Do you want to learn to how to design a magazine in InDesign? Discover industry standard workflows for print design professionals, magazine layout design tips, and follow how to design a magazine cover layout that attracts attention. These are just a few of the topics you’ll find in this roundup of best InDesign magazine and layout tutorials.
Whether you need to get started with the basics of page layout in InDesign or learn advanced topics on how to make a magazine. Learn magazine design from concept, through grid layout and into execution of placing elements, and finish off with print production techniques. There are tutorials for every skill level to improve their magazine layout in InDesign skills.
In addition to the tutorials listed in this article we also have a Sessions to launch into on Beginner Guides to InDesign, a hand picked selection of Fantastic InDesign Tuts from Vectortuts+, and for more InDesign tutorials jump into our InDesign Category on Vectortuts+.
The workflows in these magazine and layout design tutorials are excellent preparation for creating work for clients. You can also consider putting your graphic talents to work by adding your own uniquely designed InDesign magazine template to GraphicRiver. It’s a popular and growing category to contribute to. And if you’re client project has a tight deadline or narrow budget, there are many InDesign magazine templates to choose from.
Best Tutorials on How to Design a Magazine in InDesign
How to Create a Music Magazine Cover in InDesign
In this tutorial, learn how to create a magazine cover in InDesign. You’ll learn how to set up a page layout and add text. This is an introduction to InDesign and no previous knowledge is required to create this magazine cover layout. This is a simple project put together to help get you started with designing a magazine in InDesign.
How to Create a Professional Magazine Layout
Have you ever wondered how professional designers strike the perfect balance between text and image when designing a magazine layout? Using InDesign’s powerful type tools, you will learn techniques to help you set and arrange a magazine layout. You’ll learn how to create a well balanced page, use good typography layout, white space, while taking advantage of the grid. Learn the basic setup for a consistent magazine layout in InDesign.
Design Distinctive Monotone Layouts
Learn how to create striking layouts in InDesign using one or two monotone colors. This is a great way to layout a magazine design to save money. In this tutorial, you’ll get plenty of tips on how to design a magazine in InDesign, while sticking to a budget. Designing for print with one or two colors can create a beautiful, pared-back effect, giving a project a refined feel, and saving money in the process.
Speed Up Your InDesign Layouts
Neshantheny Kumana simplifies object selection and frame editing with InDesign’s easy-to-use Gap tool and Live Corner Effects. With the new updates in CS5 and 5.5, you’re now able to distribute layout elements, resize gaps and customize frame corners faster using the interactive Gap tool and Live Corner Effects. These features will speed up your magazine layout design process.
Create a Newsprint Publication
Tim Wan explains how to get to grips with newsprint designs. Learn how to produce a well-designed print publication with a clear purpose. Gain knowledge of production techniques in InDesign and Photoshop, such as using grids to layout the publication and maximizing impact with a two-color print. While this tutorial is aimed at newspaper publication design, many of the techniques discussed here are applicable to magazine layout and design as well.
Master InDesign’s Page Tool
Neshantheny Kumana demonstrates an easy way to control multiple page sizes within a single document using InDesign CS5 (and 5.5) Page tool. It allows you to manipulate page size, create gatefolds and add a spine to an editorial design all in the same design. This is a big editorial design boost. You’ll be designing cool magazine layouts with varying page sizes in no time.
Master Multi-Doc Projects with the Book Function
The workflow for designing a magazine in inDesign may require spreading multiple documents out among your team, so each section can be worked on independently, and then come together when complete. In this tutorial, David Donaghy demonstrates the simple way to bring control and consistency to your projects with the book function in InDesign.
This feature will keep your multi-document project styles and attributes consistent. If you’re making a magazine in InDesign with a team, then reading this tutorial is a must.
Design a Simple Index with InDesign
In this tutorial, David Donaghy shows you how to create an index in InDesign. Learn the basics of how to create many types of indexes, which add authority and usability to your magazine designs. This tutorial requires InDesign CS4+. You’ll also learn typesetting using InDesign’s style sheets as well. Get some great index ideas for your magazine layout and designs.
Using Live Captions in InDesign CS5
Jo Gulliver shows how to create captions using information added to an image’s metadata. This can speed up your magazine layout design work in InDesign. You’ll use one of the new features introduced in InDesign CS5, which is Live Captions. This tool offers a number of different methods you can use to generate captions, controlling the look, location and style of the caption. Designing a magazine in InDesign gets easier everyday.
