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This wikiHow teaches you how to create a newsletter using Adobe's InDesign publishing app.
Steps
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Create a new file in Adobe InDesign. To do so, double-click on the pink app with the letters " Id ," click on File in the menu bar, click on New , and click on Document... . A dialog box will open.
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Select a publishing type. To do so, click on the "Intent:" drop-down menu and choose from:
- Print to create a printed newsletter;
- Web to create a newsletter that will be published on a website; or
- Digital Publishing to create a newsletter that will be electronically delivered to a device.
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Select a size for the pages of your newsletter. Use the "Page Size:" drop-down to do so.
- Use this drop-down to select the target screen-size for digitally-published newsletters.
- Many print newsletters have standard, letter-sized pages.
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Set the length of your newsletter in the "Number of Pages:" field.
- If you're creating a print newsletter that you intend to fold, and it's not already checked, check "Facing Pages."
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Set the number of columns on each page. To do so, click on the small arrows next to the "Number:" field in the "Columns" section to increase or decrease the number.
- The value in the "Gutter:" field is the amount space between columns.
- Newsletters appear neater and more legible if the text is broken into columns.
- Two or three columns are common on a letter-sized newsletter.
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Click on OK .
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Click on the Type Tool. It's the T in the tool menu on the left side of the window.
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Click and drag to create a text field. Start in the upper-left corner of the left column, drag the pointer to the upper-right corner of the right column, then drag downward until the text field is the size of the masthead you'd like.
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Release the click.
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Click in the text field.
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Type the name of the newsletter. Add any additional information that you'd like, such as date, volume, or issue number.
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Make adjustments to the text. To do so, highlight the text you want to adjust with the cursor and use the tools at the top of the window:
- Use the drop-down menus on the left side of the toolbar to change the font and/or text style.
- Click in the field with the big and small "T"s, next to the font name, to adjust the size of the text.
- Use the alignment buttons (eight icons made up of horizontal lines) on the right side of the toolbar to: Center the text; align it to the left side of the text box; align it to the right side; or justify the text so it's distributed across the text box and aligned to both sides.
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Click on the Type Tool. It's the T in the tool menu on the left side of the window.
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Click and drag to create a text field. Start in the upper-left of a column, below the masthead, drag the pointer to the lower-right corner of the column so that the text box is the same length and width of the column.
- The masthead will typically only be on the front page.
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Release the click.
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Click in the text field.
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Type or paste the text of the article in the text box.
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Make adjustments to the text. To do so, highlight the text with the cursor and use the tools at the top of the window:
- Use the drop-down menus on the left side of the toolbar to change the font and/or text style.
- Headlines above articles are often bold or italic and sometimes use a different font from the main text of an article.
- It is usually recommended to use a sans-serif font. Arial, Helvetica, or Open Sans are popular choices for digital newsletters.
- If you still prefer a serif font, Georgia or Lora are specially designed for screens and are easier to read.
- Click in the field with the big and small "T"s, next to the font name, to adjust the size of the text.
- Pick a font size and keep it consistent throughout your newsletter.
- Body text is usually 10- or 12-point type. Headings and subheadings are typically larger, 15-18 points.
- Use the alignment buttons (eight icons made up of horizontal lines) on the right side of the toolbar to align the text.
- Body text in columns is usually aligned left or justified.
- Headlines are typically aligned left, centered, or justified.
- Use the drop-down menus on the left side of the toolbar to change the font and/or text style.
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Click on the Selection Tool. It's the black pointer at the top of the tool menu on the left side of the screen.
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Click on File in the menu bar, then Place… .
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Select the image you want to add and click on Open .
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Click on and drag the image to position it in the newsletter.
- To change the size of the image, click on Object in the menu bar, then click on Transform and Scale... . Enter the percentage by which you'd like to shrink or enlarge the image and click on OK .
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Wrap text around the image. To align newsletter text around the image, click on the image and click on a "text wrap" button (four icons of horizontal lines around an object) toward the right side of the toolbar at the top of the window.
- To wrap text around a rectangular image, click on the button that has a square in the middle, which is surrounded, but not overlapped, by horizontal lines.
- To wrap text around an irregularly-shaped image, click on the button that has a circle in the middle, which is surrounded, but not overlapped, by horizontal lines.
- To have the text stop above and continue below the image, without wrapping along the sides, click on the button with a rectangle in the center and horizontal lines above and below it.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer
- Working knowledge of Adobe InDesign
Expert Interview
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About This Article
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Reader Success Stories
- "This tutorial was exactly what I needed! I was unable to find a tutorial in Adobe that spoke directly to creating a newsletter using 11 x 17 paper. This article gave me step-by-step instructions on just that, including tips on font use and selection - wow!" ..." more
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"This tutorial was exactly what I needed! I was unable to find a tutorial in Adobe that spoke directly to creating a newsletter using 11 x 17 paper. This article gave me step-by-step instructions on just that, including tips on font use and selection - wow!"
..."
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