New features from InDesign V19
Along with fixing some issues, Version 19 of Adobe InDesign introduces some new features.
Adobe emphasizes the paragraph style pack feature from this new round of update. Adobe calls it Auto style, as what it is called, character style is not involved. With this feature, you are able to apply same style onto multiple text frames. If you don't have the time to create your own style pack, you can take advantage from Adobe's style packs on presets. However, if you don't have the preset font installed on your computer, it will take your computer a while to think/download the font files before the new style shows up.
My short experience with it is not that impressive. At the beginning, you still need to manually style element such as heading and paragraph to the text, then you can assign styles onto them. The auto style feature might be more helpful after. But, I don't see the point of using this so call "auto" feature since I feel it is more solid just using the paragraph style.
Another feature which is worth to mention is the file name suffix export. Although it only works for JPG and PNG format, with this new option, you can add incremental numbers, page numbers and document size onto file name automatically. If you are like me, who like to add document size into file name for different social media image, this new feature is helpful.
Last, Harfbuzz. It is a text shaping engine which primarily supports Open Type font. The new version was just released in late October this year. And Adobe has adapted it already. Harfbuzz helps InDesign and other graphic programs to improve shaping and correct rendering of glyphs for Indic and MENA language like Arabic, Thai and Hebrew. You will have more control on type setting and see a new look on those language with the new engine on hand.
Which feature mentioned above is your favorite? Let me know.
Affinity designer V2 new feature high-lights
Five high-lights features I am exciting about.
The recent released Affinity designer V2 provides professionals a new chapter in graphic handling. Among other updated features, here are the five high-lights I am exciting about:
shape builder tool
If you enjoy logo building, this tool would be your new best friend. It makes logo building more direct, instead of doing lots of calculation in boolean operations.
Three actions are offered within this tool, you can create new shape by selecting areas, delete selected areas from the shape, or you can combine shapes to create a new one.
deform tool
The deform tool is available in designer persona, and is located at the button of the layer panel. It is a superior tool for logo building.
It does not just adjust the shape of the selected object in general, it also provides controls for object manipulating. This tool provides options for mash, quad, False perspective, Vertical arc, Horizontal arc, Vertical bend, Horizontal bend, Fish eye and Twist. However, I feel you can do much more with each option provided.
object type on layer panel /(Layer panel)
With the ability to oversee the object type on every layer, this update will helps getting the layer a more important role in your project. It also help the relationship between object type and effects more clear if you are like me who always wonder what's going between them.
guides /(View/guides)
It is different from quick grid, which you can immediately create grid box next to each other. Guides provides a more elegant way to define guides on pages.
On the new guides panel, you are not just allowed to add defined horizontal and vertical guides individually. More excitingly, you have a better view on the column setting with the new column guides. It comes with the styles of filled or outline, which makes the guides more integrated on to the page and it provides a more first hand visual guide for screen or print layout.
style picker tool
The style picker tool provides a convenient way to apply styles onto other object.
You just need to click on the object which has the sample styles you want, then click on the new objects to paste the sample styles onto them. If you want to pick a new sample, click on the upload button first to unload your current sample.
The style picker tool does not just work on graphic style, it also works on type styles. Styles for you to pick up include stroke, fill, layer opacity, layer effects, character setting, paragraph setting and object setting.