Desktop Publishing

1
Desktop Publishing

• Lesley Drumm
• Staffordshire University

2
White Space as a design tool

• surrounding pages
• between columns
• within and around headlines
• between lines and paragraphs
• between letters and words
  
  
• around subheads

3
Sides of Pages

• typically margin defaults are set too large but
  allow space for
• binding
• folding
• hole punches

4
Side gutter

• You can make the left margin wider by altering
  the left gutter
• In Microsoft Publisher
• Choose Layout, Layout Guides

5
Top and bottom of each page

• set headers and footers
• against edge of page
• against adjacent text columns
• In Microsoft Publisher
• Position headers and footers on Background pages
  (Choose Page, Go to Background or use CtrlM
  shortcut). Choose Layout, Layout Guides to
  determine the placement of text frames.

6
Hanging paragraphs

• use a band of white space down the left to
  overhang headings
• align text under graphic objects

7
Paragraphs

• Options
• first line indents
• extra space between paragraphs
• To get Microsoft Publisher to control indents
• Choose Format, Indents Lists. When the Indents
  and Lists dialog box appears, enter the desired
  indent in the First Line box by clicking the
  up/down arrows or by entering the measurement you
  want.

8
Adding space between paragraphs

• do not press enter twice as this adds too much
  space
• To adjust spaces between paragraphs in Microsoft
  Publisher
• Choose Format, Line Spacing. In the Line Spacing
  dialog box, select indents and Spacing. Enter a
  desired measurement in the After box or click
  the up/down arrows

9
Avoid rivers of white space

• avoid two spaces between sentences
• holes in text
• holes on consecutive lines can create rivers
  of white space
• hint you can use search and replace to get rid
  of two spaces and replace with one

This is important
10
Multi-columns

• used for economy, ease of reading and design
  flexibility
• make it easy to incorporate a variety of
  different-sized visuals into your pages
• columns should be wide enough to accommodate
  approximately 40 characters in the font you are
  using
• columns do not need to be central

11
Spacing between columns

• too narrow and readers jump the gap
• too wide and page unity is destroyed by vertical
  bands of white space between columns
• small type can have closely spaced columns
• justified text usually needs more column space
  that flush left/ragged right

12
Vertical downrules

• Factors which may indicate downrules are needed
• gutters between columns are very small
• larger type size of text in columns
• justified columns
• text should be easy to read
• avoid using 3 or more different line widths on a
  page

13
Tools for consistency - borders

• boxed borders around a page give a conservative
  or classic image
• in many cases, side borders are not needed -
  especially if text is justified
• good borders reinforce either the text or white
  space of the page
• different width horizontal rules can be used to
  emphasize text and white space

14
Tools for consistency - Grids

• grids provide uniformity, pulling everything
  together
• a master page with a grid shows elements which
  are repeated on each page
• grids show layout of columns (which may contain
  text or white space on the page)
• by varying placement of text and graphic elements
  on the grid you can enjoy flexibility without
  chaos

15
Tools for consistency - Spreads

• spreads - readers see several pages at once, aim
  to balance the design on the pages
• headers and footers on adjoining pages should
  match and text columns should align
• always preview your document as several pages
  before printing

16
Tools for consistency - Templates

• templates are read-only files which you can use
  again as the basis for a new document
• save your files as templates to save you time

17
Readers cues and momentum devices

• pull quotes, side heads and run-ins can be used
  to attract readers attention
• pull quotes can be enhanced by graphic accents,
  shaded backgrounds and oversized quotation marks
• side heads and run-ins are subhead variations

18
Pull quotes

• should be short and to the point
• should not detract from the heading
• pull quotes should match headline and subhead
  typography (use condensed or light version of a
  font)
• pull quotes between columns of ragged right text
  should be avoided
• pull quotes should be used within rather than
  between columns of text
• use borders, etc to enhance pull quotes

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How to produce a pull quote

• In Microsoft Publisher
• Create a text box and then Choose Format,
  Borders. When the Borders dialog box appears,
  click on Box if you want to surround your pull
  quotes with a four-sided box, or you can place a
  border along the top, bottom, and/or left and
  right sides of your pull quote. The border moves
  with the text frame.
• You can also adjust the Fills by selecting Fills
  instead of Borders

20
Side heads

• side heads are placed in white space adjacent to
  text
• you can align side heads flush left/ragged right
  or flush right (flush right allows the heading to
  be visually locked to the text)

21
Run-ins

• can be used for level 3 subheads
• created by placing the introductory phrase or
  first sentence in either Bold or Bold Italic
• look at the xheight to avoid the run-in
  overwhelming the adjacent text

22
Conclusion

• in this session you have seen
• how the use of white space can enhance your
  document
• how consistency can improve the overall
  appearance of your document
• how to use pull quotes as readers cues