What’s New in InDesign CC 2019?

Space Between Paragraphs Using the Same Style

One of the most practical additions to InDesign's typographic arsenal is the ability to control spacing between paragraphs that share the same paragraph style. This feature fundamentally changes how designers approach list formatting and document hierarchy. Previously, creating professional-looking bulleted lists with proper spacing required a cumbersome three-style system that was both time-consuming and prone to inconsistencies:

• one style for the first list item with extra space above
• one style for middle list items with less space above and below
• one style for the last list item with extra space below

This new functionality eliminates that complexity entirely. You can now create a single paragraph style that maintains generous spacing above and below the entire list while using tighter spacing between individual list items. Simply set your desired space above and below values for external spacing, then specify a smaller "space between paragraphs using the same style" value. This approach ensures visual separation from surrounding content while maintaining readability within the list itself—a technique particularly valuable for technical documentation, proposals, and editorial layouts where information hierarchy is crucial.

New Layout Adjustment Feature

Document restructuring becomes significantly more efficient with InDesign's intelligent layout adjustment capabilities. When client requirements change or you need to adapt existing content for different formats—shifting from letter-size to A4, adjusting margins for binding requirements, or modifying bleed specifications—this feature automatically recalculates object positioning and sizing to maintain design integrity.

The layout adjustment engine analyzes your document's spatial relationships and proportionally adjusts elements based on the new parameters. To activate this functionality, you have several entry points:

• Go to File > Adjust Layout.
• Go to File > Document Setup and click Adjust Layout.
• When changing margins in Layout > Margins and Columns, check on Adjust Layout.

This feature proves invaluable for agencies managing multiple format deliverables or publications that require consistent layouts across different page specifications. The time savings compound significantly on complex, multi-page documents.

Adobe Fonts & Previewing Fonts

The evolution from Typekit to Adobe Fonts represents more than mere rebranding—it's a fundamental shift in how typography integrates with professional workflows. The previous limitations that restricted font synchronization quantities and accessibility have been completely eliminated, giving designers unprecedented access to Adobe's expanding type library.

With over 20,000 fonts now available (substantially increased from the original 14,000+ collection), the Adobe Fonts service operates seamlessly within InDesign's interface, transforming font selection from a speculative process into an informed design decision:

1. When choosing a font, click the Find More tab.
2. If you have text selected, hovering over each font will preview it in the file without requiring font download—enabling real-time comparison within your actual design context.
3. To download that font for permanent use on your system, click the cloud icon to the right of the font name.

The preview functionality extends beyond Adobe Fonts to your entire font library. This live preview capability dramatically accelerates the design process, particularly when fine-tuning typographic choices for brand consistency or exploring alternatives for readability optimization. For design teams, this feature reduces the iterative back-and-forth often required when presenting font options to clients.

Miscellaneous Features and Workflow Enhancements

• The new Content-Aware Fit option utilizes AI-powered cropping algorithms to intelligently scale and position images within frames, identifying focal points automatically—particularly useful for batch processing product catalogs or publication layouts.
• Export workflows are streamlined with the Use InDesign Document Name as the Output Filename option, reducing filename confusion and maintaining consistent file naming conventions across team environments.
• Footnote functionality now extends to table cells, enabling proper academic and technical documentation formatting within complex data presentations.
• Bidirectional conversion between endnotes and footnotes (accessible through the Type menu) provides flexibility for publications that need to adapt citation styles for different audiences or publication requirements.
• The packaging process becomes more efficient with optional instruction file creation—uncheck Create Printing Instructions in the Summary tab of the Package dialog (File > Package) when sending files to familiar vendors or digital-only workflows.
• PDF form styling now supports custom fonts, enabling brand-consistent interactive documents that maintain visual identity across all touchpoints.
• PDF comment integration bridges the gap between review processes and production workflows—import comments via File > Import PDF Comments, or use the dedicated PDF Comments panel (Window > PDF Comments) for systematic revision management.
• OpenType SVG font support introduces multicolor typography capabilities, essential for contemporary brand expression and digital publication requirements, including comprehensive emoji support for social media-integrated designs.

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