PDF Walkthrough
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- CygnusZero4
I need to create a PDF walkthrough that shows screenshots of an ipad app and explains how to use it.
If Im doing this in Photoshop, what are the ideal settings, dpi, etc..
- monospaced0
You shouldn't do this entirely in Photoshop, the file size would be insane. Just set it up in InDesign, place the high resolution ipad mockups in the presentation, and export a really nice PDF that's at least big-screen resolution. This way your type and other elements will be crisp no matter what, and the file size of the PDF will be manageable. No use rasterizing the template and type, right?
- also, you'd be simply duplicating pages and changing layer display options on each placed imagemonospaced
- TMcirquemedia
- CygnusZero40
^ Got it, thx. Havent done a whole lot of PDF stuff. So Im in InDesign now, how do I know what the page size settings should be?
It's a little confusing to me because the client literally has no info for me. Its just a PDF thats going to be sent out that explains some features of their ipad app.
- monospaced0
Well, presentation method will dictate size, but in InDesign you can select Web as your preset and enter in pixel sizes for say, an HD display and go from there. The alternative would be to use a Print preset and measurements (inch/cm) and set the ratio to 16:9 or 4:3 and go from there, which makes your mock-up sizes easy to determine. Either way you'll end up with a high-res solution presentation.
- monospaced0
Might be best to use a standard paper size, considering people might print it out. It'll work on-screen and off. My advice would be to treat it like a print project, but make type big enough to be readable even on a small laptop display.
- CygnusZero40
^ Yes I just considered that and decided to treat it as print, due to the fact that I dont know exactly how this is going to be used. The client doesnt even know. They just want a PDF walk through out of me. =/
- monospaced0
Final thing... when you export the PDF, start with Smallest File Size (this sets it to RGB, which results in nice screen colors) and then in the Output tab up the resolution of the images to somewhere in the 100-200dpi range. This strikes a nice balance between quality and overall file size. Adjust to your liking.
- Alright, noted. Thanks for the assitance.CygnusZero4
- anytime, I build presentations like this all the timemonospaced
- formed0
I'd do as much as you can in Illustrator, personally. Keep it vector based if you can. For diagrams and basic text, Illustrator is fast and clean.
Should help keep the file size down and minimize the bitmaps needed.- same thing with InDesign, except InDesign is far superior for multiple page documents like thismonospaced
- CygnusZero40
I have to create 3 pages, but when I export the PDF pages 2 and 3 are showing up side by side.
I can see in the pages panel in indesign they are side by side. How do I change that? Im an indesign nub.
- CygnusZero40
^ That did it. You da man!
- Josev0
Fireworks is good for this sort of thing. It lets you to export your pages to an interactive PDF.
- Sadly, Adobe doesn't have future plans for FireworksJosev
- InDesign also lets you output an interactive PDF.monospaced
- I'm aware of Indesign's capabilities. But fireworks was designed for interactive applications.Josev
- InDesign was too, LOL. Ever heard of a digital publication?monospaced
- anyway, Fireworks is deadmonospaced
- fadein110
If you feel more comfortable doing it all in PS - do that. Text and vector elements will appear crisp in a PS PDF, has done for many versions.
I have done something similar recently and the file size wasn't huge at all. Whatever images you use in inDesign will be the same size as what is used in PS. Unless you are planning on using a lot of complex vector artwork. of course.- Well Im already neck deep into this in InDesign, so Ill just roll with that.CygnusZero4
- But photoshop exports everything rasterized, so type is only crisp if you set the resolution very, very high.monospaced
- And then you STILL have the issue of making it into a multi-page presentation. Sounds like a nightmare.monospaced
- No it doesn't text and smart objects are vectorsfadein11
- But you STILL have to export eventually in raster form. I mean, it's not like they can pass around Photoshop files!monospaced
- PSD and PDF save text as vectorsfadein11
- Or am I missing something? Does a Photoshop PDF preserve font outlines?monospaced
- I guess you answered my question. Good to know, I guess.monospaced
- indeed - but as you say you wouls still have to create a multipage pdffadein11
- Monospaced missing something? I thought he was the expert on everything.Josev
- CygnusZero40
I used to use Fireworks a lot but migrating away from it since its being abandoned.
- CygnusZero40
Seems absurd I have to create a walkthrough for an ipad app. If you need to explain to people how to use it, its probably too complicated to begin with.
- doesnotexist0
you can always bring the finished PDF into keynote and do interactive things i believe...
the method mono describes is what we do for this sort of thing. best method imo, sourcing respective elements from ps, ai — bringing everything into indd.
- it is the best method - but v.slow if you don't use inDesign reguarly. thought he may be more used to PSfadein11