Create an interactive magazine with sidebar menu in Adobe InDesign

[@danielleshelbourne220]

What a fantastic tutorial this is! It’s great to get ideas on how to make documents more appealing to the reader and learning the techniques to achieve it. By the way, your designs are always gorgeous! Thank you so much. 🙏

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks Danielle! I am glad you are finding the tutorials helpful. Lots more to come! 🙂

[@BudTheChud]

This is really helpful, you’ve shown me far quicker ways of doing things I’ve attempted before. I’m creating a brochure for a job interview this weekend and your tutorial will help me smash it!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Go get it Claire. Best of luck!

[@salutvictor4772]

AWESOME TUTORIAL!!! Thank you!! Watching, enjoying and learning from Guatemala!!!!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks for the support. Glad you're enjoying the content!

[@garrycore]

Hi Angelo, First of all, great video. Here it comes; however, InDesign 19.5 tells me that the interactive elements are not currently supported. What version are you using? Nor, am I getting any optional share methods.

[@AntonioGonzalez-zb5tm]

I'm new using Indesign and your tutorials are great!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks Antonio! I am glad to hear they are helping you.

[@MadelinePeirsman]

Everything is so clear ! Thank you so much !

[@nikhatparveen6622]

I really appreciate your way of teaching and look forward for more videos on intractive magazine.

[@pixelmasque]

AWESOME TUTORIALS ON indesign interactivity

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks so much!

[@jonchong3683]

Great tutorial. I never thought InDesign can do so much. Thanks,

[@TheGilayan]

thank you so much for this tutorial, you explain so well and make the learning easy!! well done, thanks again

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks and I am glad it helped you!

[@AidanJoyce]

Superb. Great video and wonderful Instruction. Keep up the great work.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks Aidan!

[@andrea691]

Thank you so much Angelo, very useful and clearly explained, your tutorials are great, thanks!!

[@MeryemKocabayDesign]

Whenever I watch a video I learn something new. It is awesome, thank you for your effort 🙂

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thank you for the kind words and I am glad my lessons are helping you!

[@MeryemKocabayDesign]

@@AngeloMontilla You are so valuable for us 🙏

[@Vedapurikannan-ho2lp]

Thank you so much for your lovely presentation 👍🙏 Thank you once again....

[@cerosdotcom]

Creating an interactive magazine with a sidebar menu in Adobe InDesign sounds like a fun project! We at Ceros value tutorials that empower designers to create engaging experiences. Your content is a wonderful guide for that. Keep the creative tutorials coming!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thank you for the kind words! 🙂

[@osks]

Very nicely presented! Well done!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!

[@aswanism]

Hi Angelo, ,Thank you very much for this tutorial. it's amazing and very helpful. One question from me, if we pinch out/in the page to zoom in/out the photos, will the sidebar menu stay in the same size or will it be zoom out/in as well? Is there any way that we can lock the size of the sidebar menu while we pinch out/in the page?

[@AngeloMontilla]

This is a great question. Docs published online using Adobe InDesign's feature are not responsive, nor can you lock certain areas of a layout.

[@yairsanchez2480]

Once again another amazing tutorial, thank you so much for sharing all this knowledge Angelo, looking forward to see the next one. ✌🏾✌🏾

[@kevinbrianthomas1]

Brilliant class. I built my foundation based on yours. Now that I know the recipie, I can start adding my own ingredients to the skillet.

[@AngeloMontilla]

That's awesome Kevin. Feel free to share your progress!

[@kevinbrianthomas1]

@@AngeloMontilla I can't find that text block plugin. is it a free one?

[@AngeloMontilla]

@@kevinbrianthomas1 It should be in the "Copy" folder. There are 2 txt files.

