GMetrix Exam GMetrix InDesign: Publication Layout Design 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of the 'Section Marker' special character in InDesign?
- Displays the current chapter name defined in the Section Options (Correct answer)
- Inserts a non-breaking space between words
- Marks the beginning of a new story in the text flow
- Places a footnote reference in the text
Correct answer: Displays the current chapter name defined in the Section Options
A Section Marker automatically displays the section name you define in Section Options, useful for running headers or footers that change per section.
Question 2: Which InDesign feature lets you apply a color or gradient to text without outlining it, preserving editability?
- Text frame fill
- Character Color in the Character panel or Swatches (Correct answer)
- Drop Shadow effect on the frame
- Convert to Outlines
Correct answer: Character Color in the Character panel or Swatches
You can apply fill and stroke colors directly to selected text via the Swatches panel or the Character panel's color controls, keeping text live and editable.
Question 3: What does the 'Gap Tool' do in an InDesign layout?
- Removes the space between threaded text frames
- Resizes the space between frames while simultaneously resizing adjacent frames (Correct answer)
- Sets the gutter width between columns in a text frame
- Fills gaps in a placed image with background color
Correct answer: Resizes the space between frames while simultaneously resizing adjacent frames
The Gap Tool adjusts the space between objects and simultaneously resizes the neighboring frames to maintain the overall layout structure.
Question 4: In InDesign, what is an 'Anchored Object'?
- An image locked to a specific layer
- An object tied to a specific location in text so it moves with the text flow (Correct answer)
- A frame that cannot be moved or resized
- A placed file that is embedded rather than linked
Correct answer: An object tied to a specific location in text so it moves with the text flow
An anchored object is inserted inline or near a specific text position and moves automatically as the surrounding text reflows.
Question 5: Which option in InDesign's 'Text Frame Options' controls the number of columns inside a single text frame?
- Column Guides setting in the Margins and Columns dialog
- Number field under the Columns section in Text Frame Options (Correct answer)
- Span Columns setting in Paragraph Options
- Multi-column setting in the Layout menu
Correct answer: Number field under the Columns section in Text Frame Options
Text Frame Options (Object menu or Cmd/Ctrl+B) includes a Columns section where you set the number of columns and the gutter width within that single frame.
Question 6: What does the 'Overprint Fill' option do when checked for an object in InDesign?
- Makes the object's fill transparent to show the layer below
- Prints the fill color on top of underlying inks instead of knocking them out (Correct answer)
- Converts the fill to a spot color in the output
- Locks the fill color so it cannot be changed
Correct answer: Prints the fill color on top of underlying inks instead of knocking them out
Overprint Fill tells the RIP to print the object's color on top of any inks beneath it rather than removing the underlying ink, commonly used for black text.
Question 7: When exporting a PDF for print from InDesign, which PDF standard is most commonly specified for professional offset printing?
- PDF/X-1a (Correct answer)
- PDF/A-1b
- PDF/E-1
- PDF/UA-1
Correct answer: PDF/X-1a
PDF/X-1a is a widely used print-production standard that enforces CMYK/spot colors, embedded fonts, and no RGB or transparency for reliable offset output.
GMetrix Exam GMetrix InDesign: Publication Layout Design 4
What is the purpose of the 'Section Marker' special character in InDesign?