Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing
- the process of using the computer and specific types of software to combine text
graphics and design elements to produce documents such as newsletters, brochures,
books, etc.

WYSIWYG- what you see is what you get

- The display appears on the screen the same as it will print

Examples of DTP (desktop publishing) Applications

Microsoft Office Publisher,

Adobe InDesign
Adobe FrameMaker
Adobe PageMaker
Quark Xpress
Corel Ventura
Scribus
Serif PagePlus

4 myths of Desktop Publishing

1. Desktop Publishing is Fast
2. Desktop Publishing saves money
3. Desktop Publishing is easy
4. Desktop Publishing improves the look

Advantages of Desktop Publishing

Immediate Gratification
Control
Experimentation
Quick and easy changes
Saving on supplies
SPELL CHECKERS
Current state of Publishing

Limitations of Desktop Publishing

Time needed for learning software
System limitations
Compatibility of files and equipment
Initial Expense for equipment and software

Steps in the Design Process

Conception the creative phase
Application Turning ideas into sketches
Feedback Collect responses , opinions and suggestions/
Adjustment- Adjusting the design
Production Perfecting the design

Publication Checklist
What is the purpose of your publication?
Why is it needed?
Who is the intended audience?
 What kind of information will your publication include?

Kinds of Documents
Documents that inform
Documents that Persuade
Brochures
Advertisements Bulletins
Invitations Curriculum Listings
Fund Raisers
Fact Sheets
Posters
Marketing plans
Press Releases
Promotional Flyers Products Lists
Sales Brochures Programs
Prospectuses Rate cards

Documents that gives how-to- information

Documents that Identify
Curriculum Guides
Instruction Manuals Business Cards
Training Guides Certificates
Labels
Documents that Elicit Response: Stationary
Applications
Order Forms
Surveys

Documents that Provide reference

Periodicals that Inform:
Calendars
Directories Magazines
Lists Parts Lists Newsletters
Schedules Newspapers
Reports
Timetables

Desktop Publishing Basic Design Principles and Hazards to Avoid

Basic Design Principles
Focus
Balance
Directional Flow
Unity
White Space
Borders
Choosing type

Focus- an element to which the first eye moves

Use contrasting size, density and page position
Use large bold display type or graphics
Balance- How elements are distributed on a page
Formal Balance- centers all design elements around the visual center
Informal Balance- Arranges design elements off center
Directional Flow- Created by lines that the eye follows on a page
 Create flow on the page with lines within illustrations, rules, and lines of type and with
visuals
Use the Z pattern of reading to place important information.

Unity
Create unity with the use of appropriate and consistent elements.

White Space
Design the white space ; do not overcrowd type and graphic elements

Borders
Borders isolate a page or a section of a Page

Desktop Publishing Hazards (things to avoid)

Forgetting Your Audience
Irregularly shaped type
Excessive underlining
Too many fonts
Grammar and spelling errors
Inappropriate borders
Inappropriate headlines
Violating the copyright law
Forgetting your audience
Dont let your Graphic design overwhelm your message
Spend as much time on content as you do on design

Irregularly Shaped Type & Excessive Underlining

Irregular shapes take more time to read and confuses the reader.
Too much underlining Confuses the reader

Grammar, Spelling Errors and Too many fonts

Too many fonts crate a disorganized appearance and labels you as an amateur/
Limit fonts to 2- 3 per page
Use special effect fonts to attract extra attention but only for a few words

Inappropriate Borders
The border should fit the nature of the product and intended audience

Inappropriate Headlines
BE careful how the lines end- you could give new meanings to your words
Shorter is better! (Not all the time ;)

Violating the Copyright law

Copyright laws give owners exclusive rights to their works
To Use a copyrighted work you must get permission and, possibly pay a fee.

MS Publisher
Publisher is desktop publishing program that can be used to create visually rich and
professional looking publications.

Parts and functions

Title Bar
Appears at the top of the program window and displays the name of the publication
and the program.

Quick Access toolbar

Appears on the left side of the Title bar and contains frequently used commands that
are independent of the tab displayed on the ribbon
Lets you access common commands, no matter which tab you are using in the ribbon.
By default it shows the Save, Undo and Redo commands

Ribbon
Extends across the top of the program window, directly below the title bar and consists
a set of tabs, each of which contains group of related commands

Pages Pane
Appears on the left side of the program window and displays a thumbnail for each page
in the publication

Workspace
Appears below the Ribbon and displays the contents of the current page

Scratch area
The gray area surrounding the current page, this area serves as a holding space for any
objects you might want to pull off the page and reuse elsewhere
Status Bar
Appears at the bottom of the program window and displays information about the
publication.