[@francias.2080]

Muchasssssssssssss graciasssssssssssssssssssss por tus valiosas/increíbles aportaciones!!!!!!!. Todo súper claro 10/10

[@janiceflint9211]

Angelo your videos are so very good and easy to follow. I've followed this video for the interactive sidebar menu and it works flawlessly when I do a Publish Online but I can't get it to work properly when I publish with in5. I've posed this question to them as well but figured I'd cover my bases. I've been back through this and have everything set exactly as you have.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Janice! I can't really help you with the in5 question, as I am not subscribed to the full version of the software. Hopefully they answer your question. Take care!

[@helton1587]

Thank you!!!! Very very very good!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@allancoker4863]

Awesome work. Thank you

[@syafiqamin6282]

Yo angelo. This tutorial helps me a lot in doing my individual project. Thanks, bruh

[@3ddiE224-gy7]

This is such a great tutorial, I learned so much from it. One thing though, when I installed the In5 plugin it said I needed to install the scrolling frames panel separately - but the button in the pop up doesn't work. Any ideas?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Yes, in order to get the Scrolling Frames, you have to download it separately. Sign up for their newsletter, and they'll send the plugin: ajarproductions.com/scroll/?ref=blog

[@leonardomasson3421]

this video was awesome you do a great job on indesign. thanks for the help of your videos

[@sandybottoms1]

Loving your lessons! Quick question - does the slide animation work with an interactive PDF? Or is this specifically for publishing online?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Sandy! It used to, but animation is no longer supported for Interactive PDF.

[@florenceesibi4390]

Bravo 👏 your lessons are quite useful. I like how you go through the steps methodically so we can repeat the same with our work.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks Florence. I like to go at a pace where everyone can get it. I am glad they are helping you.

[@DarrenSmith501911]

Excellent work. I created a magazine for a client a few years ago but wasn't really aware of the interactive features at the time. I will incorporate them into upcoming projects. I'm looking forward to the next tutorial.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks Darren!

[@mohammedkassem3607]

Thank you for your wonderful lessons

[@Overland_Foodie]

Great tutorial and great video Nice work! However, it appears the In5 Scrolling fames is no longer working correctly. Once loaded it says "Get the Scrolling Frames Panel". I click the button and searched the In5 website but nothing happens now. Maybe they moved this feature under the paid version of the software. Woundering if you know another free way to create a scrolling frame without the use of In5? Thanks!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey there! I updated the link in the description. Follow the link and sign up for the in5 newsletter to get the scrolling frame emailed to you.

[@threciamiemangubat10]

I don't understand the part 15:30 to 15:17 What keyboard do you say " click shift command option v"? Please answer and thank you

[@AngeloMontilla]

The timestamp you provided doesn't line up with your question. However, Shift + Command + Option + V is a shortcut for Paste in Place. You can achieve the same result by going to Edit > Paste in Place.

[@camilazanabria9012]

Your video is really helpful, thank you so much Angelo. i luv u

[@artischool8606]

Great work ....Thanks Sir

[@kriezylpaguntalan-cal3733]

Thank you for your tutorial! it is really helpful! but I got a question in terms of publishing, can we publish it as well to other sites or sharepoint? what are the limitations?

[@sarvenaztabatabaie]

Hello, thank you so much for the great useful tutorial. I have a problem with my animation, when i export my interactive pdf, the buttons work but the animation does not work. I wanted to know if you have any solution. thank you so much.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi there. Animation isn't supported for PDF.

[@pennyleroy4273]

Great tutorial! Quick question, I've downloaded the lesson material but it has a non-removable Adobe ad on top. How do I remove that?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Penny, those images were licensed by me so I am sharing the watermarked versions. You are more than welcome to license the full versions for yourself, but at least the watermarked versions will allow you to follow along with the tutorial. Thanks!

[@lisarahon3347]

Very nice video. Easy to understand. thanks!

