opened and enhanced with all the powerful interactive capabilities of Flash CS4.

This series of blog posts is aimed at giving you background on the technical issues and best practices relevant to exporting as SWF or XFL.

The focus of this first blog post will be positioning the two different export methods. What are they for? InDesign's SWF export is aimed at facilitating the creation of interactive presentations, client pitches, and personal portfolios. It's aimed at traditional print designers who wish to use InDesign as a bridge into the world of basic interactivity, whether it's being used for a customer facing presentation, an internal document review process where a single spread or an entire book could be viewed in a web browser, or as a way to help prototype a more sophisticated interactive experience that will ultimately be produced using Adobe Flash.

SingaporeNovember 16 2008

We finished our Asian CS4 launch tour in Singapore. Thanks to everyone who turned out. Paul, Karl and I had the privilege of showing much of what's new in the CS4 Design, Web, and Production suites.

We saw many old friends in Singapore and made some new ones. It was great to see the local Adobe User Group represented, as well as a lot of other people I met for the first time.

Special thanks to the event crew we had in Singapore and KL. You guys were great to work with, and everything went off without problems (either that or you hid them very well ;^). Your work was much appreciated.

The Singapore event was unique in that it was the only event that involved costume changes. In Paul's case it was onstage. Paul was given a special gift by event organizer Mongchee, and it added a touch of class and theatricality to Paul's web session.

I expect that more photos of the event will emerge that will prove embarrassing to all of us.

In Singapore I was able to show something new (and hidden) that got the Tamil speakers in the audience a little excited.

Fin