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Explore every episode of the podcast The CreativePro Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for The CreativePro Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Making Accessibility Part of Your Design Process22 Sep 202600:41:45

Designers know accessibility matters, but knowing that and knowing what to actually do about it are two very different things. In this episode, accessibility experts Colleen Gratzer and Chad Chelius share how they found their way into accessibility and discuss how it has changed the way they approach design. They explain why accessibility doesn't have to limit creativity or be a separate step at the end of the design process. Instead, accessible design can be a natural extension of your craft that leads to more efficient and more creative ways of working.

Key Takeaways:

  • Start with color contrast. Learning the contrast requirements for normal text, large text, and meaningful icons is a great first step for increasing accessibility without requiring you to learn the entire field at once. 
  • Map your styles to tags. When you create headings and other structured text, map your paragraph styles to the appropriate tags so the structure of your document is available to people using assistive technology.
  • Build accessibility into your workflow. Many accessibility practices, like working with paragraph styles, are best practices. They're a simpler and more efficient way to design. 
  • Don't let accessibility limit your creativity. There's no such thing as a fundamentally inaccessible color or style. Look at how colors work together and find creative ways to create clarity and contrast.
  • Offer conformance, not compliance. Designers should be careful about promising that a document or website is legally compliant. Instead, focus on the accessibility standards and level of conformance you're actually responsible for achieving.
  • Expand your perception of accessibility. Accessibility benefits people using assistive technology, but also people who wear glasses, people who are color blind, and people experiencing design in non-ideal conditions, like the menu at a dimly lit restaurant.

Resources

How to Be a Better Designer01 Sep 202600:38:33

After more than a decade, Nigel French's How to Be a Better Designer series has reached its final installment. In this episode, Mike Rankin and Nigel French celebrate the conclusion of the 12-part series, which began as a pair of articles in InDesign Magazine back in 2013 and was later revisited and expanded for CreativePro Magazine. They look back at the long journey of the series and the ideas at its heart: studying the past, learning by doing, embracing constraints, understanding the rules of design, and knowing when to step away from the computer. They also talk about Nigel's approach to typography and composition, the influence of his photography on his design work, and the ongoing challenge of putting his own advice into practice.

Key Takeaways:

  • Study the past to understand the present. Learn from the history of design and typography, and look closely at how designers before you solved familiar problems.
  • Paint the back of the fence. Take pride in the details that may never be seen by building files that are organized, thoughtful, and usable by whoever needs to work with them next.
  • Don't polish a weak idea. When you find yourself endlessly nudging, tweaking, and adjusting, step away from the computer and ask whether the underlying idea is strong enough.
  • Know the rules before you break them. Understand the principles behind established design practices so you can make deliberate choices about when to follow, adapt, or abandon them.
  • Design is simple, that's what makes it so complicated. Limiting your choices can focus your thinking and lead to simpler, stronger solutions.
  • Keep learning, no matter how experienced you are. The deeper you get into design, the more you realize there is to learn, so stay curious and embrace being a perpetual student.

Resources

Print Is Better Than You Remember11 Aug 202600:37:45

Print is alive and well, and it is more flexible, creative, and powerful than ever. In this conversation, Sabine Lenz and Chris Carls share their passion for print and explain why designers and marketing professionals should take a closer look at what it can do today. They explore how new technologies, digital embellishments, shorter print runs, and smarter production options have expanded what is possible. They also make a strong case for finding the right printer, building a trusted relationship, and starting that conversation before the design begins. Along the way, they share practical advice, inspiring examples, and plenty of reasons to believe that print really is better than you remember.

Show Highlights

  • Hear how Sabine proves that print is still alive by handing out a business card people can't stop touching.
  • Discover how digital presses, short runs, foil, soft-touch finishes, and other embellishments have changed what designers can create.
  • Hear how a nearly impossible World Cup menu project became possible with the right technology and the right printer.
  • Hear why printed direct mail is getting attention again and why Chris says younger audiences may see it as something fresh, tangible, and worth opening.
  • Learn why your first call should be to the printer, not after the design is finished, but before it begins.
  • Leave inspired to stay curious, find a great printer, and go make some cool stuff.

Resources

Accessibility Quickstart with Dax and Chad21 Jul 202600:55:07

Recorded live at CreativePro Week 2026, this episode features Theresa Jackson talking with document accessibility experts Dax Castro and Chad Chelius about practical ways designers can start creating more accessible documents. Dax and Chad begin by sharing their own journeys into accessibility and how they came to focus on helping others create more inclusive documents. From there, they explain how small decisions in InDesign, PowerPoint, and PDF workflows can improve the experience for people using assistive technology. The conversation covers document metadata, heading structure, lists, decorative elements, accessibility checkers, screen readers, and what to do with older documents that were not designed with accessibility in mind.

