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Podcast
InDesign Secrets
224
54
Join the CreativePro team for fun and insightful discussions about our favorite tools and technologies: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, PowerPoint, Acrobat, print, digital publishing, presentation design, accessibility, AI, and more!
Join the CreativePro team for fun and insightful discussions about our favorite tools and technologies: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, PowerPoint, Acrobat, print, digital publishing, presentation design, accessibility, AI, and more!
Wait, You Can Do That In…?
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
CreativePro Week 2026: Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026. https://creativeproweek.com/
CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/
Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/
Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/
PageProof Intelligence: https://pageproof.com/pageproof-intelligence
José Semidei: Tips for Creating Gradient Mesh Effects in Illustrator: https://creativepro.com/tips-for-creating-gradient-mesh-effects-in-illustrator/
How to Edit Photos in a PDF with Photoshop: https://youtu.be/aak26NToW5g?si=_ZQBnAU3AkyU6XXV
51:58
Adobe Illustrator: Favorite New Features Spring 2026
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
CreativePro Week 2026: Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026. https://creativeproweek.com/
CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/
Event Savings: Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/
Membership Discount: Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/
Adobe Help: What's New in Illustrator on the Desktop: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/new-features/whats-new.html
Thaddeus Coates: https://www.hippypotter.com/
Luke Choice: https://www.velvetspectrum.com/
40:37
Affinity: Why You Should Pay Attention
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/
CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/
Steve Caplin: https://stevecaplin.com/
Theresa Jackson's Self Portrait with Photoshop Displacement Map Filter: https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/max_3840_webp/00bfb313226357.56271a3df0ccf.jpg
Canva Create Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/live/9HkO8masPT0
Affinity Download: https://www.affinity.studio/download
Affinity for Photoshop Users by Steve Caplin: https://creativepro.com/affinity-photoshop-users/
YouTube: Displace Filter in Affinity: https://youtu.be/_9ZFMs1GkPg
48:01
Before & After: Timeless Design Lessons
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
Design + AI Summit 2026, being held online April 9–10 and September 17–18: https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/
CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/
The Before & After Archive: https://creativepro.com/before-after-archive/
Gestalt Theory: https://creativepro.com/tag/gestalt-theory/
John McWade LinkedIn Learning Courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/john-mcwade?u=2125562
Before & After's Why We Design: http://www.mcwade.com/DesignTalk/2009/04/design-is-worthy-toil/
25:34
Photoshop Craft vs AI: What Still Matters
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
Design + AI Summit 2026, being held online April 9–10 and September 17–18: https://creativepro.com/event/design-ai-summit-2026/
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/
CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/
Khara's Three Minute Max winning tip
Three Minute Max Playlist
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/
Lisa Carney: https://lisacarney.com
Jesús Ramirez: https://photoshoptrainingchannel.com
Adobe Photoshop: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html
Adobe Firefly: https://firefly.adobe.com
46:59
The Making of the CreativePro Week 2026 Agenda
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026: https://creativeproweek.com/
CreativePro Events: https://creativepro.com/events/
Speaker submissions: https://creativepro.com/speak-at-our-events/
Miro online white board https://miro.com/
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/events/
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code PODCAST: https://creativepro.com/become-a-member/
53:44
Design Trends and Predictions for 2026
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
CreativePro Events
Design Trends for 2026 – Adobe Blog
Pantone Color of the Year 2026
Color and Culture by Nicte Cuevas
Rebranding CreativePro – article by Nicte Cuevas
Before&After – articles by John McWade
How to Keep AI-Generated Presentations Fully Editable – tutorial by Camille Holden
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code: PODCAST
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code: PODCAST
55:08
A Better Way to Review Creative Work
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
PageProof – website
PageProof Adobe Add-on – learn more
Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) – website
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code: PODCAST
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code: PODCAST
44:52
Journey from Designer to Presentation Strategist
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
Mike Parkinson – Website
Jody Wissing – Website
Inkscape – Free vector graphics editor
Slidewise – Add-in for managing and inspecting PowerPoint content
NXPowerLite – Windows file compressor
Creative Cloud Libraries for PowerPoint – Add On
The Presentation Design Conference 2026, February 17–20, 2026
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3, 2026
Save $100 on any CreativePro event in 2026 with the discount code: PODCAST
Get $15 off one year of CreativePro membership with the discount code: PODCAST
41:10
AI, New Tools, and Takeaways from Adobe MAX
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
Adobe MAX Sneaks 2025
Escape Motions: Rebelle Painting Software
Harlowe Lights
Jason Hoppe's Pumpkin Carving - https://www.youtube.com/@JasonHoppe
The InDesign Conference 2025, December 9–12
The Presentation Design Conference 2026, February 17–20
CreativePro Week 2026, Nashville, June 29–July 3
Next Office Hours, Friday, December 19, at 3PM ET
50:40
Canva Makes Affinity Free?!
