Explore the distinct roles of InDesign and InCopy in a content creation workflow, including the specialized features and unique responsibilities of each within the Live Edit plugin workflow.
This exercise is excerpted from past InCopy training materials and is compatible with InCopy updates through 2021. To learn current skills in Adobe Creative Cloud and graphic design, check out our graphic design classes in NYC and live online.
The InDesign & InCopy Workflow
Please note that all this material was written for InDesign and InCopy using their built-in Live Edit plugin workflow. If you are using a content management system such as K4, WoodWing, etc., check in/out and file types will be slightly different.
InDesign’s Role in the Workflow
InDesign is the “master” that controls the InDesign and InCopy workflow. InDesign creates the layout, places InCopy-created content into a layout, makes assignments, etc. Without InDesign to create a layout and place InCopy content into a layout, InCopy would just be a text editor without page layout ability. Here are some highlights of InDesign’s role in the workflow:
- InCopy content is placed into a layout by InDesign users.
- Within a page layout, InDesign users must create text and picture frames for InCopy users to work in.
- Once a layout is created, text and picture frames are assigned so their content can be accessed via InCopy.
InCopy’s Role in the Workflow
InCopy plays the editorial part of the workflow: it is a text editor that can also import/position pictures. InCopy taps into already made layouts, but it can’t create layouts. Instead, it works with content in layouts. It can also be used to develop text (manuscript) for later import into InDesign. The benefit of developing manuscript in InCopy instead of Microsoft Word is that nothing gets lost in the translation from InCopy to InDesign. What the editor/author sees in InCopy is how it imports into InDesign. Styles can be shared for better copyfitting early on in the process. Here are some highlights of InCopy’s capabilities:
- InCopy can work with text, tables, etc. in the same way as InDesign. Styles can be used for a more seamless translation from InCopy to InDesign than the traditional Microsoft Word to InDesign workflow used by many people.
- InCopy can create new text files. This is useful when developing manuscript. But it’s up to an InDesign user to add that text into a layout.
- InCopy can only edit text/photos that are part of an InDesign layout if a user has designated them for InCopy.
- InCopy CANNOT designate which content in a page layout is editable. That is up to an InDesign user.
- InCopy can edit text within a layout that has been designated for InCopy. Other text can be copied, but not edited.
- InCopy CANNOT create a text/picture frame for new content. It can only work with content in existing frames that were created by InDesign.
- InCopy can place images into existing picture frames if they have been assigned to InCopy by an InDesign user.