12 parts of a newsletter
Nameplate
Banner on the front of a document that identifies the publication name ; may
include a logo, subtitle, motto, volume, issue, and date
-A creative name
-A bold title that dominates the page
-A name with one or two words no more
-The date of publication
Body
The bulk of the text excluding headlines and decoration

Table of Contents
Usually appears on the front page; briefly lists the articles and the page
numbers on which they appear

Masthead
Contains the name of the publisher
and may include staff names and
other related information; usually
appears on page 2 of the document

(a) Headline
Identifies each article; is the most prominent text element after the nameplate
 - The headlines must be well written and bold
- List headlines and
their articles in order of
importance
- Be consistent and use
the same font for all
headlines
- Headlines should be larger than body copy but not overpowering

(b) Kicker

A short phrase positioned above the headline, usually as a lead- in or

introduction
(c) Deck

One or more lines placed between the headline and the body of the article;
provides a Segue between the two.

(d) Subhead
Appears within the body text; divides the article into smaller sections
(Similar to side headings and paragraph headings in a report)
(e) Running head

Repeating text at the top of every (or every other page); also called a running
header.
Page numbers

Can appear at the tip, bottom, or side of the newsletter; page 1 is usually not
numbered
Byline

Name of author or contributor of photo or article; it can appear the beginning or

end of the article

Jumpline

Appears at the bottom of an article to identify the page where the article
continues
End Mark

A dingbat or symbol used to mark the end of an article or story

Pull Quotes

A small quote taken from an article and enlarged to catch the readers attention

Mugshot

A photograph of a persons head and shoulders with that person looking straight
into the camera

Caption
A phrase, sentence, or paragraph describing the contents of an illustration or
photograph

How to create a newsletter

1. Nameplate
- The banner on the front page of a newsletter that identifies the publication. It
contains the name of the newsletter, possibly graphics or a logo and perhaps a subtitle,
motto and publication information including volume and issue or date.

2. Body
- The bulk of the text excluding the headlines and decorative text elements. Its the
articles and special sections of the newsletter content.

3. Table of Contents
- Usually appears on the front page. The table of contents briefly lists articles and
special sections of the newsletter and the page number for those items.

4. Masthead
- The section of a newsletter layout- typically found on the second page (but could be
on any page) - That lists the name of the publisher and other pertinent data. May
include staff names, contributors, subscription information, addresses and logo, Etc.

5. Heads/Titles
Headline- After the nameplate, the headline identifying each article in a newsletter is
the most prominent text element

Kicker- Often seen in a newsletter design, the kicker is a short phrase set above the
headline. The kicker can serve as an introduction or section heading to identify a
regular column.

Deck- One or more lines of text found between the headline and the body of the
article. The deck elaborates or expands on the headline and topic of the accompanying
text.

Subhead- Appears within the body of articles to divide the article into smaller
sections.

Running Head- more familiarly known as a header a running headline is repeating

text- often the title of the publication- that appears usually at the top of each page or
every other page in a newsletter design. The page number is sometimes incorporated
with the running headline

6. Page Numbers
- Can appear at the top, bottom, or sides of pages. Usually page one is not
numbered in a newsletter.

7. Bylines
- A short phrase or paragraph that indicates the name of the author of an article
in a newsletter. The byline commonly appears between the headline and start of
the article, prefaced by the word By although it could also appear at the end
of the article.

8. Continuation Lines
- When articles span two or more pages, a newsletter editor uses continuation lines it
help, readers find the rest of the article.
a) Jump lines- Also called continuation lines, typically appear at the end of a column,
as in continued on page 45. Jump lines at the top of a column indicate where the article
is continued from, as in continued from page 16.
 b) Continuation heads- When articles jump from one page to another. Continuation
heads identify the continued portion of the articles. The continuation headlines, along
with jump lines, provide continuity and cue the reader as to where to pick up reading.

9. End Signs
- A dingbat or printers ornament used to mark the end of a story in a newsletter is an
end sign. It signals the reader that they have reached the end of the article.

10. Pull-Quotes
- Used to attract, attention, especially in long article, a pull-quote is a small selection of
text pulled out and quoted in a larger typeface.

11. Photos/Illustration
- A newsletter design layout may contain photographs, drawing, charts, graphs, clip
arts.
a) Mug Shots- the most typical people photograph found in newsletter design is the
mug shot a more or less straight into the camera head and shoulders picture.

b) Caption- The caption is a phrase. Sentence, or paragraph describing the contents of

an illustration such as a photograph or chart. The caption is usually placed directly
above, below, or to the side of the picture it describes.

12. Mailing Panel

- Newsletters created as self-mailers (no envelope) need a mailing panel. This is the
portion of the newsletter design that contains the return address, mailing address of
the recipient and postage. The mailing panel typically appears on one-half or one-third
of the back page so that it faces out when folded.