Show Highlights: Accessibility Quickstart Tips

  • Add a descriptive document title and review the author information in your file metadata.
  • Build a clear heading structure with paragraph styles mapped to H1–H6 tags.
  • Use built-in list tools so screen readers recognize and announce lists correctly.
  • Check color contrast early, before your palette becomes embedded throughout the design.
  • Mark decorative graphics, running headers, and footers as artifacts so screen readers can skip them.
  • Create an object style and keyboard shortcut to artifact decorative elements more efficiently in InDesign.
  • Run an accessibility checker, but do not assume a passing result guarantees a good user experience.
  • Test PDFs with a screen reader such as JAWS, NVDA, or Apple VoiceOver to hear how the content is actually presented.
  • Fix reusable documents at the source whenever possible, especially templates and recurring reports.
  • Use automated tagging tools to improve large collections of legacy PDFs, then review the results.
  • Start with manageable improvements and build your accessibility skills over time.

Resources

Wait, You Can Do That In…?09 Jun 202600:51:59

No matter how long you've used your favorite creative tools, there's always one more shortcut, hidden feature, or unexpected workaround waiting to surprise you. In this episode, Theresa Jackson and Mike Rankin share a collection of practical tips and "wait, you can do that?" discoveries submitted by CreativePro Week speakers.

You'll hear tips for favorite tools from Acrobat to PowerPoint, including clever ways to edit faster, move between apps, customize layouts, animate designs, manage masks, and make AI more useful in real workflows. Theresa also talks with PageProof founder Marcus Radich about PageProof Intelligence (PI) and learns how a proof can mark itself with AI.

Episode Highlights

  • Hear why Mike Rankin is looking at Affinity as a useful add-on to Adobe workflows, including an easier way to use images as custom bullets
  • Learn where to find your Firefly generation history, including the prompts you used to create past results
  • Discover how to export video with transparency from PowerPoint
  • Follow Theresa and Mike through practical "round trip" workflows, from editing PDF images in Photoshop to moving Firefly Boards assets into other Adobe apps
  • Hear Amy Balliett's tip for getting better AI results by using more than one AI tool
  • Learn how Ben Willmore uses keyboard shortcuts to build masks faster in Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom
  • Discover Dax Castro's simple InDesign alt-text tip that can save time when adding descriptions to multiple images

Resources

Adobe Illustrator: Favorite New Features Spring 202619 May 202600:40:38

Some of the most useful new Illustrator features are easy to miss if you aren't actively exploring the latest updates and beta tools. In this episode, Theresa Jackson talks with illustrator and toy designer Thaddeus Coates and digital artist Luke Choice about the new Illustrator features they're genuinely excited to use.

Thaddeus shares how Illustrator fits into his character design and toy-making process, including using Turntable to communicate ideas to manufacturers. Luke dives into the practical side of Illustrator updates, from snapping improvements and smoother performance to AI-assisted vector workflows inside Illustrator Beta.

Whether you spend your days designing logos, illustrating characters, building client work, or experimenting with new ideas, there's probably a feature in this episode you haven't tried yet.

Episode Highlights

  • Prototyping with Turntable: Hear how Thaddeus Coates uses Turntable to prototype toy ideas and communicate designs to manufacturers faster.
  • Live Preview Tools: Learn why Illustrator's Live Preview drawing tools feel more natural and responsive for illustrators working on iPad and desktop.
  • Workflow Efficiency: Hear Luke Choice explain how small workflow improvements, including font browsing and snapping updates can save serious production time.
  • Sketch to Vector: Explore how Sketch to Vector in Illustrator Beta is changing the way artists turn rough sketches and low-resolution artwork into editable vectors.
  • Real-World Application: Hear both guests share examples of using Illustrator's newest features for experimentation, iteration, and client work.

Resources

Affinity: Why You Should Pay Attention28 Apr 202600:48:02

Canva's mission is to empower the world to design, and by most measures, it's working. Millions of people create content in Canva every day, which means design is no longer something that belongs exclusively to designers. Now, with the acquisition of Affinity, Canva is making a move into professional territory. So what does that actually mean for those of us who make a living in this space?

In this episode, Theresa Jackson sits down with Steve Caplin to dig into Affinity by Canva: what it is, how it works, and why the conversation around it goes well beyond the software itself. They give an honest take on where Affinity genuinely impresses and where it still comes up short for professional work, covering the same questions a lot of designers are already wrestling with about their role in a changing industry.

If you've felt friction between your design team and the non-designers who use Canva, or if you've found yourself wondering how your job is evolving, this one's worth your time.

Episode Highlights

  • Switching between Vector, Pixel, and Layout within a single document is a departure from everything most designers are used to, and Theresa and Steve get into why that matters
  • Theresa calls Affinity Canva's "olive branch" to professional designers, and unpacks why that framing deserves a second look
  • Affinity's live filters and real-time previews create a noticeably different editing experience, and the episode explores what that unlocks
  • "Free" as a pricing strategy has real implications for who gets to call themselves a designer
  • The episode covers what Affinity still lacks, particularly around publishing workflows, automation, and accessibility, and why those gaps keep professionals anchored to InDesign and Adobe
  • The tension between design teams and non-designers using Canva is real, growing, and worth talking about openly
  • Designers are once again being asked to justify their value, and this conversation doesn't shy away from that
  • The bigger question isn't which tool to use; it's what's shifting in the design industry and how to position yourself within that shift

Resources

Before & After: Timeless Design Lessons07 Apr 202600:25:35

Great design lessons outlive the tools, trends, and even the formats they were created in. In this episode, David Blatner and Mike Rankin revisit the work of John McWade and Before & After Magazine. It's a look at why foundational design thinking still matters and how McWade's work continues to shape how creatives see and communicate.

