InDesign graphic artist who can't learn InCopy

Learn / Forums / InCopy / InDesign graphic artist who can't learn InCopy

Viewing 7 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #89836
      Jill Neimark
      Member

      Hi, I am a freelance writer/editor trying to get a smooth workflow for InCopy at a company I freelance for. Until I suggested we get InCopy, final editing, copyediting and proofiing changes made by the editors (4 total including me) were either as bubble comments in the PDF the designer exported to us, that had to be input one by one by the designer. He is not good at that so the editor in chief had to spend all day reading each change to him and making sure it was right. The other method tried was that the designer reconvert the nearly final text (which had already gone through cycles of regular edits) into WORD, everybody made track changes in word, I fixed it all up, cleaned it up, and then the designer had to reflow the articles into InDesign once again. He found that unproductive, understandably, because it took him all day.

      I suggested we get InCopy. We got it last year, but he seems to be having trouble learning it through the lynda.com tutorials very well. The first time, he exported me only the articles–no cover page, ToC, heds, subheds, pullquotes, or sidebar boxes, and he was unable to export one article as well. I got the files labelled, but I did not really have story/galley view. I just had plain text, in story or galley view.

      I did edit it though as much as I could and saved them some time.
      He did not export me fonts and was confused when my InCopy changed fonts and the pieces were a different length when he got them back. When he realized, he changed the fonts back to what he’d originally used.

      This time, I convinced him to export me fonts. I also asked for the other design elements. My whole idea was I’d do all this inputting of small, late edits and copyedits and some proofing, and except for a few changes I couldn’t make on my own, I would save them so much time. I could do it all the day I got it, instead of them waiting weeks until they had a chance to sit down together. I would then send the back the PDF with only the few bubble comments remaining that needed to be addressed.

      The first files I got, yesterday morning, were 59 ‘mic’ files–numbered and out of order. Random. It was completely confusing. One mic file might just be the first line of a hed. Another might be the subhed beneath that hed.

      I tried to edit a few and gave up. I was sure I was going to make an error. I checked with two editor friends and they said no way, this is not how its done.

      Designer then exported me 30 files with the names on them. I got the 6 articles, one sidebar, and 6 bios (he has the bios in boxes), all these were separate files but named. He also exported me the pullquotes, each pullquote named as an article file.

      I still didn’t have story/galley view. I made the edits. Basically each file he exported was just text, either in story or galley view (though galley view had more line breaks)

      I think he can learn it, I’m sure he can, but I think he is not going to learn it from lynda.com? We have lynda.com and he says he followed exactly what lynda.com says, and he seems to think InCopy is the problem.

      I would like to suggest to management that he go to a real time class or get, best of all, onsite training for a day. I don’t know the expense. Online classes are $495 for the day but I do not know how engaged those are–is it a realtime class where he can interact with the teacher?

      Does anybody have ANY insight to give me? I am a writer/editor and know nothing at all about InDesign per se. Thanks.

    • #89870

      We don’t have the same work flow but maybe this will help. Our editors work on the same server as the designers so we aren’t sending files back and forth.
      We build the pages with inDesign then export inCopy files and save those in a separate folder which are linked to the inDesign document.

      We don’t go directly to the incopy files to make edits, the editor opens the inDesign file using inCopy and can see the page layout and make edits. I don’t think your guy is sending you the indesign file correct? Maybe the files need to live in a cloud where everyone has access to the same documents.

      I hope this helps,

      Melanie
      in Louisiana

    • #89874
      Jill Neimark
      Member

      Thanks, I just open adobe creative cloud shortcut set up on my desktop via the tech guy (using direct assist so he can work on my computer). It opens in copy for me.

    • #89904

      Jill, I’m a german speaking InDesign and InCopy-Trainer. When I start long time ago with InDesign and InCopy, I found, that the InDesign AND the InCopy-Trainings at Lynda.com are very well done and especially the Incopy workflow is very well explained. I could understand everything, although it is not my mother tongue.

      To your problem:
      It sounds, that both of you have no good idea, how to start and it sounds, that you get icml-files instead of assignments.

      So, some thoughts:

      1. The designer work in InDesign.
      2. The editor work with InCopy.
      3. Both can work on the same network, but Dropbox and working from home will work too.
      4. You and the designer need the same fonts. There is no real packacking!
      5. You have the ability to change text, but no geometry.
      6. The designer must start a workflow and give you the right for different stories. There are several ways to do this!
      7. After that, you could edit the indesignfile or a so called assignment (e.g. some spreads instead of the whole document).
      8. You should never edit the icml-files, since this shows only text and not the geometry.
      9. Once the workflow has started, you must check out the stories. Otherwise it is not possible to edit something.

      I did a presentation in 2013 for Adobe. The presentation is in german language, but it should work without any sound too ;-)

      The InCopy-part starts at 41:15.

      I would think, that a online-session (1 hour) could be helpful to him and then he should watch the lynda-training again.

      Kai

      • #89912
        Jill Neimark
        Member

        Thank you, Kai. I think he needs training. Let me view your video. Perhaps you could train us remotely for a fee?

    • #89914

      Sure why not. Mail me: infoATruebiarts.de

    • #90055
      Jill Neimark
      Member

      Hi, kai, that email bounced back.

    • #90056

      Hi Jill, I have no idea why. Did you try: [email protected] ??

    • #90066
      Jill Neimark
      Member

      Oh….I did trubiarts! :-) will email now

Viewing 7 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
>