[@hardyreuter2204]

Really good tutorial :)

[@GaiaFlutes]

Hi Angelo, I enjoyed your presentation at the Adobe Max conference and glad I found your KZbin channel! I'm not sure if you know of a workaround for hiding/eliminating the built-in Next/Previous navigation buttons, but thought I'd check. I have an eLearning dev background and am used to creating customized navigations. Thanks for your input!!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Kim! I am glad you enjoyed my Max presentation! As far as your question, I don't believe there is.

[@GaiaFlutes]

@@AngeloMontilla Thanks for the reply! I'm immersed today in learning all about in5. Trying to determine if this is a good approach for training/education vs elearning tools. There's a lot of overlapping features, though InDesign + in5 seems to provide some additional options for interactive manuals (magazines) that may what a client needs, rather than a full elearning course. Still learning! Thanks again!! 🙂

[@AngeloMontilla]

@@GaiaFlutes Great points. I would say use your own judgment and whether in5 would be beneficial to you. I agree there are some overlapping features but in5 has exporting options InDesign on its own just doesn't offer, yet anyways. Best of luck and thanks for following along!

[@omnkaf7787]

Hi, I've been following your tutorials and it helps me a bunch. Have a general question on interactivity in terms of mobile view, on phones and iPad. Does rollover buttons, menu and scrolling frames work in mobile view, since there's no cursors? Do they use the functions in the browser view on mobile?

[@andreyvelinov9]

You are simply amaizing

[@AngeloMontilla]

Thanks Andrey!

[@dhairyavaidya3072]

Thank you so much. this is very useful

[@yopibram]

Best InDesign teacher 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I'm creating a project personal magazine, have problem to make decision the best layout size, since there are so many phone size/res and tablet/pad also. Which is the best size i should pick? (Priority for mobile phones)

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey Yopi. If the priority is for mobile you should choose a mobile size from the presets or custom mobile screen size. Hope that helps!

[@cheiloleonardo]

I really love your videos I've learned a lot and can apply it on my projects! Question tho, the animation doesn't play on interactive PDF format but plays on the epub version. What should I do about it? Thank you so much~ Hope you can see this! Kudos!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Cheilo! Animation is not supported for PDF so your options are EPub or Publish Online. If you're designing for a client, perhaps ask what platform they'd prefer. How will this project be viewed? If it's a personal project, the choice is all yours! :)

[@cheiloleonardo]

@@AngeloMontilla woah! Thank you for replying! And yep it is for a client and they prefer it to be in PDF format and I think they're not too familiar with epub format either. Thank you again! More videos please~😊

[@yopibram]

@@AngeloMontilla if final type is epub, the reader must installed an epub reader? And can it be distribute as single file like pdf file? Thx

[@leesmithmediaproductions]

Awesome tutorial! Will this menu animation work standalone, like in an interactive pdf, or does it need to be published on the web? I'm working on an internal newsletter, so it needs to be self-contained.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Lee! Thanks for the comment. You can publish it as an EPub (Fixed Layout) which would require it be viewed in an e-reader app such as Apple Books. The other option is exporting as HTML, but that isn't as easy as you think. It will package the HTML, js and images, then needs to be cleaned up in Dreamweaver or equivalent. My hope is that the digital publishing workspace in InDesign gives users more options for exporting and I think that may be coming in the future. In the interim, you may want to check out in5 - an extension that gives you more options to publish from InDesign to web. It comes at an annual cost, though. Take care.

[@leesmithmediaproductions]

@@AngeloMontilla Awesome! Thank you for the quick response 🙂

[@priyankar2005]

Hello Angelo it's a great learning experience, The tutorial is really amazing, I have one problem while with the text scroller the extra text paragraphs are not coming while we are scrolling the scroll bar in the text. its coming blank. Thanks again.

[@thomaszapata9179]

Thank for sharing.

[@evag6717]

Hi Angelo, thanks so much for this video! Just one question, if I choose iPad Pro as the preset, will my design only work on iPad pros? It won't show well on other devices?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Eva Great Question! No, what that means is the project is meant or will be best viewed on iPad. It'll still work for other platforms but the viewing experience won't be as great, especially on mobile. If you're designing something for multi-platform use, choose something that will work well for all devices. Take care!