You'll hear how Before & After began in 1990 and why it resonated with both designers and non-designers. McWade focused on clear, practical lessons that helped people communicate visually, not just learn the tools.

There's also a personal layer to this story. David and Mike share how the archive found its way to CreativePro, and what it means to bring this work forward for a new generation.

Have a memory of John McWade or Before & After? Share it with us in the comments. We'd love to hear how his work impacted you.

Episode Highlights

  • Hear how John McWade saw the future of desktop publishing early and made a bold career shift before the industry fully existed
  • Learn why Before & After Magazine focused on teaching people how to see, not just how to use design tools
  • Listen as David and Mike explain why design techniques outlast software, and why that still matters today
  • Hear the story behind how the Before & After archive was recovered and brought to CreativePro after John's passing
  • Explore how these lessons helped non-designers and self-taught creatives build real design skills

Resources

Photoshop Craft vs AI: What Still Matters17 Mar 202600:47:00

Lisa Carney and Jesús Ramirez join the CreativePro Podcast to explore the intersection of Photoshop craft and community in the age of AI. Drawing on years of Hollywood production experience (where every pixel counts) they compare notes on high-end retouching and compositing.

The conversation bridges traditional techniques with the latest AI-powered tools. Lisa and Jesús share behind-the-scenes stories, trace Photoshop's AI evolution, and look ahead to the future of mobile and voice-controlled editing.

Episode Highlights

  • Hear how Lisa Carney and Jesús Ramirez first met while teaching at CreativeLive in Seattle, a chance meeting that grew into years of collaboration and friendship.
  • Lisa tells Jesús she considers him one of her best friends on the planet and explains why working together has made both of them better creatives.
  • Jesús shares his philosophy of learning with peers: "You go learn X, I'll learn Y, and we'll meet in the middle and see what we discover."
  • Lisa and Jesús compare notes on working behind the scenes on movie and TV posters, where high-end retouching and compositing are part of everyday production.
  • The conversation turns into a thoughtful debate about AI in Photoshop and how much creative professionals should rely on it.
  • Jesús talks about why becoming part of a creative community matters and how sharing knowledge with peers helps everyone improve.

Episode Resources

The Making of the CreativePro Week 2026 Agenda24 Feb 202600:53:45

In this episode of the CreativePro Podcast, David Blatner and Theresa Jackson pull back the curtain on how the CreativePro Week 2026 agenda came together for this summer's event in Nashville. Recorded in conjunction with the agenda launch, the conversation offers a timely look at the decisions shaping the program.

If you've ever attended CreativePro Week and felt like the content spoke directly to your day-to-day work, this episode sheds light on why. David and Theresa talk about how listener feedback, community conversations, and real-world creative challenges influence what makes it onto the agenda. They also discuss how CreativePro Week fits into a larger ecosystem of events, membership, and ongoing education.

They reflect on how the needs of creative professionals have evolved over time, why certain topics return year after year, and how particular constraints affect what ultimately makes it onto the schedule.

This is a candid conversation about learning, community, and the invisible work that supports meaningful professional development for designers who want more than surface-level inspiration.

Episode Highlights

  • Theresa describes agenda planning as solving a difficult puzzle, and the relief of finally locking in the 2026 CreativePro Week schedule
  • David and Theresa share where session topics actually come from, including speaker submissions, focus group surveys, and ideas shaped through conversations with each other and the community
  • David admits that even Adobe designers still have to work in a Microsoft world
  • Theresa shares what matters most when deciding whether to work with a new CreativePro speaker
  • Why switching to Miro changed the entire agenda-building process, from color-coded topics to drag-and-drop scheduling and real-time collaboration

Episode Resources

Design Trends and Predictions for 202620 Jan 202600:55:09

Theresa Jackson and Mike Rankin kick off the new year by reflecting on 2025 before looking ahead to 2026. They share their thoughts on design trends for 2026, framed less as visual styles and more as shifts in behavior and mindset. They also react to the Pantone Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, and what it suggests about the current cultural mood.

AI enters the discussion, as it has become part of nearly every conversation about the creative industry. Theresa and Mike talk about AI as one piece of a much bigger picture—how it's influencing tools, workflows, and expectations without defining the entire creative process.

The episode wraps with a practical perspective on skill building for the year ahead and a look forward at what's coming next for CreativePro, including the 2026 content direction they're excited about.

This episode offers a grounded reset for the new year—reflective, forward-looking, and focused on helping creative professionals move into 2026 with intention and confidence.

