InDesign and Image Masking

Event Details

Ever have a masked image that didn’t quite look realistic? It probably had more to do with your strategy in InDesign than your skill in Photoshop. Matt Sullivan, Training Director for roundpeg, inc. will teach you to use the InDesign features needed for professional image masking, layer control and image transparency.

Matt will show you how to save both hard-edge and soft-edge masks in the same Photoshop file. He’ll demonstrate how to use InDesign’s Object Layer Options to modify layer visibility without modifying the placed Photoshop or Illustrator file. He’ll also explain how to use adjustment layers to optimize for any uncalibrated output devices you’re using. If you’ve ever placed an image and it didn’t look like it was straight out of a national publication, this session will show you why!

Agenda

5:30 p.m. - Meet and greet
6:00 p.m. - Welcome and announcements
6:15 p.m. - Presentation (with mid-presentation break)
8:30 p.m. - Raffles
9:00 p.m. - Goodbyes

Meeting Details

Matt Sullivan, the presenter at our January meeting explained the all details of image masking, layer control and image transparency. Who knew there was so much to know about this one little topic?

But Matt should know. He’s been around for a while, working with Adobe software almost daily since 1988. Since the mid-’90s, he has been involved in software training and is now director of training for roundpeg, inc. Matt also represents Adobe at various conferences annually, gives webinars for both Adobe and roundpeg, and contributes to Adobe Development Center articles. He can be reached at www.roundpeg.com.

Also contributing substansively to the discussion was Andrew Keith Strauss, himself a trainer and one of the founders of the Los Angeles InDesign User Group.

Before the event’s presentation, there was a mini-presentation on CollabSystem, a new software product from Andromeda Software, which which allows InDesign users to upload facsimiles of InDesign documents to the web where collaborators can view and critique on the web, iPhones or iPads without the need of Adobe software.

Continuing our policy of holding meetings at diverse locations within the Southland, we held our January meeting in Orange County at the Huntington Beach Central Library. It was a great space with easy parking. Perhaps a third of those in attendance were from the Orange County area and said they wouldn’t come to a 5:30 p.m. meeting in central Los Angeles. Most of those, however, said they would come to a meeting in Los Angeles if they were held later.

We had a special raffle in January that featured two CS5 products. Both Paul Fan and Jennie Zhu won copies of InDesign CS5. Mardi Rollow and Karen McBride won subscriptions to InDesign magazine.

Thank You

As usual, we’d like to heartily thank the meeting’s facilitators: Adobe, Recosoft, Andromeda Software, StockLayouts, InDesign Magazine, O’Reilly Press, Peachpit Press, and especially Matt Sullivan.

Job Opportunities

We are looking for people who want to get involved with the administration of the group. Maybe you have web skills, newsletter skills, an eye for photos, want to conduct the raffles. Whatever. Let’s talk.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on March 17, 2011.

About the Presenter

Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a technical communication specialist, trainer, and consultant with deep expertise in Adobe FrameMaker and the Adobe Technical Communication Suite, as well as experience connecting structured authoring workflows to modern publishing environments, including Adobe InDesign. He is the founder of Tech Comm Tools, an Adobe Authorized training resource, and holds certifications across more than ten Adobe products.

He has developed and delivered advanced training for enterprise documentation teams—particularly in aerospace and other highly regulated industries—and helps organizations modernize workflows, implement structured authoring, and improve efficiency across large-scale, multi-channel publishing environments.

Matt is a strong advocate for structured content, localization, and content experience. He has created multiple online courses (including two underwritten by Adobe) and regularly presents webinars and conference sessions for organizations such as Adobe and the Society for Technical Communication.

A frequent speaker at industry events and user groups across the U.S., Matt is known for making complex publishing workflows practical and accessible.

When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him refereeing college soccer matches.