Course Syllabus
ART 1200 InDesign Software – Spring 2023
Instructor Info
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School & Division Info
School Information
School of Arts, Communication & Media
Richard Scott, Dean
South City Campus, Room 2-101
(801) 957-3333
Division Information
Division of Visual Art & Design
Bryan Griggs, Associate Dean
South City Campus, Room 2-059
(801) 957-3042
Campus Information
Resources for Help
Adobe Help
Working on Campus
The following rooms are available for students to use. All labs are located at the South City campus. Please call the department office at (801) 957-3042 for current lab times as they vary from semester to semester.
- Visual Art & Design Computer Lab (1-051): This is a computer lab stocked with Macs & PCs that have all of the software needed for all ART courses. The lab also includes pay-to-print printers that require the use of your SLCC OneCard (ID card)
- Graphic Design & Communications Studio (1-177): This is a multi-use lab. It contains flat areas for working between classes, computers, printers, and other resources for completing your ART 1200 coursework.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is required and expected.
Our class meets in person for 2.5 hours, two times per week. Absences will not be logged as excused or unexcused. I don't need a doctor's note. The first 5 absences will be logged as absent with no questions asked. Then, a student's final grade in ART 1200 will be lowered by 5% for each absence that exceeds 5 absences.
If you prefer to complete your coursework online (aka you were planning to come to our on-campus class sporadically) I would like you to switch into a fully online section of ART 1200. Attendance is required in this section of ART 1200. We also offer an on-campus/online hybrid version of ART 1200 that only meets on campus one night per week. Please let me know if you have questions about switching into one of these other modalities.
Course Description & Learning Outcomes
Course Description
In ART 1200 InDesign Software, students learn the skills, tools, and procedures needed to create electronic page layout files for output using leading industry software.
- Course Prerequisite: None
- Corequisite Recommendation: If you are a Graphic Design AAS or Graphic Communications CC or AS student, I recommend taking ART 1135 Printing Fundamentals, ART 1120 Design, and ART 1200 InDesign Software at the same time. These classes have overlapping concepts that complement each other.
SLCC CWSLOs
Salt Lake Community College is dedicated to enhancing the overall educational experience for all students through CWSLOs (College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes). This course will incorporate all CWSLOs with specific emphasis on 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7.
SLCC College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes (CWSLOs)
- Acquire Substantive Knowledge
- Communicate Effectively
- Develop Quantitative Literacy
- Think Critically and Creatively
- Civic Engagement
- Work Professionally and Constructively
- Develop Computer and Information Literacy
- Lifelong Wellness
Course Outcomes
ART 1200 Course Learning Outcomes
Students will demonstrate competency in the following through the successful completion of this course:
- Apply basic graphic arts concepts like color modes (CMYK, RGB, Lab, spot colors), image types (raster, vector), file formats (print and web), printing (b&w, color, single and two-sided), and color separations. (SLCC CWSLOs 1,6,7)
- Produce production-ready single- and multi-page layout designs that include text, graphics (raster and vector), columns, special characters, and other common page layout elements. (SLCC CWSLOs 1,4,6,7)
- Apply graphic arts skills required to recreate a supplied sample. (SLCC CWSLOs 1,4,6,7)
- Apply standard professional expectations of the graphic arts industry in file preparation, packaging of projects and assets for prepress, and organizing files for storage. (SLCC CWSLOs 1,2,6,7)
- Apply design efficiency through the use of automation of page layout processes by using parent pages, page numbering, type formatting (paragraph and character styles), graphics formatting (object styles), preparing projects for multiple outputs, and more. (SLCC CWSLOs 1,4,6,7)
Course Format & Platform (Canvas)
Course Format: LECTURE/LAB
This is a traditional on-campus lecture/lab course. We will meet for class two times per week for the duration of the semester. Attendance is required and expected. Our class meets for 5 hours per week. This course should be about 9 hours of work per week which means you will have class time to work on projects and should expect to spend up to 4 additional hours outside of class working on your homework.
