Adobe Creative Cloud All-in-one for Dummies

by Smith, Jennifer; Smith, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9781119420408
• ISBN10: 1119420407
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2017-12-04
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Get ready to jump into the Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud is the most popular suite of tools among creative professionals, and a valuable resource you can use to fulfill all of your design goals. Ready to get started? The only book on the market of its kind, Adobe Creative Cloud All-in-One For Dummies is written by designers for designers. It will provide you with expert instruction that spans seven mini-books, with helpful information that can grant insight regardless of your current level of knowledge.

Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud is a marketable skill, and this all-in-one reference guide will help you add InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, Photoshop CC, Acrobat Pro, Adobe Bridge, and Adobe Experience Design to your resume. With more than 800 pages of content, this detailed guide will give you confidence you need to use Adobe photography and graphic design tools to edit photos, make original designs and layouts, and let your creativity shine with Adobe Creative Cloud.

• Learn design basics and utilize more advanced features
• Protect your documents with Acrobat Pro
• Find tips and tricks to make each program work better

From 3D images and vivid illustrations to dynamic web pages and interactive effects, Adobe Creative Cloud All-in-One For Dummies shows you how to do it all!

Author Biography

Jennifer Smith is a user experience consultant, designer, educator, mentor, and author of more than a dozen books on digital imaging and web publishing. She has advised numerous companies on design projects and works on various platforms and devices. Christopher Smith is president of the American Graphics Institute. He is the author of more than ten books on web, interactive, and print publishing technology, including many of the Adobe official training guides.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Why Is It Important? 2

