Archicad and Adobe InDesign CC

The course teaches the functions of the Archicad program for complex drawing creation, as well as how to use InDesign CC from Adobe for appealing layout design of texts and graphics. You will also learn how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in the profession.
  • Certificates: Archicad" certificate
    Certificate "Layout design with Adobe InDesign CC"
  • Examination: Praxisbezogene Projektarbeiten mit Abschlusspräsentationen
  • Teaching Times: Full-time
    Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (in weeks with public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.)
  • Language of Instruction: German
  • Duration: 8 Weeks

Archicad

Basics (approx. 3 days)

2D construction: drawing and editing

Coordinate input and auxiliary lines

Editing and modification tools

Dimensioning, texts, hatching, PET palette

Pens and colors, layers/basics

AI Assistant for tool and command navigation

Tips for avoiding typical drawing errors


Architecture 3D (approx. 8 days)

Systematic project and object management, storey management

Creating floor plans, sections, views, axonometry and perspectives

Placing openings in floor plans, sections and views

Tools and editing options for walls, ceilings, windows, doors, objects, roofs/roofmakers, stairs/StairMaker and railings

Improved rotation functions for components

Multi-layer components, building materials, priorities

Profile manager, facade modeler

Dimensioning, details and worksheets

Create rooms and room stamps

Evaluation of CAD data and lists

Notes on model consistency and optimization of work steps


3D modeling (approx. 1 day)

Morph and shell

Create and edit free forms

AI support for tool selection and shape analysis


Visualization (approx. 1 day)

Basics of photorealistic visualization

Creating perspectives, rendering

Controlling the 3D representation in layouts

Support in the selection of suitable rendering settings


Plan presentation, plan output (approx. 2 days)

Place sections, views and floor plans on the plan, create plan layout/master template

Output via Publisher as PDF

Notes on incomplete dimensions and missing plan components


Project work (approx. 5 days)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results

Layout design with Adobe InDesign CC

Layout basics (approx. 1 day)

Project workflow, planning and conception

Introduction to working environment, user interface and tools

Document and program settings

Workspaces

Important keyboard commands (shortcuts)

Navigation, page and document structure


Artificial Intelligence in the Workflow (approx. 1 day)

AI in design workflows

Copywriting and text optimization (e.g., claims, headlines, translations)

Automating tasks with AI-powered plugins and scripts

Applications for color palettes, mood boards, and typography suggestions

Opportunities, risks, and legal aspects (copyright, ethics)

Prompt engineering: targeted control of AI outputs


Layout creation techniques (approx. 2 days)

Creating page layouts with text/graphics

Margins and columns, guidelines, rulers

Working with frames and corner options

Aligning and transforming objects, Pathfinder

Properties panel

Creating and saving document templates (*.indt)

Layout customization methods (e.g. Liquid Layout)

Creating alternative layouts


Visually implement complex layout ideas (approx. 2 days)

Create design grids for layouts

Use of master pages, nested master pages

Automatic page numbers

Generating section marks

Managing complex layout content with layers

AI-generated color and grid suggestions

Creating accessible layouts (accessibility check)


Text Editing and Typography (approx. 2 days)

Introduction to fonts and font families

Classification and properties

Introduction to Adobe Fonts (Typekit), Variable Fonts

Text placement, import/export options

Text frame linking, Smart text flow

Text editing, hyphenation, page break options

Alignment to the Baseline Grid

Text on a path

Generating text and reviewing typographic suggestions with AI

Use of AI for tone-of-voice adjustments and accessibility


Using Text Formats in a Variety of Ways (approx. 1 day)

Define character and paragraph formats

Defining and inserting GREP and text variables

Creating tables of contents

Libraries, snippets, and object formats

Layout template (template) with text formats

Using the book function

Automatic text variations and content structuring with AI

Collaboration via Creative Cloud Libraries


Working with Lists and Tables (approx. 1 day)

Tabs, bulleted lists, and numbering

Data import and conversion options

Creating and editing tables

Data preparation with AI (converting tables/text)