Episode Highlights

  • Theresa and Mike reflect on what stood out in 2025 and what they were proud of accomplishing.
  • They discuss design trends for 2026 and why those trends are not about colors or type.
  • Hear their reactions to the Pantone Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, and what that choice suggests about the current cultural moment.
  • Follow how AI enters the conversation naturally, as part of ongoing discussions about design tools, workflows, and expectations.
  • Hear how talking about AI leads to a broader conversation about fundamentals, judgment, and experience.
  • Get a preview of what's coming next for CreativePro, including what Theresa and Mike are excited to share in 2026.

Episode Resources

A Better Way to Review Creative Work13 Jan 202600:44:53

Theresa Jackson kicks off this episode of the CreativePro Podcast by digging into one of the most common frustrations for creative teams: review and approval chaos. She's joined by Mike McHugh from PageProof. Listeners are invited to learn alongside Theresa as she asks the questions many teams wrestle with every day. Together, they unpack why creative reviews break down, why email and ad-hoc tools fail at scale, and how centralized proofing changes the way designers, marketers, legal teams, and executives work together. They also explore accountability, reporting, and the human side of approvals, including why people—not tools—are usually the biggest bottleneck. The conversation closes with a look at how AI is beginning to support review and compliance, and why clear processes matter more than ever as creative work scales.

Episode Highlights

  • Hear Theresa slowly realize this is way more than a proofing tool—and why her workflow brain kicks into overdrive.
  • Listen as Mike calls out email as the quiet culprit behind most approval chaos.
  • Catch the moment when replacing copy without breaking styles feels almost too good to be true.
  • Feel seen as Theresa and Mike put words to what you already know: people, not tools, are where things usually get stuck.
  • Hear how visibility and accountability change reviewer behavior once everyone's progress is out in the open.
  • Listen as the conversation turns to AI, content credentials, and spotting what changed—and what shouldn't have.

Episode Resources

Journey from Designer to Presentation Strategist22 Dec 202500:41:11

Mike Parkinson and Jody Wissing join the CreativePro Podcast for a candid conversation about their unexpected paths into presentation design. They explain that presentation design isn't what most people think it is. It's not about making pretty slides. It's about understanding and caring about the content well enough to turn it into a story. They walk through their favorite features for building slides in PowerPoint plus other essential apps for outlining, note gathering, and creating visual elements. Their conversation includes open and honest thoughts about the growing role of AI in presentation design. They share what's helping them, what's changing their workflows, and what keeps them curious—or cautious. They also talk about where they hope AI will take the industry and where they'd prefer it not to go, all while emphasizing the human thinking that still guides great presentation work.

Episode Highlights

  • Hear how Jody's very first presentation on a kindergarten playground set the tone for a lifetime of storytelling.
  • Follow Mike's winding path from fine art to bioengineering to comic books before he ever opened PowerPoint.
  • Learn why Jody sometimes shows 300+ slides in a 45-minute presentation, and how audiences never notice.
  • Hear Mike describe AI as a Friction Fixer or Accelerator. It is part of the process, not the product.
  • Listen as both designers share how AI is already part of their daily process, what it helps them do, and why the human element still matters.
  • Catch their honest fears and hopes for AI—including how far they think avatars might go.

Resources and Links

AI, New Tools, and Takeaways from Adobe MAX25 Nov 202500:50:41

David Blatner and Theresa Jackson return from Adobe MAX 2025 with stories, insights, and a few surprises. They recap the biggest announcements, their favorite new features, and the feeling of creative inspiration that had nothing to do with Adobe. From AI showing up in nearly every app to Firefly credits, new collaboration tools, and what it all means for creative professionals, they break down the most important takeaways from Adobe's flagship event.

Episode Highlights

  • David and Theresa share their experiences at Adobe MAX 2025 —  what makes it both inspiring and overwhelming.
  • Why David calls Adobe MAX a "double-edged sword" — part innovation showcase, part marketing machine.
  • Theresa's favorite new Lightroom feature: AI-powered photo culling.
  • Their cautiously optimistic thoughts about Firefly Boards and Creative Cloud Projects.
  • An honest conversation about AI credits, ethics, and the future of Adobe's business model.
  • What tools and gadgets inspired their friends at MAX — from painting software to portable lighting.
  • The unexpected creative tip from Jason Hoppe that had everyone laughing (and rethinking their Halloween jack-o'-lanterns).
  • How attending events like Adobe MAX and CreativePro Week builds real creative community.

Links & Resources

Canva Makes Affinity Free?!10 Nov 202500:19:04

During Adobe MAX, Canva dropped a bombshell announcement: the entire Affinity suite—Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher—would be free forever. In this episode, David Blatner, Theresa Jackson, and Mike Rankin share their reactions to the news and unpack what it means for creative professionals.

They discuss how Canva's move shakes up the design software landscape and whether Affinity can ever rival Adobe's Creative Cloud. The team also explores why this announcement might be good news for everyone, from professional designers to the next generation of creatives.