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
Canva's official announcement: Affinity now free forever
Affinity Suite overview (Photo, Designer, Publisher)
Adobe MAX on demand sessions
CreativePro InDesign Conference
19:03
InDesign 2026: What's New
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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?
Anne-Marie's LinkedIn Learning courses
David's LinkedIn Learning courses
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
45:54
AI’s Impact on Creativity with Amy Balliet and Mark Heaps
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
In this episode, Amy Balliet 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
Adobe Firefly
Nano Banana for Photoshop
Loveable
Bolt
Replit
Streamlit
Vercel
Firebase
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/
54:16
Inside CreativePro: Content, Community, and AI Creativity with Mike and Theresa
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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
39:44
Introducing the CreativePro Podcast
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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!
19:10
Ep. 332: Live from CreativePro Week
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
Topics:
Big news about podcast name
Our favorite obscure features
Fun obscure feature "spelling bee" game
Obscure Feature: Positional Form
Friendly Alien:
Episode 300
Tip of the Week
Barbell:
20 Obscure Features
Episode 35
List of All Our Obscure Features (so far)
Positional Form:
Exploring OpenType Pro Fonts, Part 2
59:26
Ep. 331: Bad Advice
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
Just for fun: Bad Advice (and Good Lessons)
Interview with Marcus Radich from PageProof
Obscure feature: Show Transparency Grid
Links: Bad Advice
The "Bad Advice" thread on Facebook
Sara Rosinsky's Em Dash shirt
Interview with PageProof:
New Proofing Add-in for Microsoft Office
Centralizing the Proofing Process with PageProof
News:
Adobe engineers did an Ask Us Anything 24-hour marathon on the InDesign subreddit (forum) of Reddit.com.
Creative Cloud Members get 3 months of LinkedIn "Premium Career" membership (which includes LinkedIn Learning). See Adobe CC Benefits page
Obscure Feature: Show Transparency Grid
More information on Creative Cloud Libraries
42:29
Ep. 330: Evergreen Tips
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
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:
From issue 1: Recipes for Applying—and Ignoring—Text Wrap in InDesign
issue 2: Fast Formatting with Nested Styles in InDesign
issue 7: InDesign Tips of the Trade
issue 8: Working with Anchored Objects in InDesign
What's new in 20.3
Fixed Issues
What's New
Peter Kahrel's Latex to MathML script
Issues with Generative Fill in InDesign
News:
Members can now download the Tables Superguide of articles
CreativePro Week (use the code CPSECRETS to get $100 off that or any creativepro event)
Obscure Feature: Delete All Guides on Spread
Shortcut for selecting all guides
40:12
Ep. 329: Top Efficiency Tips
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
* DOIE: Dept. of InDesign Efficiency * Obscure Feature: Clear Rotation * News Links: Dept. of InDesign Efficiency
10 Essential Tips for Using Quick Apply in InDesign
Activate Last Used Field Shortcut
Apply Leading to Entire Paragraphs: What Causes Inconsistent Leading and How to Fix It
How to Start Using InDesign Scripts
How-to Create a Custom Workspace
The weird "Place Gun Frame" trick: Applying an Object Style when Placing an Image
Join us in our live studio audience for Podcast 332 at CreativePro Week!
Clear Rotation:
Rotate frames with a trackpad gesture
Did you know you can move the spread rotation features with a script?
Even more cool: A script to rotate all the spreads that contain frames that are rotated
29:36
Ep. 328: Cloud Docs
Episode in
InDesign Secrets
Topics:
The INDDC format: good and bad
Interview with Venngage CEO Eugene Woo
Obscure Feature: Reset Preferences on Quit
Links:
Cloud Docs:
Collaborating Using Adobe Cloud Documents
Creative Cloud Storage: Where Does It Go?
Working with Adobe Cloud Documents
Anne-Marie's Cloud Docs video "for Design Geeks" on LinkedIn Learning
The endgame… collaborative editing, like the current Photoshop beta
Venngage: AI powered design at your fingertips
Resetting Preferences
49:01
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