InDesign CS5 for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide (Visual QuickStart Guides)

Although I have used InDesign for years, I buy the QuickStart Guide after every version of the program is published to stay up to date and learn what ever has changed and improved in the program quickly. Because of it's design I can skip around to what I need brushing up on quickly. I also use the Quick Start Guide for other programs as well because I don't want wordly lengthy explainations of stuff I mostly already know about.

Two complaints I have read about this book are that it has no color pictures and that it tells you little about design. The reasons are as follows. This is a $20 book that is packed with functional information. It has an enormous amount of information in regard to the use and function of InDesign. Add color and you are adding ten to fifteen bucks to the price and getting the same information. The illustrations are slightly low resolution, but they are still perfectly clear as to relay specific information.This book is not a book on design. There are many great books on design, many are expensive, and they have great, high resolution, illustrations and photo's. This book is here to show you how to use InDesign. It assumes you already know how to design.I am an experienced designer and really appreciate the information in this inexpensive book. I use it as a reference on the new features, and to refresh myself on older features I may not use every day.This Quick Start guide is a very good reference and a great guide to getting started. Just as the title states.

I am a Photoshop users but didn't know InDesign at all. I downloaded the Kindle edition of this book three hours ago and I am starting my first document. Any software this powerful will require some learning. This book makes it less painful with clear instruction and graphics. I recommend it.

This book has everything you need to learn In Design. It's simply clear and to the point, no bells and whistles, just simple directions and I think they did a remarkable job putting it together so people who aren't too techy (like that would be most of us) can look up what they need, try some examples and get back to work. Thanks so much-- Visual QuickStart Guides have always been my favorite because they are so hands on and they show you what needs to be done without burying you in details about random features you might never use (but don't get me wrong, those details are there too if you want them, just the way it lays out makes you feel like you can handle this cumbersome and scary program. All of the hands on training around my town costs 3-5days of your time and about 1K out of pocket. If you don't have that and you want to learn and learn well, then this book is SO Awesome!

I wasn't sure if this book was in color or in B&W when I ordered it; the preview was B&W but some of the other reviews talked about the book being in color. Also a book with "Visual QuickStart Guide" in the title about a graphic design software made me think it would be in color. Just a warning.

This reference guide is layed out in a 'user friendly', linear fashion. It has helped me a lot with this daunting software. It is specifially for InDesign. Indesign For Dummies did not. That book [InDesign for Dummies] is a primer for the entire suite, making it quite thin on specifics.

The author did a superb job of focusing her information in an orderly manner, and then presenting it using two techniques which make it virtually impossible to not understand the process. First, on one half of the page she gives you the Commands and Actions required; Second she shows you on the second half of the page images of what you should select. I find that this book is clear, precise, and extremely valuable, certainly for the new user of InDesign. Finally, she provides a detailed, carefully presented Index so you can find solutions to the problems you wish to solve. I recommend this book without reservations, and find the price very reasonable  InDesign CS5 for Macintosh and Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide (Visual Quickstart Guides)

As a professional InDesign trainer, I used 75 copies of this book - purchased from Amazon - during my training seminars this month.The black and white format allows adult learners to effectively make notes and mark up important items with a red pen.With a background in graphic design, I appreciate the clean 2 column pages, large and plentiful screen captures and indented step by step instructions. Adequate white space avoids overwhelming visual clutter typical of other books.A consistent thread of lighthearted reference to the Wizard of Oz in graphic examples keeps you smiling while learning the software.Sandee Cohen is an expert in InDesign, graphic design, technical writing and teaching this material - a winning combination.

Having used Pagemaker for a school magazine and the early versions of InDesign I needed to get up to speed with CS5.5. I had a some idea of what I wanted to do but needed 'how to do it'. I'm reasonably familiar with Photoshop and Illustrator and found I kept returning to these Peachpit Quickstart guides in preference to others, so I chose this one. It answered all my questions in a clear manner. The actual Indesign program is mainly black lettering on a pale background so this book manages very well without the gimmick of colour. Importantly the diagrams are clear and the whole is well laid out. I find it excellent value.

Bought this book as I needed a reference guide. Learning Indesign whilst working on it meant I needed something which provided clear and illustrated instructions - this does the job perfectly! Would recommend it to anybody who is starting out on Indesign or who needs to be reminded of how to do things.

Invaluable reference book if like me you forget things! ;)

Although I already knew the basics of InDesign, I needed guidance on the more advanced features of the programme. This book is excellent - clear, concise and well laid out.