What to index? First of all, all students and faculty should be indexed whenever they appear in the book. This includes portraits and candids, as well as any time their names appear in print. Indexing programs sort through InDesign page files for names in text, so it is important to accurately name the subjects of photos, give proper attribution for quotes, and properly use names within copy. For example, names in captions should always be first name – last name. The first time a name is used in a copy block or caption, it should be written first name – last name and all subsequent instances should use last name only. By-lines and photo credits should not be indexed.

Sports, clubs and academics, however they are organized, should also be indexed.

Schools that get more ambitious also index major events (Homecoming Parade, Spring Musical) and references to the larger school community. This includes listing advertisers and other people and organizations that appear in copy and captions. Guest speakers, special events and other programs hosted by the school, when given coverage, should also be indexed.

A comprehensive index is a great way to assist the readers of your book, and is invaluable when, five or ten years from now, the book is taken from its shelf and its memories revisited.

Click here to view the Index Builder pdf.

Method 1

While Adobe Photoshop® is the primary software for photo manipulation, InDesign does allow for some cool photo techniques like a vignette photo. A vignette is an effect where the center of interest, or focal point, of the photo gradually fades into the background, usually in an oval shape.

STEP 1: Place (File > Place) an image from Photoshop or through Herff Jones Image In (Herff Jones > HJ Image In) onto your layout.

STEP 2: Select the Ellipse Frame tool from beneath the Rectangle Frame tool on the Tool palette. You can also use a rectangle, circle, polygon, star or any other frame shape to create the vignette effect.

STEP 3: Draw an ellipse frame on top of the image the exact size and shape desired. The shape should include only the area of the image you want at full strength (100 % opacity). Set the Fill and Stroke to None.

STEP 4: Click on the image with the Selection tool and go to Edit > Copy.

STEP 5: Now click on the ellipse frame with the Selection tool and go to Edit > Paste Into. This will place a copy of the image inside the ellipse in the same position and the same size as the original image.

STEP 6: With the ellipse frame still selected, go to Object > Feather and activate it by clicking the check box next to Feather. Change the feathering Width to two picas.

STEP 7: Click on the original image with the Selection tool and open the Transparency palette (Window > Transparency). Change the Opacity to 50% or less.

STEP 8: Select both frames making up your vignette with the Selection tool and go to Object > Group. Your vignette is complete.

Method 2

While Adobe Photoshop® is the primary software for photo manipulation, InDesign does allow for some cool photo techniques like a vignette. A vignette is an effect where the center of interest, or focal point, of the photo gradually fades into the background, usually in an oval shape.

STEP 1: Place (File > Place) an image from Photoshop or through Herff Jones Image In (Herff Jones > HJ Image In) onto your
layout.

STEP 2: Open the Layers palette (Window > Layers). Go to the fly-out arrow at the top of the palette and click to expose the palette options. Select “Duplicate Layer.”

STEP 3: Name the new layer “Oval.”

STEP 4: Turn off the Oval layer by clicking on the “eye icon.”

STEP 5: Click back to the Default Layer. The active layer is highlighted in blue.

STEP 6: Click on the image with the Direct Selection tool and open the Transparency palette (Window > Transparency). Change the Opacity to 50% or less.

STEP 7: Turn off the Default layer. Turn on the Oval layer by clicking on the “eye icon” check box. If there are any other elements on the Oval layer besides the image, delete those these elements.

STEP 8: Select the image with the Selection tool . Reduce the size of the frame to include just the “focus” area by clicking on the top center bounding point and pulling in. Repeat on the remaining sides as needed. Do not move the image.

STEP 9: With the image still selected, go to Object > Convert Shape > Ellipse.

STEP 10: Now, go to Object > Feather and turn it on by clicking the check box next to Feather. Change the feathering Width to two picas.

STEP 11: Click back to the Default layer and turn it on.

STEP 12: With the Selection tool , hold Shift and click on both the Default layer and Oval layer so both are active. Go to the Layers palette fly-out arrow and select Merge Layers.

STEP 13: Select both frames making up your vignette with the Selection tool and go to Object > Group. Your vignette is complete.