About This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 4

Beyond the Book 4

Book 1: Overview of the Creative Cloud Suite 5

Chapter 1: Getting Started with the Creative Cloud Suite 7

Applications Covered in This Book 9

Chapter 2: Creative Cloud Application Management 15

Downloading Your First App 15

Chapter 3: Creative Cloud Extras for You 19

Launching the Creative Cloud App 19

Adding Work to Behance 31

Creating a Cover 34

Bonus! Adobe Portfolio 35

It’s Not Just Apps! 36

Chapter 4: Using Common Menus and Commands 37

Discovering Common Menus 37

Using Dialog Boxes 39

Encountering Alerts 40

Getting to Know Common Menu Options 41

About Contextual Menus 43

Using Common Keyboard Shortcuts 44

Changing Your Preferences 46

Chapter 5: Exploring Common Panels 49

Understanding the Synchronized Workspace 49

Using Panels in the Workspace 51

Book 2: Adobe Bridge 55

Chapter 1: Organizing and Managing Your Files with Adobe Bridge 57

Getting to Know the Adobe Bridge Workspace 58

Chapter 2: Taking Advantage of Metadata in Adobe Bridge 69

Locating Your Files 69

Using Keywords 73

Creating a Metadata Template 74

Searching for Files Using Adobe Bridge 76

Saving a Collection 78

Chapter 3: Using Automation Tools in Adobe Bridge 79

Getting Files from Your Camera 79

Automation Tools in Adobe Bridge 81

Book 3: Photoshop CC 87

Chapter 1: Getting into Photoshop CC Basics 89

The Start Screen 89

The New Document Window 90

Sample Images Can Help You Investigate More Features 91

Opening an Image 91

Getting to Know the Tools 92

Navigating the Work Area 95

Choosing Your Screen Mode 100

Getting Started with Basic Tasks in Photoshop CC 100

Chapter 2: Messing with Mode Matters 105

Working with Bitmap Images 105

Choosing the Correct Photoshop Mode 106

Chapter 3: Making Selective Changes 113

Getting to Know the Selection Tools 113

Manipulating Selections with Refine Selection 122

Saving Selections 131

Preserving Corrective Perspective with the Vanishing Point Feature 132

Chapter 4: Using the Photoshop Pen Tool 135

Selecting the Right Pen Tool for the Task 136

Using a Path as a Selection 136

Creating Curved Paths 138

Clipping Paths 139

Using Shape Layers 142

Chapter 5: Creating Images in the Right Resolution for Print and the Web 151

Creating Images for Print 151

Determining the Resolution for Web Images 155

Applying the Unsharp Mask Filter to an Image 156

Chapter 6: Creating a Good Image 159

Reading a Histogram 159

Creating a Good Tone Curve 163

Editing an Adjustment Layer 171

Testing a Printer 172

Chapter 7: Working with Painting and Retouching Tools 173

Using the Swatches Panel 173

Choosing Foreground and Background Colors 174

The Painting and Retouching Tools 175

Blending Modes 188

Saving Presets 192

Chapter 8: Using Layers 193

Creating and Working with Layers 194

Creating a Text Layer 197

Using Layer Masks 198

Organizing Your Layers 201

Using Layer Styles 204

Smart, Really Smart! Smart Objects 206

Working with Artboards in Photoshop 207

Experimenting with 3D Files 214

Filter Capabilities in the Layers Panel 216

Merging and Flattening the Image 216

Chapter 9: Saving Photoshop Images for Print and the Web 219

Backing Up with a Save 220

Choosing a File Format for Saving 220

Saving Images for the Web 222

Saving Settings 231

Book 4: InDesign CC 233

Chapter 1: Introducing InDesign CC 235

Getting Started with InDesign CC 235

Touring the Workspace 240

Setting Up the Workspace 246

Working with Documents 251

Chapter 2: Working with Text and Text Frames 255

Understanding Text, Font, and Frames 256

Creating and Using Text Frames 256

Adding Text to Your Publication 258

Looking at Text Frame Options 261

Modifying and Connecting Text Frames on a Page 264

Understanding Paragraph Settings 270

Editing Stories 273

Using Tables 276

Looking at Text on a Path 280

Chapter 3: Understanding Page Layout 281

Importing Images 281

Linking and Embedding Images 284

Setting Image Quality and Display 286

Selecting Images 287

Manipulating Text and Graphics in a Layout 288

Merging Text and Graphics 292

Working with Pages and the Pages Panel 296

Using Master Spreads in Page Layout 298

Chapter 4: Drawing in InDesign 301

Getting Started with Drawing 301

Getting to Know the Tools of the Trade 304

Drawing Shapes 305

Editing Basic Shapes 308

Drawing Freeform Paths 311

Editing Freeform Paths 313

Modifying Frame Corners 314

Using Fills 315

Adding Layers 319

Creating QR Codes 320

Chapter 5: Understanding Color 323

Selecting Color with Color Controls 323

Understanding Color Models 324

Using Color Swatches and Libraries 325

Chapter 6: Clipping Paths, Alignment, and Object Transformation 329

Working with Transformations 330

Understanding Clipping Paths 335

Arranging Objects on the Page 337

Chapter 7: Exporting to PDF and Printing 341

Preflight: Preparing Your Documents for Printing 341

Packaging Your Documents 342

Understanding File Formats 343

Exporting Publications 345

Printing Your Work 352

Chapter 8: Creating Digital Documents Using EPUB 355

Adapting Content for Digital Distribution 356

Creating Digital Documents 356

Exporting EPUB 360

Book 5: Illustrator CC 365

Chapter 1: Discovering Illustrator CC 367

Deciding When to Use Illustrator CC 367

Creating a New Document 369

Try a Template 373

Opening an Existing Document 373

Taking a Look at the Document Window 373