All ART 1200 students are encouraged to take advantage of the Visual Art & Design open computer lab in room 1-051 and the Graphic Design & Communications Studio in room 1-177 at the South City campus. These labs have computers you can use outside of class time.
Canvas Information
This course is administered through Canvas (slcc.instructure.com). Students can access the course by logging in using their My.SLCC.edu username and password and then by choosing ART 1200 InDesign Software from the dashboard. All coursework, course content, grades, and communication will be through Canvas. Students should use Canvas to communicate with their instructor. Please do not email your work to your instructor. All coursework will be submitted through submission portals within the class in Canvas. If you are having difficulty submitting your work you should attend class and ask your instructor for help.
Textbook, Software, & Supplies Requirements
Required Course Materials
- Students should come to every class period with a pencil and paper or another method for taking notes.
- There is no textbook required to be purchased for this course. The textbook is embedded into the course within each lesson.
- Students must have Internet access and a working computer.
- Students will need access to Adobe InDesign CC, Illustrator CC, and Photoshop CC. It is available for FREE through Adobe CC @ Salt Lake Community College.
Adobe Software & Updates
SLCC students get free access to Adobe software through their @bruinmail.slcc.edu email. DO NOT PURCHASE AN ADOBE CC SUBSCRIPTION UNTIL YOU HAVE VISITED Adobe CC @ Salt Lake Community College.
Campus policy is to update Adobe Creative Cloud software before each semester but not during the semester. Adobe has its own schedule and will often have an update in the middle of the term. If you run the update at home, be aware that it may not be compatible with the school's computers. For InDesign, you would have to open your .idml file from home on the school computer as the newer .indd file may not be recognized. Always save your ART 1200 projects as both an INDD and an IDML file.
Course Requirements & Grading Policies
Evaluation
ART 1200 students are evaluated based on their ability to properly use the Adobe InDesign skills learned during class through class participation, content knowledge tests, skills practice activities and creative projects.
Student evaluations may include:
- Students will complete skills & content knowledge activities such as vocabulary quizzes and writing assignments for each learning module to emphasize the core learning outcomes for each.
- Students will complete multiple quick skills-based assignments relating to each lesson topic covered throughout the semester to practice and implement the skills being taught.
- Students will participate in online discussions to evaluate the validity and importance of topics being covered during the lesson.
- Students will apply skills learned during class in open-ended personal creative projects to demonstrate an ability to apply skills being taught during each lesson to real-world applications.
Required Assessments
Knowledge Building Assessments
These activities are designed for students to use as practice. They are not worth as many points as unit exams and creative projects, but they can be submitted multiple times for improvement.
- Knowledge Tests: Knowledge tests can be taken twice. Do not use the second attempt until you review the lesson materials and/or visit your instructor for help.
- Skills Practices: Every lesson also has an associated skills practice activity where students can practice the InDesign skills covered in the lesson and share what they are working on with the class.
Major Assessments
These activities gauge each student's understanding and application of the content covered in each module. The majority of each student's grade in ART 1200 comes directly from these assessments.
- Discussions: Discussions are included at the end of a module to allow students to explain the importance of key concepts covered in the module.
- Creative Projects: There are multiple creative projects throughout the semester. Some modules have a project. Some do not. Students are expected to think creatively and present their best work while showcasing an understanding and ability to properly used the InDesign skills covered in the module.
- Final Exam: There is a final exam at the end of the semester. It assesses each student's understanding of the knowledge-based content of the course.
- Portfolio Prep & Self-Reflection: The last activity students will complete in ART 1200 is a portfolio prep exercise. It is intended to help students stay organized and save their work for future use.
Getting Started Early
Students may work ahead in ART 1200. The due dates for each module below can be found on the course homepage. Students are encouraged to start their projects early so they have multiple weeks to work on them and so that there is time to show progress to classmates and their instructor to receive feedback. At the very least, students should read through the requirements of the creative projects, listed below, so they know what to expect as the semester progresses.
