Adobe InDesign is a versatile tool that allows you to create and design ebooks, magazines, and custom journals.
The program is ideal for graphic designers who want to expand their skills to include creating content for digital publications, and it excels at adding text and images to any design to create a unique story.
With InDesign, you can design the entire publication, from the cover to the content within, or you can use the program to hand-code portions of your publication, using an industry-standard typographical style and template.
Why Use Adobe InDesign For Ebook Publishing?
Adobe InDesign is an industry standard for digital publishing. It is cross-platform, which means that it runs on all major operating systems (OSs) such as macOS, Windows, and iOS. As a result, you can use the program to design your ebook regardless of the device (e.g., iPad, Kindle, Nook, and Google Play) that you choose to read it on.
This makes InDesign the perfect choice if you want to put your ebook online for free. Most e-book readers, such as the Apple iBookStore and Kindle, allow users to download and read books that they have not purchased. For example, if you are an indie author who wants your work to be available to the general public, you can put your ebook in digital format on Amazon’s Kindle platform for free. Alternatively, you can use a tool like Bookbaby to put your book in print format (physical book) and make it available for purchase on Amazon’s Kindle platform (e-book).
You can also use InDesign to design a beautiful physical book that you can give away or sell at a profit.
On the other hand, if you want to design a magazine or journal that you will sell directly to readers, you can use InDesign’s built-in monetization features to enable you to do so. For example, if you are designing a magazine for a major publication like The New York Times, you can use the NYT monogram to enable you to charge a subscription price for the magazine.
Key Benefits of Adobe InDesign for Ebook Publishing
Adobe InDesign has a number of advantages when it comes to designing and publishing an ebook. To begin with, the tool is multi-platform, which means that you can use it to design your ebook in such a way that it will look the same no matter what device you choose to read it on. In addition, there are a variety of pre-made fonts, styles, and icons that you can use to enhance the overall appearance of your publication.
One of the biggest benefits of InDesign is its flexibility when it comes to structuring your ebook. You can choose to divide the content into pages or chapters, add a table of contents at the beginning of your document, or even add an index at the end. Each one of these add significantly to the organization and structure of your ebook.
If you are unfamiliar with the term, an index is a list of keywords or phrases (usually pertaining to the content within your ebook) that you want the reader to be able to find. For example, if you are writing a self-help ebook on how to be happy, you could add key terms like ‘happiness’ or ‘contentment’ to the index so that when readers find these words in your text, they can click on them and be directed to the part of your ebook that deals with these issues. This is also known as a keywords or SEO (search engine optimization) technique.
You can use InDesign to embed a hyperlink to a specific part of your ebook in the event that you want to provide the reader with additional information about a certain topic. In addition, you can add a file attached to the email message that you send to the publication in which you are working to provide additional information about the content within your book. This can be in the form of an actual file or a web page.
Getting Started With InDesign For Ebook Publishing
To get started with InDesign, all you need is a PC or Mac, a web browser, and an e-mail account.
You can download the free trial version of InDesign from the Adobe website. Once you have the application, you can launch it and log in using your Adobe ID. You will then be presented with a blank canvas on which you can begin designing your ebook. To add some texture to your design and set the stage for your content, you can use the tool’s pre-made buttons, stickers, and textures.
To make things easier for you, Adobe has provided a number of templates that you can download and use to get started. These templates are essentially finished designs that you can customize with text, images, and color and then use as a basis for your design. For example, if you download and install the NYT Magazine template, you will see that this comes with a number of ready-to-use parts that you can incorporate into your design. You can find a number of templates for various magazines, newspapers, and other publications at the Adobe website. Once you have your template, you can start adding text, pictures, and other design elements.
Designing For All Devices
One of the major benefits of InDesign when it comes to ebook publishing is that you can design your ebook in such a way that it will look the same no matter what device you choose to read it on. This is a distinct advantage when compared to other tools designed for digital publishing, such as Microsoft Word, which often have pixelated and cramped designs when used on large display screens like those found on newer iPhones or iPads. Using the tools provided in InDesign, you can create a crisp, clear layout that will look great on any device.
By limiting how your content is displayed, you can ensure that no matter which device is used to read your ebook, the layout will always be consistent.
Creating an Ebook With InDesign
Once you have designed and laid out your ebook, you can start adding your content in the form of text, images, and other design elements. If you have used any of the templates provided by Adobe, you will have noticed that they each come with a variety of parts that you can use to add content to your design. To add text to your design, simply click on the type of text you want to add (e.g., a headline, subhead, or normal text) and drag the text box to the location where you want it to appear in your publication. If needed, you can change the size of your text to fit the dimensions of the space you have available.
To add an image to your design, you can use one of the templates provided by Adobe or download a stock image from an online source like Adobe Stock or Envato.
If you want to add a graphic element other than an image, you can use one of several tools designed specifically for ebook publishing. One example is the ‘bookmark’ button found in the top left corner of your canvas. To add a bookmark, click on the button and then click on the location within your publication where you want to add a link to. You then have the option to enter a title for the bookmark or to leave it blank. If you want, you can also enter a description of what the bookmark is for so that the reader knows what the link is referring to.
Publishing Your Ebook
Once you have finished adding content and placed your final touches on your ebook, you can publish it. To do this, simply go to File > Publish Now or press the Publish button on the top toolbar of InDesign.
If you click on the button, you will be presented with a number of options. Simply choose the method that you prefer (e.g., create a PDF, send to a printer, or export to an e-book) and then follow the onscreen instructions. When completed, you will be able to download your finished product (e.g., a PDF or EPUB file for ebooks) from your computer’s hard drive.
Additional Resources
In addition to the benefits already discussed, InDesign is also ideal for people who want to create a physical book as opposed to an ebook. If you are unfamiliar, a physical book is a book that you purchase in hard copy from a bookstore or online retailer. Ebooks do not need to be bought directly from the author or publisher; instead, they are digital versions of books that are often obtained legally online or by other means. Ebooks are usually easier to create and can often be completed in less time when compared to a physical book.