This PDF covers the following important items to get your computer set up to work efficiently.
Show all File Extensions: As graphic designers we work with many file types and we need to know what they are. Some computers hide the file extensions from the user, but in our work it is critical that we can identify the files that we are working with.
Mapping Image Files: Since we work with Adobe applications, to create an efficient workflow, if we map images files to our Adobe applications, we can work seamlessly between them. For example, if you are creating a magazine and you have a photo on a page that needs adjusted, you can simply click on the edit tool in the Link Menu to open the image in Photoshop right from within the InDesign application. This saves you time from having to find the file on your computer, launch photoshop, save it and re-import it. If you do it within the applications when you save the photoshop file, the InDesign file will know the file was altered and you can instantly update it within InDesign. You will want to map the following files: .jpg, .gif, .png, .psd, ,pdf, .heic, .webp (as image files continue to be invented, you will want to map them as they are added).
Where do my Applications live? This shows you where to find your applications and how to customize your tool bars.
How to set your preferred Browser to route Downloads to where you need them—instead of automatically to your download folder.
Organizing your Project Files.
What is a native file and why never to store files on the Cloud (if you can prevent it). Some iPad apps are automatically saved to the cloud 🙁