Calculating Your Grade
Calculating Your Grade – Assessment Weights
| Course Requirements | Weight |
| Unit 01 – The Basics | 25% |
| Unit 02 – Graphics & More | 25% |
| Unit 03 – Formatting Text & Pages | 35% |
| Unit 04 – Final Exam & Portfolio Prep | 15% |
Calculating Your Grade – Grading Scheme
Participation and/or completion of all projects does not guarantee a passing grade. Engagement in discussions, constructive class participation, and successful completion of required projects and exercises are required. Project grades will foremost be based upon the excellence of the project work: research, creativity, response to the given problem, execution, how to complete instructions were followed, deadline accountability, and presentation.
| Grading Breakdown | |||
| A= 93% – 100% | A-= 90% – 92.9% | B+= 86% – 89.9% | B=80% – 85.9% |
| C+= 76% – 79.9% | C= 70% – 75.9% | D= 60% – 69.9% | E= 0% – 59.9% |
Deadlines & Late Work
Students are expected to submit all coursework by the posted due dates. Due dates are posted on the course homepage. Coursework is due by 11:59 pm on Saturdays. If a college holiday falls on a Saturday students may submit their coursework by the end of the day on Monday without a late penalty.
Late Work Policy
Students should plan ahead and get work done in advance as much as possible before leaving on vacation or when facing anticipated life events. All work is expected to be turned in on time. Late work will be accepted during the currently active unit, but it will be docked 10% of the total value of the assignment whether it is 1 minute late or 1 week late. The absolute last day to submit late work for each unit is posted on the course homepage (approximately 1 week after the unit ends). There is no late grace period for Unit 04.
Class Expectations, Rules, & Policies
Class Expectations
- Students in this class are expected to complete all assignments thoroughly and timely and with respect to their classmates.
- Students are expected to log in on Monday of each week to review weekly course expectations.
- Students are expected to do everything within their power to attend their instructor's weekly review session in real-time.
- Students are expected to budget their time each week to allow enough time to complete all assignments by the posted due dates.
- Students are expected to actively engage with their peers in the class to request and provide feedback on creative projects.
- Students are expected to proactively review course requirements and work ahead when possible.
- Students are expected to attend office hours if/when they need help. Emailing the instructor for help should be a backup option for office hours.
- Students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning by completing all of the activities posted and proactively asking for help when it is needed.
Class Rules
In addition to the expectations listed above, students are expected to follow the classroom rules listed below.
- Know email etiquette! http://101emailetiquettetips.com/
- This is a college-level course in which students are expected to design, write, produce, and present. Sloppy work and an apathetic or negative attitude demonstrates contempt for the task given and will result in a lower grade.
- Active constructive participation in discussions and presentations is required. Critiques are important in that they provide a valuable assessment of a design solution and direction as to how work may be revised for a more successful outcome. In order to experience “real world” situations, students must present their work verbally (written format) as well as visually.
- Students must follow proper netiquette outlined by SLCC eLearning, offensive language, etc. is not acceptable.
- Plagiarism will result in a failing grade.
- Please talk to the instructor ASAP with any problems, questions, or concerns.
- Using other students' project images or the project example photos without permission is prohibited as is any transmission and will be considered copyright infringement.
- Class behavior disruptive to the learning environment will be referred to the Dean of Students.
Student Examples
Any work submitted for this course may be used by SLCC as examples of student work completed in ART 1200.
Student Conduct
SLCC Student Code of Conduct
Students in ART 1200 are expected to abide by the SLCC Student Code of Conduct. You can read it here: slcc.edu/policies/docs/Student_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
Academic Honesty
“As a member of the academic community, students enjoy privileges and share obligations of the larger community of which Salt Lake Community College is a part. With membership in this community comes an obligation. The obligation is an acceptance of a code of civilized behavior.” Academic Honesty will be strictly enforced in this course. Any behavior deemed unethical or that does not abide by reasonable academic honesty will result in action by the professor.
