DESKTOP PUBLISHING NOTES Part II

What is Desktop Publishing?

Desktop Publishing is the combination of Grapgics and text into one file called a
PUBLICATIONS Examples of PUBLICATIONS include: brochures, business cards,
advertisements, flyers, and newsletters.

There are two features that distinguish DTP software from word processors:
1) Page layouts (eg. Grid guides and column guides)
2) image/Graphic controls

Before You Start Desktop Publishing Basics

A good designer should always consider the following three things before they start any
Desktop Publishing Project.

1) Identify the purpose of your communication.

What is the purpose of your project? Knowing the purpose of your end product is the first
step in planning what and how you are going to present your message. Whether you are
creating a birthday card or designing an advertisement brochure you must first determine
what effects or purpose you hope to achieve by completing this project.

2) Access your target market.

Who is the publication intended for? What form this document may be is directly related
to the people who it will be presented to. Determining the demagraphic area connected to
your document may help you access the audience.

3) Determine in what form your intended audience will be exposed to your

message.

Determining how and where your publication will be is also a very important issue to
consider when you are taking on a design project. Will your audience be browsing the
hallways reading your poster, or sitting in waiting room where a flyer might be effective?
Decide the best form of interaction for your intended audience.

4) Decide what you want readers to do after reading the message.

Do you want reader to reply, sign-up, or call a number in response to an ad? Your
message should clearly indicate to the receiver all of the information required and what
you want them to do after reading the message.

DTP Notes Part II page 1

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN (use your Top Ten of DTP Notes from yesterday)
Name:
When creating any DTP project, there are seven factors to consider.

1. Create a focus:
Consider what element(s) of the project you want the reader to focus on.
What is the best way to attract the reader?

2. white Space:
If a publication is too clutterd it can become confusing to the reader.
Sometimes less is more.

3. Legibility:
How easy is it to read the text?
Legibility refers to the ease at which indivdual can be read

4. Grapgic Elements:
graphic elements can provide focus on a page and enhance overall
appearance
A picture is worth a thousand words!

5. Balance:
Is there equal distribution of design element on a page?
Your page can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

6. Proportion:
How are the elements on the page sized in relation to one another?
Readers tend to view larger items as more important.

7. Contrast:
Use varying degrees of lightness and darkness whether you are printing in
black and white or in colour.

8. Directional Flow:
Is the pattern that leads the viewers eyes down the page.
Usually a readers eye follows a Z pattern from left to right.

9. Consistency or Unity:
How consistent are you in style; font choice and design?

10. colour:
Use colour to enhance your publication and attract readers.

DTP Notes Part II page 2