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Become an Adobe Certified Professional in

Print & Digital Media Publication
Using Adobe InDesign

Validate your knowledge of Adobe InDesign, the industry-leading page design and layout app that lets you create, preflight, and publish beautiful documents for print and digital media.

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Becoming an Adobe Certified Professional typically requires 150 hours of hands-on experience and instruction. Explore the resources below to gear up and get inspired.

Exam guide

Review the exam objectives to see what you need to know.

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The InDesign exam guide.

The exam objectives are outlined below alongside relevant resources. All key items are examples of exam topics and do not comprise a comprehensive list.

This guide is based on the 2021 version of Print & Digital Media Publication Using Adobe InDesign For 2018-2020 versions of the exam objectives, please visit Certiport.
1. Working in the Design Industry
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This objective covers critical concepts related to working with colleagues and clients as well as crucial legal, technical, and design-related knowledge.

  • 1.1 Identify the purpose, audience, and audience needs for preparing publications.
  • a. Determine whether content is relevant to the purpose, audience, audience needs, user experience, and has an appropriate design for target devices.
  • i. Key Terms: client goals, target audience, demographics, accessibility, etc.
  • b. Identify requirements based on how the design will be used, including print, web, and mobile.
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  • 1.2 Communicate with colleagues and clients about design plans.
  • a. Demonstrate knowledge of techniques for communicating about design plans with peers and clients.
  • i. Key Terms: sketches, specifications, design process, wireframes, prototypes, iterations, change orders, drafts, feedback loop, creative brief, etc.
  • b. Demonstrate knowledge of basic project management concepts
  • i. Key Terms: project scope, scope creep, cloud utilization and file management
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  • 1.3 Determine the type of copyright, permissions, and licensing required to use specific content.
  • a. Identify legal and ethical considerations for using third-party content, such as copyright, permissions, and licensing.
  • i. Key Concepts: Creative Commons, public domain, intellectual property, derivative work, commercial use, attribution, work for hire, fair use, fair dealing, stock images and vector graphics, etc.
  • b. Identify when and how to obtain permission to use images of people and locations.
  • i. Key Terms: model release, location release, etc.
  • ii. Key Concepts: permission to use a photo is separate from permission to use a person’s face or restricted location, etc.
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  • 1.4 Demonstrate an understanding of key terminology related to publications.
  • a. Demonstrate knowledge of digital image terminology.
  • i. Key Terms: image resolution, image size, file types, linking and embedding, pixel, raster, bitmap, vector, path, object, type, resizing, units of measurement (picas, inches, pixels, centimeters), etc.
  • b. Demonstrate knowledge of how color is created in publications.
  • i. Key Terms: color management, gamut, CMYK vs. RGB vs. grayscale, etc.
  • c. Understand and use key terms related to multi-page layouts.
  • i. Key Terms: title, header, body text, block quote, footer, caption, table of contents, index, page size, page orientation, facing pages, spread, bleed, trim, slug, master page, alternate page layout, column, gutter, margin, frame, etc.
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  • 1.5 Demonstrate knowledge of basic design principles and best practices employed in the design industry.
  • a. Define common graphic design and layout terms and principles.
  • i. Key Terms: rule of thirds, foreground, background, tone, emphasis, movement, hierarchy, negative space, grids, focal point, gestalt principles (similarity, continuation, closure, proximity, figure/ground, and symmetry & order), etc.
  • b. Communicate visually by using the elements and principles of design and common design techniques.
  • i. Key Terms: line, shape, form, color, texture, contrast, balance, white space, proportion, rhythm, pattern, unity, repetition, alignment, balance, scale.
  • c. Identify and use common typographic adjustments to create contrast, hierarchy, and enhanced readability.
  • i. Key Terms: font, size, style, color, alignment, kerning, tracking, leading, horizontal and vertical scale, line length, serif vs. san serif, etc.
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2. Project Setup and Interface
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This objective covers the interface setup and program settings that assist in an efficient and effective workflow, as well as knowledge about ingesting digital assets for a project.