Students caught cheating IN ANY CAPACITY will forfeit their right to pass this course.
Emergency Procedures
In the case of an emergency please proceed to the nearest exit. Once outside the building, gather as a class on the far side of the rainbow sidewalk in the southeast corner of campus so the instructor can take attendance. The closest exit to 2-078 is in the far southeast corner of the building. If that exit is blocked there is an alternate exit in the northeast corner of the building next to room 2-098.
ART 1200 Module & Lesson-Level Learning Objectives
Unit 01 – The Basics
Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200
- Identify how to begin the course and where to find various course components
- Identify the course structure
- Identify the purpose of the course
- Identify course goals and major assessments
- Identify school and instructor policies
- Identify online learning communication etiquette expectations
- Identify expected technical skills
- Identify where to find technical support and various college services
- Use Canvas to submit assignments and participate in discussions
- Use any LTIs/technology required for the course
Getting Started in InDesign
- Lesson 01: Launching InDesign
- Download and install InDesign
- Locate workspace elements like the menus, tools, panels, and the application frame
- Organize the InDesign workspace by nesting and docking panels
- Set, modify, and save custom workspaces
- Lesson 02: Creating New Documents
- Create new InDesign projects using New Document dialog setting
- Define printing bleed
- Create an InDesign project that uses printing bleeds
- Create single-page InDesign documents
- Define facing pages
- Identify uses for facing pages and non-facing pages layout
- Set measurements (to inches) both locally and globally
- Lesson 03: Preflight & Package an InDesign Project
- Correct improper InDesign project formatting by fixing errors, relinking missing or modified files, checking graphics settings, and installing missing fonts
- Perform automated and manual preflighting on an InDesign project
- Delete any unused swatches
- Package an InDesign project
- Adjust print settings including scale, position, color, printer’s marks, booklet printing, and duplex printing
- Identify common printer’s marks used when printing and making plates
Creating Your First InDesign Project
- Lesson 04: Setting Up a Project
- Create new InDesign projects using New Document dialog settings
- Create single-page InDesign documents
- Use guides to divide/organize a workspace
- Duplicate pages and spreads
- Rotate page and spread views for editing
- Add new pages to an existing document via the Layout menu, Document Setup dialog, and Pages pane
- Navigate to and reposition pages using the Pages panel
- Lesson 05: Creating Basic Design Elements
- Create three types of InDesign containers (graphic, text, and unassigned)
- Convert container format from one type to another (graphic, text, and unassigned)
- Select and move objects using the Selection and Direct Selection tool
- Add and modify type including typeface, font family, color, size, and alignment
- Adjust text settings using the Character and Paragraph panels including horizontal alignment (left, right, center, and justify), leading, tracking, kerning, space before and after paragraph, indents, drop caps, and hyphenation
- Insert special characters using the Glyphs panel
- Turn hidden characters on/off via the Text menu
- Use the Strokes panel to adjust stroke type, weight, and end-points
- Adjust stroke and fill color on objects and text
Working With Objects & Color
- Lesson 06: Modifying & Transforming Objects
- Scale, rotate, and shear objects using the Options bar and Transform panel
- Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and step and repeat InDesign content
- Adjust object size and positioning both manually and incrementally using the Selection tool (via tooltip) and Options bar (via X and Y coordinates, Width and Height settings, etc...)
- Modify object corner options
- Use the Object menu to arrange objects on the workspace (Bring Forward, Send to Back, etc...)
