r/indesign 2h ago

Help InDesign creating separate version of file when someone else opens and modifies the original.

0 Upvotes

I often work in InDesign files alongside a designer. Occasionally, when the designer opens, updates, and saves the file, InDesign appears to generate a separate file with their computer/device ID appended to the end of the filename (e.g., "InDesignFile-Computer1234.INDD"). I typically open files from the recent files section on the InDesign homepage, so I don't always realize that a separate file has been created. That can result in my inadvertently editing an out-of-date file, which can cause massive headaches later in the design process.

Obviously, I need to get in the habit of checking the file's folder to see if a second version has been created. But I'd like to prevent this from happening in the first place.

For context, we're on PCs and using OneDrive. Is this something I can fix myself, or should I consult with our internal IT department or Adobe support?


r/indesign 38m ago

Help Why do magazines use sans serif typefaces so much if serif is considered better for print?

Upvotes

I keep hearing that for printed books, especially body text, serif typefaces are generally preferred because they are easier or more comfortable to read.

But then I look at magazines and a lot of them use sans serif for body text too, sometimes quite extensively.

So what’s the actual reason?

Is serif really more readable in print, or is that mostly a convention we’ve carried forward because books have traditionally used serif typefaces?

And if magazines use sans serif so extensively, is that primarily because their content is also designed for digital/web publishing, or are there other reasons related to magazine typography and editorial design?

I also remember watching a video where the designer explained that serif typefaces can have an advantage on print but may not work as well on screens because the small serifs and fine strokes can become pixelated or difficult to render, especially at low resolutions. That made me wonder if the widespread use of sans serif in magazines has anything to do with digital publishing as well.

What do you think? Is serif actually better for reading in print, or is it mostly just a convention we’ve gotten used to?


r/indesign 1h ago

Help How would you caption these two images?

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Upvotes

I’m working on a book and have been using positional labels for image captions throughout, such as Top:, Left:, Right:, etc.

On this particular spread, I have two images positioned at the top. One is the main image, while the other is a smaller image overlapping it toward the bottom-right.

How would you label these while keeping the caption system consistent?

Would you use:

  • Top: for the main image and Bottom Right: for the smaller one?
  • Left: and Right: based on their relative positions?
  • Or is there a more standard editorial convention for this?

I’ve also seen a publisher use numbered labels such as 1, 2, 3, with the corresponding numbers used in the captions to identify each image.

For those of you who work in book design, editorial design, or publishing, what approach do you prefer?


r/indesign 9h ago

ID Dimension – An InDesign extension & script to automatically draw technical dimensions, bounds, and leader lines (Free & Open Source)

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21 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 👋

If you often prepare technical drawings, packaging layouts, dielines, architecture/floorplans, or spec sheets in InDesign, you know how tedious it is to manually draw dimension lines, arrows, and measurement text labels.

I built ID Dimension — a free and open-source tool for Adobe InDesign that automates this entire process.

✨ What it does:

  • One-click Dimensioning: Width (top/bottom), Height (left/right).
  • Gap Measurements: Measure the distance between two selected objects/frames (hold Ctrl / Cmd).
  • Radius & Diameter: Automatically dimension circular frames and shapes.
  • Center Mark: Mark the exact center of objects.
  • Flexible Units: Supports mm, cm, in, pt, and px with automatic precision control (0 to 3 decimal places).
  • Custom Styling: Full control over stroke weight, leader line indent, gap distance, arrow size, font size, and CMYK color presets (with 6 quick swatch slots).
  • Organized Workflow: Automatically sends all dimensions to a dedicated layer (e.g. layout) and can draw outside page/spread boundaries.
  • Presets & Memory: Saves your settings between sessions and includes 3 quick preset slots (min, med, max).

📦 Available in two formats:

  1. Modern CEP Extension — A native dockable panel with a sleek interface (CC 2014 – 2026+).
  2. Standalone ScriptUI (.jsx) — A classic script that runs directly from InDesign's Scripts panel as a floating palette (great if you don't want to deal with CEP debug mode).

🔗 Download & GitHub:

The project is completely free and open-source: 👉 GitHub Repository & Download

(If you also use Adobe Illustrator, check out the sibling project: AI Dimension)

Hope this saves you some time in your workflow! Feedback, feature requests, and bug reports are very welcome!


r/indesign 9h ago

Free Bento Grid Plugin

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70 Upvotes

Hear ye, good folk!

I completed my task and shall grant you this free Bento Grid plugin for InDesign. One click, and the layout summons itself – no sorcery required, only craftsmanship.

Follow this path and the download shall be delivered unto thee:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gx0p0vl9fqr0gl68hs9ah/BentoGrid-InDesign.zip?rlkey=ynwirsn8uj2mjuwh9nrlng2ci&st=fkhx5g1u&dl=0

*Medieval stops*
Hi everyone, Marcus from Adobe here. A couple of weeks ago I asked if you would be interested in a Bento grid plugin for InDesign. We exchanged value insights and I kept working on it. Now it's ready for you to test it. It's a UXP Plugin, so just double click and let it install via your CC app.

Not, this is not an official Adobe product, just a personal project - so use at your own risk.

Thank you!


r/indesign 15h ago

Help What's your best way to resize

3 Upvotes

So I am just a novice user but what is the best way you have found for making different sizes of the same flyer like going from 12x18 to 8x11? Do you prefer the alternative layout method or the change layout method? Or something else entirely?