From knowing nothing to creating good layout
My only layout experience prior to getting inDesign was MS Publisher. This book got me up and running and quickly understanding this significantly more advanced software. I found most of the videos not very relevant, except for one or two chapters where the video covered a topic more thoroughly than the book did (example: pencil tool). Even though I would recommend this book to someone learning inDesign CS2, I have two negative comments I'd mention to them first:
First, in several of the exercises the author just instructs you to select things and do things yet does not fully explain why or to what end. In many cases, I had to stop and analyze what I was doing myself. I even had to access Adobe Help several times. Sometimes the reason why you do something reveals itself in the end, but I'm looking for lessons here... not dramatic endings!
My second complaint is that there is NO GLOSSARY! This severely limits the book's usefulness as a "go-to" reference. Fortunately for me I also picked up the book "Adobe inDesign CS2 @work" by Cate Brosseau Indiano; and even though I have not read that yet it does have a glossary I've been referring to while reading this book!
Excellent learning resource
My only complaint - and it's very small - is the author's assumption that a certain set of fonts is "always" installed with InDesign. Apparently, that "always" doesn't necessarily apply if you happen to purchase the educational version. While that's fine for now - I don't necessarily need huge piles of additional fonts - it makes the lessons a bit frustrating because they tend to rely on the fonts. For example, in teaching kerning and tracking, the author assumes that you've opened a file set in a particular font, which will yield very specific results on-screen - which you'll have some difficulty reproducing if you don't happen to have those fonts installed.
Other than that - I'm loving this book, and it's really making a difference in my comfort level working in InDesign.
A very useful tutorial and reference
If you want to quickly get up to speed with Adobe InDesign, look no further! The introductory video segues with the lessons seamlessly. The lessons themselves are thorough, and each step is clearly presented, making it simple for a new user to follow.
Additionally, I find the book an invaluable reference source.
absolutely horrid
I bought this book after reading the rave reviews that others gave. Unfortunately it did not meet up to my expectations at all. I found it difficult to get past the ridiculous graphics and completely silly text (even the layouts did not demonstrate strong graphic design). Also, I appreciate a good sense of humor, but I would hope that the author would aspire for something greater than using silly vocabulary to intrigue the reader. In fact this just made the text seem ridiculous, and I could hardly continue reading. Maybe this book is fine for dense people who are not familiar with adobe programs, but for an individual with any semblance of intelligence I would not recommend this book.
Excellent introduction to InDesign
I am very familiar with Adobe Photoshop, but found myself in a big hurry to learn InDesign. I'm very happy I chose this book. The book works two ways: Right now, I'm using it as a textbook in conjunction with the CD. I'm going page by page and chapter by chapter, learning every aspect in plan of study that progresses sequentially and incorporates new facets and functions logically. I like that I'm treated as an intelligent person who happens to be unfamiliar with a particular program, not as a dummy who must be talked down to. Yes, there is a certain amount of humor, but we stay on task. Once I finish the course, the book will remain by my desk as an excellent source of reference. If I were to change anything, I would add more video lessons (I just happen to like them) and I wouldn't use and reuse the exact same articles to illustrate different points (I grew really annoyed with that seventies frog). But, really, the book/cd combo (assuming you're committed) can turn you from a person who has never used the program to a person who can competently and productively use InDesign.
