Desktop Publishing

What is it?

• Describes the process of producing a document using a personal computer

• Not just about creating brochures and flyers

• Products must be hard copy and able to transfer to the Internet

How to create amazing documents

• Audience– Who is this document for?– Describe changes you would make for

different types of audiences.

How to create amazing documents

• Purpose– What is the point?

• Inform• Advertise• Get advice• Meet a requirement

– What purpose do the images play?• Each image must have a purpose

How to create amazing documents

• Layout– Thumbnail Sketches

• Quick sketches that allow you to “think” on paper• Blocks of sections of the page for certain things• Allows you to better visualize your document

Principles of Design

• 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

Principles of Design

• 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

Principles of Design

• Layout– Using a grid will help divide your page

• Rule of thirds– A page that is designed in thirds is more

appealing

Text White space

Image

Image Text

Text White Space

Image White Space

Image

Text White SpaceT

ex

t

Image Text

White Space

Text

White Space

Fonts

• Serif is divided into categories– Oldstyle is used for long passages– Modern has harsher strokes– Slab serif fonts have little difference

between strokes– Sans serif very even strokes, resulting in

an easier read

Special Fonts

• Decorative fonts are used for display• Script fonts are designed to imitate

handwriting• Blackletter fonts are designed to look

like early hand-print font• Monospace fonts resemble spacing produced by a typewriter

Font rules!

• The fewer fonts the better

• Making font bold or italic can help you create sections or importance

• If you mix two typefaces, make them very different

Color

• Color scheme is the arrangement of colors designed to create a particular response.

• Color wheels can help you select complementary colors

• Black – classic, strong, powerful, mysterious, elegant• Blue – tranquil, peaceful, sad, dependable, cool, constant, quiet• Brown – wholesome, rich earthy, home-like, stable, rustic• Green – soothing, refreshing, healing, natural, fresh• Neutral – classic, quality, natural, timeless, quiet• Orange – Sharp, friendly, vital, hot, energizing, inviting• Pink – happy, sweet, romantic, youthful• Purple – elegant, eccentric, regal, spiritual, mysterious• Red – sexy, exciting, stimulating, provocative, dynamic• White – pure, bright, innocent, clean• Yellow – harmonious, warming, sunny, splendor