Introduction to Desktop Publishing Basics

Introduction to
Desktop Publishing
Intro to Desktop Publishing
Desktop Publishing is . . . .
 the use of computer-based software
and equipment to produce publication
materials.
Important Considerations:
Content
 info to convey to readers (what document says)
Character
 mood created by document (fun, serious, business-
like, etc.)
Purpose
 what action is required by the reader (buy
something, attend meeting, learn, etc.)
Form
 type of document (newsletter, brochure, flyer,
calendar, business card)
Important Considerations:
 Aesthetics
 overall appearance of document
 Audience
 who you intend to have read your document
 Environment
 where document will appear (on its own, in
a magazine, etc.)
Typical Paper Sizes:

 Letter: 8 ½” by 11” (most common)
 Legal: 8 ½” by 14”
 Broadsheet: 11” by 17” (also called

“tabloid”)
Page Layout:
Page Orientation
Vertical Horizontal
(Portrait) (Landscape)
Single Column:
 suitable for smaller
documents/page
sizes (such as
novels, basic books,
etc.)
Multi-column:
 two or more columns
 the larger the sheet of
paper, the greater the
number of columns
required (such as
newspapers)
 makes larger, more
complex documents
easier to read
ALIGNING TEXT . . . .
 There are 4 main ways to align
(justify) text in a document
 They are . . . .
ALIGNING TEXT
Left Justified zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf
sdoi sd iu iudy io o dfo s
oiuoi sdfoiuwe fjlv v podi
 text is lined up on left

sdpf p xc p x xp cvpo p
poibpo ic poivp pco vp
df sido b iu dfoiudf
side and is oiuoidupewoi df

sdf sfiosdufosduf spoisyfo
jagged/uneven on right oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi

wriowu oiweu dlkjs sdvb o
pd
side sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi
uoe oer oiu oiu
 most commonly used

sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye
fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj
justification
blkxjcvluope o
ALIGNING TEXT
Right Justified zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf
 text is lined up on right

side and is jagged/uneven oiuoidupewoi df

on left side oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi

wriowu oiweu dlkjs sdvb o
pd
 good for drawing sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi

uoe oer oiu oiu
attention to small
fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj
blkxjcvluope o
sections
ALIGNING TEXT
Centre Justified zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf
 text is aligned along its

centre oiuoidupewoi df
oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi
 excellent for use as titles, wriowu oiweu dlkjs sdvb o

pd
subheadings, etc. sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi

uoe oer oiu oiu
 best for short sections of fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj

blkxjcvluope o
text
ALIGNING TEXT
Full Justified zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf
 text is lined up on BOTH the left oiuoi sdfoiuwe fjlv v podi
and right margins poibpo ic poivp pco vp
 commonly used in multi-column oiuoidupewoi df
documents (newspapers, magazines, sdf sfiosdufosduf spoisyfo

oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi
newsletters) wriowu oiweu dlkjs sdvb o
pd
 tends to look cleaner than Left sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig

uoe oer oiu oiu
ieruoi
Justified sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye
 irregular spacing between words fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj

blkxjcvluope o
and letters creates full justification
Focal Point
 The place your eye sees first
 Larger is noticed before smaller
 Brightly colored text is noticed before black text
 Images are noticed before text
*Pages without a focal point can be confusing

After creating a focal point, the reader must be

encouraged to continue reading
Flow
 The visual path created by arrangements of
elements within a page
 Z-pattern is most common
 Images, white space, and text will create the flow
Grid
 Using a grid will help divide your page
Rule of thirds
 A page that is designed in thirds is more appealing
Follow the “Rule of Thirds”

 Based on the principle that the human
eye follows around a visual space in a
regular pattern.
 Try to place objects in a well organized

way on the page, with emphasis on the
“third” points (place important
elements at or near these points).
“Rule of Thirds”
Intersection points
of “third” lines
create specific
points of interest
on a page
important spot!
Text White space Text White
Space
Image Image White Image

Space
Image Text Text White

T Image Text Space
e
x
t
White Text
Space
White
Spac
e
The 3 most important elements

of a successful document are:
1. careful writing
2. thoughtful organization
3. effective design
These elements grow out of an

understanding of:
1. Your Audience
2. Your Message (what you want to say)
3. Your Resources (what equipment and

material you can use to produce your
document)
ALWAYS REMEMBER . . . .
 Keep your designs clean and simple!
 Balance white space (30 to 50%) and graphic
elements (contrast elements)
 Vary sizes of objects (visual interest) – bigger is
always more important.
 Try to align each object with another object
somewhere on the page.
 Too much clutter can ruin a good idea and make
your message difficult to understand!
 Your designs should look as good in black and
white as they do in colour!
The DTP Design Process:

1. Clarify your purpose
2. Know your audience
3. Gather ideas and material
4. Plan your document (rough designs)
5. Layout your publication
6. Choose the right paper (for printing)
7. Put it all together
Principles of Design
Desktop Publishing
The Four Basic Principles
Contrast
Repetition
Alignment
Proximity
Contrast
• The idea behind contrast is to avoid elements
on the page that are merely similar
• If the elements are not the same, then make
them very different
• Often the most important visual attraction on
a page its what makes a reader look at the
page in the first place
Repetition
• Repeat visual elements of the design
throughout the piece
• You can repeat colors, shape, textures, line
thickness, fonts, sizes, graphic concepts, etc.
• This develops the organization and strengths
the unity
Alignment
• Nothing should be placed on the page
arbitrarily.
• Every element should have some visual
connection with another element on the
page
• This creates clean, sophisticated, fresh
look.
Proximity
• Items relating to each other should be
grouped close together.
• When several items are in close proximity to
each other, they became one visual unit
rather than several separate units.
• This helps organize information, reduces
clutter and gives the reader a clear structure.
General guiding principle of
Design
• Don’t be afraid to create your design with
plenty of blank space.
– it’s rest for the eyes
• Don’t be afraid to be asymmetrical, to

uncenter your format
– it often makes the effect stronger. Its okay to do
the unexpected
General guiding principle of
Design
• Don’t be afraid to make words very large or
very small; Don’t be afraid to speak loudly or
to speak in a whisper
-Both can be effective in the right situation.
• Don be afraid to make your graphics very
bold or very minimal, as long as the result
complements or reinforces your design or
your attitude.
For Homework . . . .
 Find samples of principles of design
 Look in magazines for samples
 Refer to fonts, layout, etc. as reasons
for effectiveness
 Write approx. 1 paragraph analysis
per sample

Introduction to Desktop Publishing Basics

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Introduction to Desktop Publishing Basics

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Introduction to

Typical Paper Sizes:

 Broadsheet: 11” by 17” (also called

 text is lined up on left

side and is oiuoidupewoi df

jagged/uneven on right oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi

 most commonly used

 text is lined up on right

side and is jagged/uneven oiuoidupewoi df

on left side oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi

 good for drawing sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi

 text is aligned along its

 excellent for use as titles, wriowu oiweu dlkjs sdvb o

subheadings, etc. sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi

 best for short sections of fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj

documents (newspapers, magazines, sdf sfiosdufosduf spoisyfo

 tends to look cleaner than Left sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig

Justified sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye

 irregular spacing between words fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj

*Pages without a focal point can be confusing

After creating a focal point, the reader must be

Follow the “Rule of Thirds”

 Try to place objects in a well organized

Image Image White Image

Image Text Text White

The 3 most important elements

These elements grow out of an

2. Your Message (what you want to say)

3. Your Resources (what equipment and

The DTP Design Process:

• Don’t be afraid to be asymmetrical, to

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