Taking Advantage of Artboards 375

Becoming Familiar with the Tools 380

Checking Out the Panels 383

Changing Views 385

Navigating the Work Area with Zoom Controls 387

Chapter 2: Using the Selection Tools 389

Getting to Know the Selection Tools 389

Working with Selections 391

Grouping and Ungrouping 395

Manipulating Selected Objects 397

Chapter 3: Creating Basic Shapes 399

The Basic Shape Tools 399

Resizing Shapes 403

Tips for Creating Shapes 404

Chapter 4: Using the Pen Tool and Placing Images 409

Pen Tool Fundamentals 410

The Hidden Pen Tools 418

Tracing Artwork 420

Other Details You Should Know about Placing Images 424

Using Photoshop Layer Comps 426

Chapter 5: Using Type in Illustrator 427

Working with Type 427

Assigning Font Styles 438

Using the Character Panel 440

Using the Control Panel 442

Using the Paragraph Panel 442

Text Utilities: Your Key to Efficiency 444

Chapter 6: Organizing Your Illustrations 453

Setting Ruler Increments 453

Using Guides 454

Using the Transform Panel for Placement 455

Changing the Ruler Origin 456

Thinking about Object Arrangement 456

Hiding Objects 457

Locking Objects 459

Creating a Clipping Mask 460

Creating a Clipping Path Using the Draw Inside Button 462

Chapter 7: Using Layers 463

Creating New Layers 464

Using Layers for Selections 467

Changing the Layer Stacking Order 468

Moving and Cloning Objects 469

Hiding Layers 469

Locking Layers 470

Chapter 8: Livening Up Illustrations with Color 471

Choosing a Document Profile 471

Using the Swatches Panel 473

Applying Color to the Fill and Stroke 474

Changing the Width and Type of a Stroke 474

Using the Color Panel 477

Saving Colors 478

Editing Colors 481

Building and Editing Patterns 483

Advanced Pattern Editing 485

Working with Gradients 489

Copying Color Attributes 494

Painting Made Easy: The Live Paint Feature 495

Chapter 9: Using the Transform and Distortion Tools 497

Working with Transformations 497

Creating Distortions 504

Chapter 10: Working with Transparency and Special Effects Tools 509

The Mesh Tool 509

The Blend Tool 513

The Symbol Sprayer Tool 516

Transparency 518

Chapter 11: Using Filters and Effects 523

Working with Effects 523

Saving Graphic Styles 528

Creating 3D Artwork 529

Adding Multiple Fills and Strokes 532

Using the Perspective Grid 535

Chapter 12: Using Your Illustrator Images 539

Saving and Exporting Illustrator Files 539

Saving Your Artwork for the Web 545

Saving Multiple Assets out of Illustrator 549

Flattening Transparency 551

Printing from Illustrator 554

Book 6: Acrobat 557

Chapter 1: Discovering Essential Acrobat Information 559

Working with PDF Files 560

Knowing When to Use Adobe PDF Files 561

Introducing the Adobe Acrobat Workspace and Tools 562

Chapter 2: Creating PDF Files 569

Creating PDF Files from Microsoft Office 569

Creating PDF Files from Adobe Creative Cloud Applications 574

Converting Other Electronic Documents to PDF 576

Creating PDF Files from Paper Documents and the Web 578

Chapter 3: Adding Interactivity to PDF Files 581

Adding Bookmarks to Create Easy PDF Navigation 581

Adding Interactive Links 585

Adding Buttons to Simplify Your PDF Files 586

Chapter 4: Editing and Extracting Text and Graphics 589

Editing Text 589

Exporting Text and Graphics 594

Chapter 5: Using Commenting and Annotation Tools 597

Creating Comments with the Comment Panel 597

Managing Comments 604

Reviewing PDF Documents 607

Chapter 6: Securing Your PDF Files 609

Understanding Password Security 610

Applying Password Security to Your PDF Documents 611

Limiting Editing and Printing 612

Removing Sensitive Data 614

Book 7: Adobe XD 615

Chapter 1: Introducing the Experience Design Workspace 617

Understanding the Modern User Interface 618

Relating Objects to the Property Inspector 620

A Little Bit about Artboards 623

Keyboard Shortcuts for Navigating the Workspace 626

Design View versus Prototype Mode 627

Chapter 2: Working with Artboards 629

Starting Your Document and Adding an Artboard 629

Creating New Artboards 631

Resizing an Artboard 631

Adding a New Artboard 632

Using the Layers Panel 633

Duplicating an Artboard 634

Arranging Artboards in Your Pasteboard Area 634

Aligning and Distributing Your Artboards 635

Adding Scrolling Capability to an Artboard 636

Chapter 3: Adding Shapes, Paths, and Custom Shapes 639

It All Starts with a Shape 639

Creating a Button 641

Creating a Border 644

Using the Pen Tool 646

Creating Custom Shapes with the Path Tools 648

Chapter 4: Working with Objects 649

Getting a Leg Up on Layers 649

Transforming Objects 658

Aligning and Distributing 659

Chapter 5: Importing and Exporting from XD 663

Adding Imagery to Your Prototype 663

Working with Images in XD 665

Importing Vector Images into XD 667

Exporting Your Artwork from XD 668

Chapter 6: Adding Text to Your XD Project 669

Adding Text Right in Adobe XD 669

Adjusting Text Properties 670

Importing Text 675

Using the Repeat Grid Feature 675

Chapter 7: Taking Advantage of Symbols and UI Kits 681

Using Symbols 681

Taking Advantage of UI Kits 685

Chapter 8: Creating Interactivity in Adobe XD 687

Entering Prototype Mode 687

Previewing Your Artwork 690

Chapter 9: Sharing Your XD Project 691

Viewing Your App/Website on Your Desktop 691

Creating a Movie for Your User Story 692

Using the Device Preview Feature 693

Sharing Your XD File with Others 694

Index 695