- Align and distribute object spacing via the Align panel
- Group and ungroup elements on the workspace
- Apply object and text effects via the Effects panel and Effects dialog box (Window > Effects and Object > Effects)
- Lesson 07: Using Color
- Use the Color Picker, Color panel, and Swatches panel to select, apply, and save colors
- Add all colors used to the Swatches panel
- Use the Eye Dropper tool to select and apply color
- Create and save gradients using the Gradient and Swatches panel
- Save and load color swatches use .ASE (Adobe Swatch Exchange) files
- Define color separations and explain the role they play in the graphic design and graphic communications industries
- Use color separations to identify colors used in a digital design
Unit 02 – Graphics & More
Creating & Modifying Vector Art
- Lesson 08: Vector Art Shapes
- Define vector art
- Explain how vector art is resolution independent
- Create vector art shapes including rectangles, ellipses, and polygons
- Use the Direct Selection tool to modify anchor points and directional lines
- Add and delete anchor points
- Add and delete directional lines
- Use the Strokes panel to adjust stroke type, weight, and end points
- Adjust stroke and fill color on objects and text
- Convert type to outlines for vector art editing
- Lesson 09: Drawing With Vectors
- Create vector art in InDesign using the Pencil, Line, and Pen tools
- Create geometric and curved paths with the Pen Tool
- Create open and closed paths
- Close paths left unintentionally open
- Use the Type on a Path tool to add text to a shape, path, or frame
Formatting Raster Graphics for Print & Web
- Lesson 10: Placing & Experimenting With Graphics
- Create three types of InDesign containers (graphic, text, and unassigned)
- Place graphics into an InDesign project
- Resize placed graphics within an InDesign layout
- Convert type to outlines for use as a graphic container
- Recolor placed graphics in InDesign using saved color swatches
- Place multiple formatted images into InDesign at once
- Create and use specialty compound frames for placing images across multiple frames
- Lesson 11: Formatting Graphics for Print & Web
- Define file format, file extension, and compression
- Explain the difference between lossy and lossless compressions
- Identify web and print file formats
- Format and place raster and vector graphics so the actual and effective resolutions match
Layers & Dielines
- Lesson 12: Using Layers for Organization
- Use layers to organize design elements including separating content onto multiple layers, renaming layers, locking and unlocking layers, and color labeling layer
- Explain the benefits of using layers for organization, editing, dielines, and to create printing vs non-printing layers
- Delete unwanted or unused layers from the Layers panel
- Define knockout and overprint
- Convert artwork to be a knockout or an overprint
- Lesson 13: Creating a Professional Dieline
- Identify what a dieline is and how it is used in the commercial printing industry
- Create a custom dieline using solid, dashed, and dotted lines to represent cut, score/fold, and perforation lines
- Use a custom spot color with an overprint stroke when creating a custom dieline
Unit 03 –Formatting Text & Pages
Object Paragraph, & Character Styles
- Lesson 14: Styles & Design Efficiency
- Use Object, Paragraph, and Character Styles to repeat design choices throughout a layout
- Explain how and why styles are used to provide design efficiency and consistency in InDesign
- Explain the difference between a Paragraph Style and a Character Style
- Use Redefine Style or Clear Overrides to fix broken styles
- Use Placeholder Text when establishing the design of a layout
- Use minimum number of text frames to increase design efficiency
- Design with minimal hidden characters
Parent Pages & Multi-Page Documents
- Lesson 15: Working With Large Bodies of Text
- Create multi-page InDesign documents
- Import text from word processing or spreadsheet files for use in an InDesign project
- Adjust Import Options when importing text for use in InDesign
- Use the Text Frame Options dialog to create multiple columns, add inset spacing, and adjust vertical justification within a text frame
- Create a multi-column text layout using threaded text frames and/or a multi-column text frame
- Apply text wrapping and offset spacing
- Use the Text Frame Options dialog to ignore text wrapping when applicable
- Use text threading to link text frames across text frames and pages
- Lesson 16: Using Parent Pages in InDesign
- Create and apply parent pages to a layout
- Identify uses for parent pages
- Add objects to and modify objects on a parent page
- Use text variables like automated page numbering