Episode Highlights

  • Canva's surprise move announced during Adobe MAX
  • Why David says "free" doesn't necessarily mean "professional-grade"
  • Theresa's take on Adobe's shifting focus toward hobbyists
  • Mike's look at Affinity's strengths (and key limitations)
  • The gap between Adobe's "everyone" tools and enterprise solutions
  • How Affinity compares for pros: what's missing and what's impressive
  • The bigger picture: education, accessibility, and competition in creative software

Resources

 

InDesign 2026: What's New28 Oct 202500:45:55

InDesign 2026 is here—and so are David and Anne-Marie!

In this episode of The CreativePro Podcast, David Blatner and Anne-Marie Concepción bring back InDesign Secrets and dig into the newest release of Adobe InDesign (v21). They explore what's fresh, and what's just plain weird. From the new Flex Layout feature to live text editing in the browser, they unpack the good, the bad, and the future potential of InDesign's next chapter. Along the way, they share favorite finds, event updates, and a few classic "InDesign Secrets" throwbacks—complete with the return of the Obscure InDesign Feature of the Week (-eek!).

Highlights:

Who are David and Anne-Marie?

InDesign User Group: 20th Anniversary

Adobe MAX

Obscure Feature of the Week: Emit CSS

InDesign 2026:

Flex Layout makes its debut (similar to CSS Flex Layout)

David explains how Flex Containers let designers control spacing, alignment, and relationships among multiple objects.

InDesign's "InCopy on the Web" (beta)

Despite the confusing name, this new feature introduces true browser-based text editing for clients and collaborators.

Cloud collaboration Cloud Documents

Cloud documents now autosave, sync live edits, and support share-for-text-editing links.

Math Expressions evolve Math Expressions

MathML integration improves with a dedicated panel and the long-awaited ability to copy equations directly from Microsoft Word into InDesign. Jean-Claude's script to convert math expressions to RGB to CMYK

Context Bar gets smarter (and slightly more confusing)

The floating context menu now includes quick access to paragraph and character styles.

Adobe Express template integration

The new "Templates" option on InDesign's Home screen opens the Express web app, not native templates—an unexpected (and debatable) choice.

Links & Resources

Free Webinar: Bullets and Numbering in InDesign – Now available on demand

Design + AI Summit – November 13–14, 2025

CreativePro Week – Coming to Nashville, June 29–July 3, home of Hatch Show Print

Listeners can save $100 on any CreativePro event with the discount code: PODCAST

CreativePro Membership – Unlock the magazine, downloads, and exclusive resources

AI's Impact on Creativity with Amy Balliett and Mark Heaps23 Sep 202500:54:17

In this episode, Amy Balliett and Mark Heaps sit down for an honest conversation about artificial intelligence and what it means for creative professionals. They share how AI is showing up in their work today, the opportunities it creates, and the worries it raises about originality, ethics, and the future of design.

Along the way, you'll hear candid reflections on how creatives can keep their unique voice while adapting to rapid change, why embracing experimentation matters, and how to balance efficiency with authenticity. Amy and Mark bring both optimism and caution to the discussion, leaving you with practical insights and plenty to think about.

Highlights

  • Lighthearted banter about tech talk and finding "their people"
  • Honest takes on common fears: job loss, plagiarism, and the "end of the world" narrative
  • How AI is reshaping creative careers and where humans still hold an edge
  • The balance between efficiency and originality when using AI in design
  • Practical advice for staying relevant: evolve, experiment, and protect your value
  • Why ethics, transparency, and authenticity matter in AI-powered workflows
  • Opportunities for creatives to lead in strategy, storytelling, and human-centered design
  • Future-proofing careers by learning adaptable skills, not just technical tasks

AI Tools Mentioned

Links & Resources

Design + AI FREE Webinar – September 30, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/free-webinar-unlocking-the-potential-of-ai-in-video/ 

Design + AI Summit – November 13–14, 2025:https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2025/ 

Listeners can save $100 on any CreativePro event with the discount code: PODCAST

CreativePro Membership – Unlock the magazine, downloads, and exclusive resources: https://creativepro.com/membership/

Inside CreativePro: Content, Community, and AI Creativity with Mike and Theresa26 Aug 202500:39:45

In this episode, Theresa Jackson and Mike Rankin go behind the scenes at CreativePro. They share how their similar career beginnings in prepress connected them at their first meeting many years ago, and how they now share overlapping roles at CreativePro. You'll hear from Mike about the CreativePro Magazine evolution from InDesign-only coverage to a broader creative focus, and other changes that make content faster and easier to digest. This is followed with a conversation about community connection and their ideas for sustaining the energy of CreativePro Week year-round. Mike shares his newly formed Office Hours, and Theresa teases similar new community initiatives on the horizon.

Along the way, they preview upcoming events and dive into a candid discussion about AI in design—what excites them, what makes them uneasy, and why creativity and foundational skills still matters most. The show wraps with Mike's top InDesign career tip—one you won't want to miss.