Working with Images and Graphics (approx. 1 day)

Raster images and vector graphics

Image resolution and color space (RGB, CMYK)

Placing and managing images and graphics

Working with links (control panel)

Importing image data (import/export options) from Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and others

Frame fitting options

Clipping paths and cutouts

Wrapping text around images and objects

Generative image editing, cropping, and retouching with AI

AI-powered background removal and style transfers


Colors, Effects (approx. 1 day)

Print and screen colors

Professionally design, create, and save using colors and color gradients

Use of color sets, e.g., for projects with CI guidelines

Using Adobe Color

Working with effects and transparencies

Soft gradient edge tools

Automatically generate color palettes and CI-compliant suggestions using AI

Automatically suggest trend colors and brand colors


Digital Publishing and Interactivity (approx. 2 days)

On-Screen Presentation and Promotion

Planning, Design, and Implementation of Interactive Documents (PDF, EPUB)

Buttons, hyperlinks, and bookmarks

Animations and page transitions

Embedding AV media, SVG import and export

Fixed-layout e-books (EPUB 3.0)

HTML, CSS, and tag export

Viewer app (e.g., Adobe Digital Editions)

Publish Online feature

Automatically create text/target audience variants with AI


Print output, cross-media publishing (approx. 1 day)

Color management, ICC profiles

Data check, soft proof, and color application

Links and preflight settings

PDF/X export for professional printing

Printing and sharing documents

Saving for the web (e.g., PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG)

Resource-efficient printing and digital strategies

PDF/UA export and quality checking of accessible documents


Project work (approx. 5 days)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results



Changes are possible, the course content is updated regularly.

After the course, you will be able to use Archicad confidently to create 2D drawings and 3D models. You will plan and model construction projects in a structured manner, use supporting functions for efficient workflows and create complete planning documents and presentation-ready visualizations.

In addition, you have quickly and confidently mastered Adobe Systems’ InDesign CC layout software and are able to incorporate text, images, and graphics into sophisticated layouts. With the help of artificial intelligence, you can also streamline work processes.

The course is aimed at people with a degree in architecture and engineering, technicians, draughtsmen and technical draughtsmen as well as specialists from related industries with appropriate professional experience.

Archicad is used in architecture and engineering firms of all sizes throughout Europe.

Thanks to your additional layout skills, your future field of application may also include the creation of advertising media.

Your meaningful certificate provides a detailed insight into the qualifications you have acquired and improves your career prospects.

Didactic concept

Your lecturers are highly qualified both professionally and didactically and will teach you from the first to the last day (no self-study system).

You will learn in effective small groups. The courses usually consist of 6 to 25 participants. The general lessons are supplemented by numerous practical exercises in all course modules. The practice phase is an important part of the course, as it is during this time that you process what you have just learned and gain confidence and routine in its application. The final section of the course involves a project, a case study or a final exam.

 

Virtual classroom alfaview®

Lessons take place using modern alfaview® video technology - either from the comfort of your own home or at our premises at Bildungszentrum. The entire course can see each other face-to-face via alfaview®, communicate with each other in lip-sync voice quality and work on joint projects. Of course, you can also see and talk to your connected trainers live at any time and you will be taught by your lecturers in real time for the entire duration of the course. The lessons are not e-learning, but real live face-to-face lessons via video technology.

 

The courses at alfatraining are funded by Agentur für Arbeit and are certified in accordance with the AZAV approval regulation. When submitting a Bildungsgutscheinor Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, the entire course costs are usually covered by your funding body.
Funding is also possible via Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF), Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) or regional funding programs. As a regular soldier, you have the option of attending further training courses via Berufsförderungsdienst (BFD). Companies can also have their employees qualified via funding from Agentur für Arbeit (Qualifizierungschancengesetz).

We will gladly advise you free of charge.

0800 3456-500 Mon. - Fri. from 8 am to 5 pm
free of charge from all German networks.

Contact

We will gladly advise you free of charge. 0800 3456-500 Mon. - Fri. from 8 am to 5 pm free of charge from all German networks.