- Release design elements from a parent page for further editing
- Reset parent page elements by overriding parent page elements and/or removing local overrides
Tabs & Tables
- Lesson 17: Organizing Columns & Rows of Text
- Organize columns of text using a tab set with leaders
- Organize columns and rows of text using a table
- Identify the differences between tab sets and tables
- Insert, delete, and select table rows and columns
- Merge and split table cells both horizontally and vertically
- Adjust table settings including headers, footers, repeating fill and stroke patterns, table borders, vertical justification within a cell, text rotation, and cell inset spacing
- Identify uses for cell and table styles
Creating Digital Documents
- Lesson 18: Creating Digital Designs in InDesign
- Discuss the pros and cons of using interactive PDFs, web file formats, and Publish Online for the digital presentation of an InDesign project
- Create and export an interactive PDF with hyperlinks, navigational buttons, bookmarks, and other interactive elements
- Use InDesign and Adobe Acrobat to test interactive PDF functionality
- Export an InDesign project for alternate output options including IDML files, PDFs, web file formats, and Publish Online
Unit 04 – Final Exam & Portfolio Prep
Final Exam
- Recreate an example design by identifying size and placement of design elements and the InDesign skills needed to reproduce them
- Recreate a supplied design by following a set of instructions
Portfolio Prep & Self-Reflection
- Collect, organize, and publish coursework
- Create ongoing art student portfolio
- Identify personal growth and areas for improvement as they relate to course outcomes by completing a self-reflection
- Identify future educational and career goals that are supported through the completion of ART 1200 course outcomes
College Policies & Procedures
SLCC Syllabus
SLCC Institutional Syllabus Information
The college has compiled a list of very important information all students should read as part of their syllabus including the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, Grades and Grading Policies, Title IX Statement, General Learning & Support Resources, and Advising and Counseling Support Services. You can review the SLCC Institutional Syllabus here.
DRC Statement
SLCC values inclusive learning environments and strives to make all aspects of the College accessible to our students. If you have a disability and believe you need accommodations to improve access to learning materials or the learning environment, please contact the Disability Resource Center: 801-957-4659, drc@slcc.edu, or www.slcc.edu/drc.
Please note: This course has been formatted to be as accessible as possible for all students including closed captioning, alt tags, video and image description, etc.. However, due to the visual nature of this class not all visual elements within the course are able to be formatted in an accessible way that allows students with visual impairment sufficient accommodations to be able to use them. For example, there are worksheets where students must copy the vector paths with the Pen tool. Students needing additional accommodations should work with the DRC on a case-by-case basis.
Free Weapons Policy
No deadly weapon should be on any SLCC property unless the person has concealed weapons permit or has notified and has authorization from SLCC Department of Public Safety. For concerns, contact Shane Crabtree, SLCC Director of Public Safety at shane.crabtree@slcc.edu.
School Closing Info
Everything for this class is posted to Canvas. If the College closes for any reason we will keep to our schedule. Check the course ANNOUNCEMENTS for specific instructions. Note: Students are not required to complete coursework during days the college is scheduled to be closed (like for Spring Break and Thanksgiving). Students may submit their assignments early to avoid working through a break or holiday. For accurate information concerning school closures (weather, power outages, or other emergencies) call 957-INFO or 957-4636.
Course Schedule
| WEEK | MODULE |
| 01 | 00 – Orientation: Getting Started in ART 1200 |
| 01 - 02 | 01 – Getting Started in InDesign |
| 03 | 02 – Creating Your First InDesign Project |
| 04 | 03 – Working With Objects & Color |
| 05 | 04 – Creating & Modifying Vector Art |
| 06 | 05 – Formatting Graphics for Print & Web |
| 07 | 06 – Layers & Dielines |
| 08 | 07 – Object, Paragraph, & Character Styles |
| 09 | NO CLASS (Spring Break) |
| 10 - 11 | 08 – Parent Pages & Multi-Page Documents |
| 12 | 09 – Tabs & Tables |
| 13 - 14 | 10 – Creating Digital Documents |
| 15 | 11 – Final Exam |
| 16 - 17 | 12 – Portfolio Prep & Self-Reflection |
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|