 

Links & Resources

CreativePro Membership – Unlock the magazine, downloads, and exclusive resources: https://creativepro.com/membership/

CreativePro Magazine Article MATE: Your AI Helper in InDesign and Illustrator https://creativepro.com/mate-your-ai-helper-in-indesign-and-illustrator/

Office Hours – Join the conversation: https://creativepro.com/office-hours/

Design + Accessibility Summit – September 16–19, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/design-accessibility-summit-2025/#overview

Design + AI FREE Webinar – September 30, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/free-webinar-unlocking-the-potential-of-ai-in-video/

Design + AI Summit – November 13–14, 2025:https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2025/

The InDesign Conference – December 9–12, 2025: https://creativepro.com/event/indesign-conference-2025/

Rob de Winter's Flux Kontext Photoshop Plugin – https://www.robdewinter.com/flux-kontext-plugin-for-photoshop

Introducing the CreativePro Podcast29 Jul 202500:19:11

InDesignSecrets is now the CreativePro podcast! Join David Blatner and Theresa Jackson and review the past 20 years of podcasting, as well as what to expect next!

Links and Info:

  • Our podcast started in late 2005!
  • Trivia: Did you know our podcast intro music was created by Anne-Marie Concepcion's daughter, Nicole?!
  • Have an idea for a future podcast? Leave us a note below!
Ep. 332: Live from CreativePro Week17 Jun 202500:59:27

Topics:

  • Big news about podcast name
  • Our favorite obscure features
  • Fun obscure feature "spelling bee" game
  • Obscure Feature: Positional Form

 

Friendly Alien:

 

Barbell:

 

List of All Our Obscure Features (so far)

 

Positional Form:

Ep. 331: Bad Advice20 May 202500:42:30
  • Just for fun: Bad Advice (and Good Lessons)
  • Interview with Marcus Radich from PageProof
  • Obscure feature: Show Transparency Grid

Links:

Bad Advice

Interview with PageProof:

News:

Obscure Feature: Show Transparency Grid

Ep. 330: Evergreen Tips29 Apr 202500:40:13

Topics:

  • Great lessons from the archives (that you may have missed)
  • First look at InDesign 20.3
  • Obscure Feature: Delete All Guides on Spread

Sponsor:

PageProof is a simple-to-use but powerful online proofing platform that makes giving feedback on creative work effortless

See David's latest conversation with PageProof founder, Marcus Radich

Links:

Old InDesign Magazine articles that are definitely evergreen:

What's new in 20.3

News:

Obscure Feature: Delete All Guides on Spread

Ep. 329: Top Efficiency Tips28 Mar 202500:29:37

* DOIE: Dept. of InDesign Efficiency
* Obscure Feature: Clear Rotation
* News

Links:

Dept. of InDesign Efficiency

Join us in our live studio audience for Podcast 332 at CreativePro Week!

Clear Rotation:

Ep. 328: Cloud Docs25 Feb 202500:49:02

Topics:

  • The INDDC format: good and bad
  • Interview with Venngage CEO Eugene Woo
  • Obscure Feature: Reset Preferences on Quit

Links:

Cloud Docs:

Venngage: AI powered design at your fingertips

Resetting Preferences

Ep. 327: Font Tricks28 Jan 202500:43:30

Includes:

  • Favorite font tricks
  • Interview with Theresa Jackson
  • InDesign 20.1
  • Obscure feature: Match Pasteboard to Theme Color

News:

Theresa Jackson:

Font Tricks:


Obscure Feature: Match Pasteboard to Theme Color

Ep. 326: Anchored Objects17 Dec 202400:44:27

Topics:

  • Anchored Objects
  • Interview with Marcus Radich, PageProof
  • Obscure Feature: Standard Carriage Return

Links:

Marcus Radich, from PageProof.com

Anchored Objects:

Coming in 2025:

Books we mentioned:

Background on the: carriage return

Ep. 325: Table Tricks27 Nov 202400:34:12

Table Scripts:

Fixed Issues in InDesign 20.0.1

CreativePro Events: The Design + AI Summit, CreativePro Week, and more

Obscure Feature: Cell Division

Ep. 324: New InDesign 2025 Features29 Oct 202400:57:59

What's New in InDesign 2025:

New "wow" products at MAX

Interview with: Karen Brewer, Adobe

Obscure Feature: "Show Subset"

Ep. 323: To Embed or Not to Embed?27 Sep 202400:43:47

News:

Sponsors of this episode:

Adobe MAX: The Creativity Conference

PageProof: All your proofing in one place. Online.