  • 2.1 Create a document with the appropriate settings for web, print, and mobile.
  • a. Set appropriate document settings for printed and onscreen publications.
  • i. Key Concepts: width, height, margins, columns, orientation, pages, bleed, slug, Facing Pages, Primary Text Frame, column gutter, etc.
  • b. Create a document preset to reuse for specific project needs.
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  • 2.2 Navigate, organize, and customize the application workspace.
  • a. Identify and manipulate elements of the InDesign interface.
  • i. Key Concepts: menus and panels (Control, Tools, etc.)
  • b. Organize and customize the workspace.
  • i. Key Concepts: tabbed documents; showing, hiding, nesting, and docking panels; saving and resetting workspaces
  • c. Configure application preferences.
  • i. Key Concepts: Display Performance, Interface, Grids, Guides & Pasteboard, Spelling, Story Editor Display, Units & Increments, etc.
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  • 2.3 Use non-printing design tools in the interface to aid in design or workflow.
  • a. Navigate a document.
  • i. Key Concepts: panning and scrolling, zooming, rotating pages, pasteboard, etc.
  • b. Use rulers.
  • i. Key Concepts: showing and hiding rulers, changing the measurement unit on rulers, etc.
  • c. Use guides and grids.
  • i. Key Concepts: adding, removing, and locking/unlocking guides; setting color; hiding guides and grids, showing grids, Smart Guides; creating guide layouts, snapping, Document and Baseline Grids, etc.
  • d. Use views and modes to work efficiently.
  • i. Key Concepts: changing screen mode; Normal, Preview, Bleed, Slug, and Presentation
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  • 2.4 Import assets into a project.
  • a. Open and use templates.
  • b. Place assets in an InDesign document.
  • c. Use the Adobe Camera Raw interface to import images.
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  • 2.5 Manage colors, swatches, and gradients.
  • a. Set the active fill and stroke color.
  • i. Key Concepts: frame vs text, swatches, Color Picker, Eyedropper tool, color values, etc.
  • b. Create and customize gradients.
  • i. Key Concepts: Gradient panel, editing color and transparency stops, radial and linear gradient, etc.
  • c. Create, manage, and edit swatches and swatch libraries.
  • i. Key Concepts: color and gradient swatches; identifying color swatch type, including Process and Spot; creating, managing, and loading swatch libraries (including commercial libraries like Pantone).
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  • 2.6 Manage paragraph, character, and object styles.
  • a. Load, create, apply, and modify styles.
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3. Organizing Documents
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This objective covers document structure, such as layers, and managing document structure for efficient workflows.

  • 3.1 Use layers to manage design elements.
  • a. Use the Layers panel to modify layers.
  • i. Key Concepts: adding, deleting, hiding/showing, locking/unlocking, duplicating, and renaming layers; layer options; understanding that layers are spread-based; etc.
  • b. Manage and work with multiple layers in a complex project.
  • i. Key Concepts: layer color, working with layers across spreads, hierarchy and stacking order, grouping, selecting, and targeting objects using the Layers panel, etc.
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  • 3.2 Manage and modify pages.
  • a. Create, edit, and arrange pages in a document.
  • i. Key Concepts: adding/deleting pages, pages vs. spreads, selecting pages, rearranging pages, shuffling pages or spreads, page settings, alternate layouts, Page tool, etc.
  • b. Create and apply master pages.
  • i. Key Concepts: Master options, naming, unlocking objects, overriding, etc.
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4. Creating and Modifying Document Elements
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This objective covers core tools and functionality of the application, as well as tools that affect the visual appearance of document elements.