Work with Type in InDesign
Learn professional tips on how to layout a magazine in InDesign. Jo Gulliver shows you some of the most valuable typographic tools in InDesign. which make working with type easier. This tutorial focuses mainly on the Character Formatting control panel. You’ll learn to insert ligatures, highlight text, and control copy flow. Improve your magazine layout design work and control of type in InDesign with these pointers.
Design a Multi-Page Mag Feature
Art editor Jo Gulliver shares her pro tips for the layout out of complex feature magazine sections in InDesign. Learn the process of how to layout a magazine from grid construction, to image placement, creating captions, and more. The key process of designing a magazine feature in InDesign are covered in this editorial layout tutorial.
Create a Newsprint Magazine
Learn how Studio Newwork creates a magazine that is printed on Newsprint. They have a love for laying out sections by hand and have learned to appreciate the beauty of this tactile black-and-white medium. They offer tips on how important a flexible grid system is when working across such a large magazine spread. Discover how to design a large format magazine by example, as well as distribution tips as well.
Work Style Magic in InDesign
Tony Harmer shows us some powerful InDesign tools for styling callouts in magazine layout design. He demonstrates ways to speed up your work when putting together text and graphics. Learn how to go beyond nested styles and work with GREP, first introduced in InDesign CS4. Grasping the depth of high performance tools will allow you to make a magazine in InDesign quicker.
Master PDF Exports
Adobe instructor Tony Harmer shows you how use CS4 to create PDFs for every occasion. While the creation of fully digital magazines that can be viewed with dynamic options, as an app, in digital devices is on the rise, PDF’s are still a reliable way to distribute digital magazines. They have wide support on CPU’s and digital devices. Learn best practices for preparing your magazine layout design files in InDesign and Adobe Acrobat.
Magazine Design with InDesign Part 1 of 3
Learn the basics of magazine layout and design in this three part tutorial. Laying out a magazine in InDesign presents challenges that student need to master. This magazine design tutorial covers a complete process and will get beginners over their first hurdles with magazine publication design. By creating this four page magazine spread you’ll master the basic design techniques and main tools you’ll need to use in InDesign. Get started with Part 1 following the link below. Continue with this series in Part 2 and Part 3 on the Layers Magazine site.
Magazine Cover Design in InDesign
Master Adobe Certified designer Terry White shows how to create a cover design in InDesign. Learn basic magazine layout and design techniques that will make your cover stand out, while learning a professional workflow. Making a magazine cover in InDesign requires a good understanding of design fundamentals and the toolset this app has to offer.
Use Color-Logic Plug-ins to Create a Metallic Magazine Cover – Vector Premium Tutorial, Part 2
In this two-part Tuts+ Premium tutorial, author Mark Mayers will show you how to create a magazine cover with maximum shelf appeal. In addition to learning how to create an astonishingly beautiful cover image, he also demonstrates the power of Color-Logic, which enables you to add hundreds of metallic colors and special print finishes into your artwork.
This is part 2 of this series that focuses on using the Color-Logic design software with Illustrator and InDesign to assemble the metallic print-ready artwork. Also, don’t miss Part 1 on Psdtuts+.
Additional InDesign Tutorials on Vectortuts+
Sessions – Beginners Guides to InDesign
Assembled here on Vectortuts+ is a Creative Session dedicated to learning InDesign. The powerful tools in this layout and design application are covered from the ground up, tool by tool, and topic by topic. Learn an assortment of subjects, such as the best way to create a new document, how to import text and images and even useful advice on what to do when a document is corrupted and how to make comments and track changes. Work your way through these guides and you will be well on your way to mastering InDesign.
InDesign Category on Vectortuts+
In addition to the Session on InDesign, we have a truckload of additional InDesign tutorials, which will help you improve your magazine layout and design workflow, grow from beginner to master with InDesign’s tools, and more. We have a large catalogue of InDesign written and video tutorials to work through and are consistently adding new content on a regular basis as well.
Fantastic InDesign Tuts from Vectortuts+
This is a hand picked group of high quality InDesign tutorials, put together by Vectortuts+ Co-Editor LoungeKat. It’s organized by experience level and content type. If you’re an InDesign beginner, then our Basic section will get you started well, and there are ample examples in this article to jump into. If you’re intermediate, or a more advanced InDesign designer, then jump into a Tuts+ Premium InDesign tutorial.