[@evag6717]

@@AngeloMontilla Hi Angelo! Thank you! Which one would you suggest to be the most effective preset/size for it to be viewed on multiple platforms? (laptop, mobile and ipad). Thanks so much!

[@TheMultitarian]

@@evag6717 Hi there, you can go with letter format which works fine on all devices.

[@deniskornja762]

Hi, thank you for the lesson 😊. Can you please show me how to get rid of the error #503F i find online what i need to do and i did all of that and it's not working at all. I mean i can make it in jpg format but that I can't use 😅 well anything. Epub won't won't either. When i open the file on my browser the browser it's downloading the same file wtf? Can you please give me the link to see how's this suppose to work.

[@MaggieBaker-vo7ob]

Quick question: is this set up going to be responsive? I like the idea of a scrolling frame and a sidebar menu, but I'll need it to be responsive to accommodate readers who will be reading on mobile.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Maggie. Not responsive, unfortunately. Hoping that is something Adobe adds in the future!

[@mattiaGl90]

Good morning, this pop up/hoover effect and animation, does it work even if the file is downloaded to mobile? Will it also work on mobile? Thank You!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Mattia! Yes, it'll work either in a mobile web browser when published online or in an e-reader, such as Apple Books. If you're on an Android/Windows, try an e-reader called Caliber. It's the best one I have found for those platforms.

[@mattiaGl90]

@@AngeloMontilla Thank You

[@lukwagobaker8480]

How do you export as Interactive PDF with these features other than publishing online?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Lukwago, PDF runs on Flash so none of these features will work unfortunately. There's really not much you can do with Flash anymore. This runs on HTML5, not flash. Take care.

[@ccpipe]

Great stuff, I'll be trying some of this out for sure :)

[@simplysurfing]

And all this design and interaction will be published as ? If you publish to pdf will all this functionality work ?

[@karstenbonnaire2706]

thank you so much for this

[@AngeloMontilla]

You're very welcome!

[@josueiralmarketing7848]

Hello, I love your videos, I work a lot in indesign and with the latest events, the magazines that made physical have turned to digital and I have a question, is it possible to make a responsive design in indesign, both for PC and mobile?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey there! Not with the regular digital publishing settings built into InDesign, unfortunately. However, I know Ajar Productions' In5 has a feature for responsive design export to web. It is a paid subscription model but it could solve your issue. Check them out.

[@MeryemKocabayDesign]

Dear Angelo, when I create a digital catalog (A4 page) and publish it online would it be responsive? If not so, how to create a responsive magazine? Do you have a video for this issue? Thank you in advance 🙏

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Meryem! No, these are not responsive, unfortunately. That is why it's important to create the document for the platform/screen it'll be viewed on.

[@MeryemKocabayDesign]

@@AngeloMontilla Thank you 🙏

[@carlloos4340]

I would like to follow your tutorial, but is it possible that you're using more links than provided in your lesson material?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Carl! Thanks for pointing that out. I added a few more missing images and logos to the folder. If you open the InDesign file, you can copy the colour palette from there.

[@flaggies]

I love your tutorials...I just wondered if you can print an interactive magazine for those who are computer challenged .I live in a retirement Community and create the newsletter every 3 months and we do have some very 'anti' technology people!!!

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hi Maria! Yes, you can print the interactive PDF. You would just have to ensure it makes sense for the printed version. All the best and thanks for following along!

[@brian1980-HX5]

Does any of this work if exported as a plain old interactive .pdf?

[@sgraham4533]

What file type is the end product? PDF? Please advise. Thanks 🙂

[@AngeloMontilla]

No, this won't work for PDF. It's either Publish Online or EPub (Fixed Layout).