  • 4.1 Use core tools and features to lay out visual elements.
  • a. Create frames using a variety of tools.
  • i. Key Concepts: understanding frame types (graphic, text, unassigned); creating frames using frame tools, Type tool, Pen tool, etc.
  • b. Manipulate graphics in frames.
  • i. Key Concepts: placing graphics into documents or into existing frames, using frames to affect visibility of the content, Frame Fitting options, Content-Aware Fit, etc.
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  • 4.2 Add and manipulate text using appropriate typographic settings.
  • a. Use type tools to add text.
  • i. Key Tools: text frames, Type tool, and Type on a Path tool.
  • b. Use appropriate character settings in a design.
  • i. Key Settings: font, size, character style, kerning, tracking, leading, baseline shift, horizontal and vertical scale, and color used to enhance readability and hierarchy, etc.
  • c. Use appropriate paragraph settings in a design.
  • i. Key Settings: indentation, alignment, paragraph spacing, hyphenation, Drop Cap, numbered and bulleted lists, using and working effectively with paragraph styles, etc.
  • d. Convert text to outlines.
  • i. Key Concepts: benefits/disadvantages, etc.
  • e. Manage text flow across multiple text areas.
  • i. Key Concepts: managing overset text, threading text, text wrap, primary text flow, text columns, etc.
  • f. Use tools to add special characters or content.
  • i. Key Terms: page numbers, table of contents, index markers and index, break characters, special characters, glyphs, etc.
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  • 4.3 Make, manage, and edit selections.
  • a. Make selections using a variety of tools.
  • i. Key Tools: Selection tool vs Direct Selection tool, page selection, selecting frames vs content, content grabber.
  • b. Modify and refine selections using various methods.
  • i. Key Concepts: keyboard modifiers, selecting multiple objects with selection tools or in the Layers panel, moving and grouping objects, Selection tool vs Direct Selection tool, etc.
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  • 4.4 Transform digital graphics and media within a publication.
  • a. Modify frames and frame content.
  • i. Key Terms: frames, content, redefining frame types, clipping paths, content collector, etc.
  • ii. Key Concepts: understanding the relationship between a frame and its content, replacing frame content, using frames to crop content or split text, manipulating anchor points, etc.
  • b. Rotate, flip, and transform individual frames or content.
  • i. Key Concepts: alignment, distribution, scaling, shearing, rotating, transform panel, registration point, etc.
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  • 4.5 Use basic reconstructing and editing techniques to manipulate document content.
  • a. Use various tools to revise and refine project content.
  • i. Key Tools: find/replace, custom dictionaries, dictionary language, spell check, etc.
  • b. Evaluate or adjust the appearance of objects, frames, or layers using various tools.
  • i. Key Concepts: fill and stroke, opacity, Pathfinder panel, etc.
  • c. Use the Story Editor to edit text within a project.
  • i. Key Concepts: Story Editor interface, editing with Story Editor, troubleshooting/proofreading in Story Editor.
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  • 4.6 Modify the appearance of design elements by using effects and styles.
  • a. Use effects to modify images or frames.
  • i. Key Concepts: applying premade object styles, drop shadows, feathers, glow, etc.
  • b. Create, edit, apply, and save object styles.
  • i. Key Concepts: creating, deleting, redefining, and managing object styles, Break Link to Style, etc.
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  • 4.7 Add interactive or dynamic content or media to a project.
  • a. Add interactive elements and behaviors.
  • i. Key Concepts: navigation, hyperlinks, cross references, buttons, bookmarks, events, page transitions, and animation.
  • b. Demonstrate knowledge of how to embed rich-media objects.
  • i. Key Concepts: creating, deleting, redefining, and managing object styles, Break Link to Style, etc.i. Key Concepts: video files, Media panel, etc.
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  • 4.8 Create and edit tables.
  • a. Create a table to display data.
  • i. Key Concepts: adding or importing tabular data; rows, columns, and cells; graphic vs text cells, etc.
  • b. Edit tables and cells.
  • i. Key Concepts: fill, strokes/borders, merging/splitting cells, distributing cells, converting text and table data, table and cell options, etc.
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5. Publishing Documents
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This objective covers saving and exporting entire documents in multiple formats, or specific assets within the project.

  • 5.1 Prepare documents for publishing to web, print, and other digital devices.
  • a. Check document for errors and project specifications.
  • i. Key Concepts: Preflight panel and process, resolving preflight errors, color space, bleed, resolution, document size, define profiles and preflight options, etc.
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  • 5.2 Export or save documents to various file formats.
  • a. Save in the native file format for InDesign (.indd).
  • i. Key Concepts: saving for compatibility with earlier versions of the software (.idml), saving copies, etc.
  • b. Save or export in appropriate formats for print, screen or online.
  • i. Key Concepts: PDF, EPUB, HTML, Publish Online, etc.
  • c. Print proof copies before publishing.
  • i. Key Concepts: print settings, printing pages vs. spreads, printing thumbnails or tiles, etc.
  • d. Package an InDesign project.
  • i. Key Concepts: font and image management, packaging projects, handling protected fonts (CJK).
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Resources & Tutorials

Sample questions from the CertPREP practice tests.

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