 

Embedding Graphics: 

Paula Scher:

Math Typesetting: we recommend MathType

Obscure Feature: Paste Nudge

Ep. 322: Answers to Forum Posts27 Aug 202400:37:27

News

Sponsored by PageProof

Update note on InDesign 19.5

Three interesting InDesign Secrets forum posts

Obscure Feature: Contextual Task Bar

  • (everyone loves it… not)
Ep. 321: What's New in InDesign 19.527 Jul 202400:35:46

News

Sponsored by PageProof

Unboxing InDesign 19.5

Obscure Feature: .joboptions

 

 

Ep. 320: Must-Have Scripts28 Jun 202400:47:07
News Interview with Sabine Lenz, "The Paper Queen" Must-Have Scripts

Even more scripts:

Obscure Feature of the Week: Neutral
Ep. 319: Marcus Radich Interview26 May 202400:44:26
News Marcus Radich interview Exploring InDesign 19.4 Obscure Feature of the Week: Adjust Dashes and Gaps
Ep. 318: Khara Plicanic Interview25 Apr 202400:53:46
News
Kara Plicanic interview Secrets of the Live Preflight Panel Obscure Feature of the Week: Recompose All Stories When Modified

 

Ep. 317: Hot Threads from the InDesign forum27 Mar 202400:34:43
News Hot Threads: Obscure Feature of the Week: Proxy

Ep. 316: Interview with Julie Shaffer27 Feb 202400:37:14
News Julie Shaffer Secrets of the Scripts Panel Obscure Feature of the Week: Wavy
InDesignSecrets Podcast 31531 Jan 202400:41:21

Links mentioned in this podcast

InDesign Secrets Podcast 31429 Dec 202300:26:51

Links mentioned in this podcast

All about Pi…

nDesignSecrets Podcast 31330 Nov 202300:32:53

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InDesignSecrets Podcast 31201 Nov 202300:38:08
  • In the news
  • All about Adobe InDesign 2024 (v19.0)
  • Adobe MAX 2023 review and ID Tips from Attendees
  • Obscure Feature of the Week: Show Structure

Sponsor for this episode

>>  Priint:Suite is an enterprise platform that reduces the time to create marketing publications up to 80% and enables creative marketers to focus on being creative.  Automate layouts following business/layout rules without limits on creative freedom. Instantly create personalized or language variants. Learn more about where and how to use it with InDesign here! 

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  •  
InDesignSecrets Podcast 31130 Sep 202300:32:30
  • In the news
  • Our own InDesign Sneaks
  • Obscure Feature of the Week: Text Rotation

Sponsor for this episode

>> Adobe MAX 2023 Creativity Conference is happening October 8–12 in Los Angeles, California. Learn from experts and innovators, top creatives in design, photography, illustration, video, 3D, and more. Of course, the highlight is that  many InDesign experts will be presenting, live and online — even the Adobe engineering team from India. Hope to see you there!

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InDesignSecrets Podcast 31030 Aug 202300:45:09

Sponsor for this episode

>> Santa Cruz Software is the maker of LinkerUI, a best-in-class extension that connects InDesign and other CC applications to your DAM and cloud-based services like Dropbox. Box, GoogleDrive and more. It enables direct searching, opening, placing, and syncing of assets. A new feature in LinkrUI called Smart-Linkr now automatically finds and fixes broken asset links at a single click, so you never need to search for lost assets again. Download LinkrUI for free today at SantaCruzSoftware.com

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InDesignSecrets Podcast 30931 Jul 202300:40:12
  • In the news:
  • Podcasts we like (and please review ours)!
  • David's story about recovering from Can't Save/Save As disasters
  • Deep Dive: Secrets of the Glyphs panel
  • Obscure Feature of the Week: Styles Override Highlighter

Sponsor for this episode

>>Santa Cruz Software: Did you know that 66% of sales professionals can't get their sales or marketing collateral in time, often creating assets without oversight? Solve this with BrandingUI. Try it today at SantaCruzSoftware.com!

Links mentioned in this podcast

InDesignSecrets Podcast 30827 Jun 202300:41:21
  • In the news: 
  • Getting geeky with IDML, Tagged Text, ICML, and Snippet files
  • Obscure Feature of the Week: Remove Forced Line Break

Sponsor for this episode

>> Noble Desktop: For over 30 years, Noble Desktop's project-based classes and certificate programs have given professionals the tools to pursue creative careers in design, coding, and beyond. Learn more about them on our Training Provider page or at NobleDesktop.com.

Links mentioned in this podcast

InDesignSecrets Podcast 30729 May 202300:37:54

Links mentioned in this podcast

Adobe MAX 2023 speakers
Including ...

Fonts:

