Introduction to Visual Communications PART 2: Desktop Publishing

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Introduction toVisual CommunicationsPART 2
Desktop Publishing
3 Part 2 - Introduction to Dtp.ppt
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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• Desktop Publishing is . . . .
• the use of computer-based software and equipment
  to produce publication materials (includes use of
  graphics and text)

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• vs. Traditional Publishing . . . .
• DTP features equipment small enough to fit on a
  desk (hence the name), yet capable of producing
  very high quality, inexpensive documents
• Once created by professional designers using very
  sophisticated equipment (tended to be very
  expensive)
• Now computer users can produce similar
  professional materials

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• 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)

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• 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.)

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• Typical Paper Sizes
• Letter 8 ½ by 11 (most common)
• Legal 8 ½ by 14
• Broadsheet 11 by 17 (also called tabloid)

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• Page Layout
• Page Orientation

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• Single Column
• suitable for smaller documents/page sizes (such
  as novels, basic books, etc.)

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• 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

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• ALIGNING TEXT . . . .
• There are 4 main ways to align (justify) text in
  a document
• They are . . . .

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• ALIGNING TEXT
• Left Justified
• text is lined up on left side and is
  jagged/uneven on right side
• most commonly used justification

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dfoiudf oiuoidupewoi df sdf sfiosdufosduf
spoisyfo oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi wriowu oiweu
dlkjs sdvb o pd sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi uoe
oer oiu oiu sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye fjl
oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj blkxjcvluope o
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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• ALIGNING TEXT
• Right Justified
• text is lined up on right side and is
  jagged/uneven on left side
• good for drawing attention to small sections

zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf sdoi sd iu iudy io
o dfo s oiuoi sdfoiuwe fjlv v podi sdpf p xc p
x xp cvpo p poibpo ic poivp pco vp df sido b iu
dfoiudf oiuoidupewoi df sdf sfiosdufosduf
spoisyfo oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi wriowu oiweu
dlkjs sdvb o pd sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi uoe
oer oiu oiu sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye fjl
oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj blkxjcvluope o
13
Intro to Desktop Publishing

• ALIGNING TEXT
• Centre Justified
• text is aligned along its centre
• excellent for use as titles, subheadings, etc.
• best for short sections of text

zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf sdoi sd iu iudy io
o dfo s oiuoi sdfoiuwe fjlv v podi sdpf p xc p
x xp cvpo p poibpo ic poivp pco vp df sido b iu
dfoiudf oiuoidupewoi df sdf sfiosdufosduf
spoisyfo oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi wriowu oiweu
dlkjs sdvb o pd sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi uoe
oer oiu oiu sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye fjl
oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj blkxjcvluope o
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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• ALIGNING TEXT
• Full Justified
• text is lined up on BOTH the left and right
  margins
• commonly used in multi-column documents
  (newspapers, magazines, newsletters)
• tends to look cleaner than Left Justified
• irregular spacing between words and letters
  creates full justification

zxc sdofis dfo v xcoviuoiuf sdoi sd iu iudy io
o dfo s oiuoi sdfoiuwe fjlv v podi sdpf p xc p
x xp cvpo p poibpo ic poivp pco vp df sido b iu
dfoiudf oiuoidupewoi df sdf sfiosdufosduf
spoisyfo oisduf rgiooeo ro eruyi wriowu oiweu
dlkjs sdvb o pd sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig ieruoi uoe
oer oiu oiu sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye fjl
oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj blkxjcvluope o
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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• 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).

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• Rule of Thirds

Intersection points of third lines create
specific points of interest on a page
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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• The 3 most important elements of a successful
  document are
• careful writing
• thoughtful organization
• effective design

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• These elements grow out of an understanding of
• Your Audience
• Your Message (what you want to say)
• Your Resources (what equipment and material you
  can use to produce your document)

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• 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!

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• The DTP Design Process
• Clarify your purpose
• Know your audience
• Gather ideas and material
• Plan your document (rough designs)
• Layout your publication
• Choose the right paper (for printing)
• Put it all together

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Intro to Desktop Publishing

• For Homework . . . .
• Find 2 samples of desktop publishing (1 good, 1
  bad)
• Look in magazines for samples
• Refer to fonts, layout, etc. as reasons for
  effectiveness
• Write approx. 1 paragraph analysis per sample