[@sgraham4533]

@@AngeloMontilla ok thank u for responding 😊

[@HOLBAG]

Hello, Please how to make a watermark for the document with InDesign I know it can do it on adobe acrobat

[@childhoodbusiness5057]

"Scrolling Frames" are not available any more in InDesign CC 2022 (and earlier). Seems to be that it is not supported by the ePub-Format.

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey there! The Scrolling Frame tool is an add-on to the in5 extension. Download the extention (linked in the description), then when you first launch it, the scrolling frame window will prompt you to enter your email where download instructions will be sent to you. It's an added step but one that is worthwhile. It will 100% work in the latest version of InDesign.

[@childhoodbusiness5057]

@@AngeloMontilla Dear Angelo, thanks for following up - I had "binge-watched" some of your tuts yesterday and enjoyed your efforts! You really provide useful examples, all beautifully designed, and your explanations are carefully made, always also telling the audience how to get to a certain palette although a fast click or shortcut could do the trick... Also, your examples usually do show more than just one issue. Just on the fly, you mention this and that aside. Useful! I learned a lot and the more, I got inspirations not only on techniques but also on how to design things. You have good taste in typography. Hopefully, you will find more time to show us some more insights. The link did not work yesterday for me, somehow, but now "not logged-in" at Adobe it did. I will try it out now...

[@AngeloMontilla]

@@childhoodbusiness5057 Thank you so much for all the kind words. My goal is always to go at a pace where every level and skillset can follow along. Stay tuned for some more tutorials ahead! Take care.

[@__Ashik__07]

We save this as pdf. Is that animation will work properly in normal pdf format

[@AngeloMontilla]

No, animation isn't supported for PDF.

[@__Ashik__07]

@@AngeloMontilla thanks for the reply 🤝

[@dezignranjith1121]

Thank you

[@ToddDolce]

Angelo,..so does InDesign export the file out as a totally self contained web page? I must be having a brain fart because I know that there isn't any interactive capabilities in pdf format outside of simple links. I'm guessing I will need a web site already built and then I will have to upload a bunch of folders and files that InDesign exported.

[@AngeloMontilla]

You're absolutely right. You can use the Publish Online feature to publish the project to Adobe's servers, but if you want it custom built, you can Export as HTML and then use the js, html, images folders to build out on your own site using Dreamweaver or equivalent. Thanks!

[@kumarashish6647]

Is the scrolling frame works with PDF also?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey Kumar! Unfortunately, no. The scrolling frame is a HTML5 interactivity feature - meaning it'll only work for EPub or Publish Online.

[@shreeramnadkarni]

Hi Angelo Montilla, I am getting an error while publishing online. Can you please help here

[@YouriKulikov]

Can I do interactive PDF ?

[@AngeloMontilla]

No, it won't work for PDF Yuri. Sorry.

[@anggerputranto9935]

can i do this in Adobe InDesign CS6..?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey there. No it will not. Only Interactive PDF capabilities in that version.

[@ozgurcatal95]

How can i save this magazin html file?

[@AngeloMontilla]

Hey there! File > Export > HTML will export the assets and css. This won't retain the layout and interactivity, as you'll find out. To host on your own site this way, you'll need assistance from a dev - unless of course you are good with coding yourself. Just as an FYI, the In5 full license allows you to export for HTML5 without coding. Best of luck.

[@ozgurcatal95]

@@AngeloMontilla thank you

[@lyingeyes5579]

Whenever I select scrolling frames it says its a separate plugin install, wtf?

[@AngeloMontilla]

That's correct. The latest version of that plugin is here ➡ bit.ly/3GmbGIk

[@trinitrackstar1]

Fantastic content. Peace in Jesus name. Hailing from the twin island of Trinidad & Tobago

[@AngeloMontilla]

Greetings! I am glad you are learning new things on my channel! 😀

[@IMYTnNERDEE2]

fuck me, so professional and didactive