  • Great Fonts To Use:
    • CreativePro Font Collection #1: https://creativepro.com/creativepro-font-collection-vol-1/
    • Font Collection #2: https://creativepro.com/creativepro-font-collection-vol-2/
    • Our awesome "InDesignSecrets Font Collection" on Adobe Fonts: https://fonts.adobe.com/collections/indesign-20
    • Google Fonts: https://creativepro.com/using-google-fonts-indesign/
    • Adobe Fonts: https://creativepro.com/using-adobe-fonts/
  • Font Tools
    • Astute Graphics Vector First Aid: https://astutegraphics.com/plugins/vectorfirstaid
    • Justin's "Copy InDesign Fonts to Folder" script: https://ajarproductions.com/blog/2013/04/16/copy-indesign-fonts-to-folder/
  • Identifying Fonts:
    • What the Font: https://www.myfonts.com/pages/whatthefont
    • How to identify fonts: https://creativepro.com/identifying-fonts/
  • Glyphs panel:
    • Learning about the Glyphs panel: https://creativepro.com/get-know-indesigns-glyphs-panel/
    • Tips: https://creativepro.com/tip-week-glyphs-panel-display/
    • Finding characters: https://creativepro.com/find-characters-using-the-glyphs-panel/
    • Custom glyph sets: https://creativepro.com/working-with-custom-glyph-sets/
    • Laura Worthington's Hummingbird font: https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts/hummingbird
  • Making Fonts:
    • IndyFont: https://www.indiscripts.com/post/2012/06/indyfont-build-opentype-fonts-from-within-indesign
    • If you have a LinkedIn Learning subscription: our video on IndyFont: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-secrets/055-making-a-font-with-indesign-using-the-indyfont-script?u=0
    • FontSelf in Illustrator: https://creativepro.com/create-fonts-illustrator-cc-fontself/
  • Installing Fonts:
    • Document Fonts folder: https://creativepro.com/easy-font-activation-using-document-fonts/
    • InDesign application's Fonts folder: https://creativepro.com/getting-indesign-to-see-your-fonts/
InDesignSecrets Podcast 30604 May 202300:56:20

Sponsor for this episode

>> Noble Desktop: For over 30 years, Noble Desktop's project-based classes and certificate programs have given professionals the tools to pursue creative careers in design, coding, and beyond. Learn more about them on our Training Provider page or at NobleDesktop.com.

Links mentioned in this podcast

InDesignSecrets Podcast 30505 Apr 202300:31:13

Sponsors for this episode

>>PageProof is the top online proofing workflow platform for your creative process: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, PowerPoint, image files, and more. It's free for reviewers, and flat rate pricing for you and your designers makes it easy to get started! Learn more about PageProof in David's in-depth interview in this CreativePro Conversation on YouTube. 

>>Microsoft PowerPoint has a mission: To empower people and organizations to tell the world's most compelling stories to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Check out our newest feature, Cameo, which lets you integrate a live camera feed into your presentation. Learn more about Cameo here.

Links mentioned in this podcast

More on Measurements

  • Changing InDesign's Default Ruler Measurements: link
  • InDesign Measurements Changing Unexpectedly: link
  • Scaling an Object to an Exact Size: link
  • Measuring Angles: link
  • Measurement Field Secrets: link
  • Measure Distance with Ruler Guides: link
  • Set the Size of Text Exactly (based on cap or x-height): link
  • A Great Script Lets You Add Measurements in InDesign or Illustrator: link
InDesignSecrets Podcast 30428 Feb 202300:36:02

In This Episode:

Sponsors for this episode

>>PageProof is the top online proofing workflow platform for your creative process: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Powerpoint, image files, and more. It's free for reviewers, and flat rate pricing for you and your designers makes it easy to get started! Learn more about PageProof in David's in-depth interview in this CreativePro Conversation on YouTube. 

>>Microsoft PowerPoint has a mission: To empower people and organizations to tell the world's most compelling stories to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Check out our newest feature, Cameo, which lets you integrate a live camera feed into your presentation. Learn more about Cameo here.

Links mentioned in this podcast

InDesignSecrets Podcast 30331 Jan 202300:44:42

Sponsor for this episode:

>>PageProof is the top online proofing workflow platform for your creative process: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Powerpoint, image files, and more. It's free for reviewers, and flat rate pricing for you and your designers makes it easy to get started! We interview Marcus Radich, CTO, in this episode, and you can hear David's more in-depth interview in this CreativePro Conversation on YouTube. 

Links mentioned in this podcast:

News

InDesign Dashboard

ChatGPT, DALL-E, and other Generative A.I.

Obscure Feature: Adjust spacing automatically when cutting and pasting words

   
InDesignSecrets Podcast 30220 Dec 202200:46:40

In this episode…

  • News
    • CreativePro Week 2023 registration includes InDesign and more
    • Recordings available for the Design & Accessibility Summit 
    • Go to our Events page to see 4 new online summits for 2023
    • CreativePro Magazine December 2022 issue dives deep into fonts and the Pantone color aggravation
  • Good Grief: Goodbye to Type 1 Fonts and bundled Pantone spot colors
  • Interview with Marcus Radich, chief tech officer of PageProof
  • Obscure InDesign Feature: Select Unused Parents

Sponsor for this episode:

>>PageProof is the top online proofing workflow platform for your creative process: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Powerpoint, image files, and more. It's free for reviewers, and flat rate pricing for you and your designers makes it easy to get started! We interview Marcus Radich, CEO, in this episode, and you can hear David's more in-depth interview in this CreativePro Conversation on YouTube. 

Links mentioned in this podcast:

LinkedIn Learning Video Series for InDesign users

End of PostScript Type 1 Support

Pantone Libraries Disappearing

Parent pages: How to make running heads that change without using multiple parent/master pages: https://creativepro.com/indesign-how-to-automate-chapter-headers/

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