Introduction to
Visual Communications
PART 2: Desktop Publishing
TGJ 2OI
BLUEVALE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE
3 Part 2 - Introduction to Dtp.ppt
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)
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
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)
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.)
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”)
Intro to Desktop Publishing
Page Layout:
Page Orientation
Vertical
(Portrait)
Horizontal
(Landscape)
Intro to Desktop Publishing
Single Column:
 suitable for smaller
documents/page
sizes (such as
novels, basic books,
etc.)
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
Intro to Desktop Publishing
ALIGNING TEXT . . . .
 There are 4 main ways to align
(justify) text in a document
 They are . . . .
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
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
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
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
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
oiuoidupewoi df
dfoiudf
sdf sfiosdufosduf spoisyfo
oisduf rgiooeo ro
eruyi
wriowu oiweu dlkjs sdvb o
pd
sdoiusdofuoiosdfoig
uoe oer oiu oiu
ieruoi
sdoidosdiouos o sdo soi uye
fjl oeiu oiuwoe ohsdlkfhglkj
blkxjcvluope o
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).
Intro to Desktop Publishing
“Rule of Thirds”
Intersection points
of “third” lines
create specific
points of interest
on a page
Here’s the most
important spot!
Intro to Desktop Publishing
The 3 most important elements
of a successful document are:
1. careful writing
2. thoughtful organization
3. effective design
Intro to Desktop Publishing
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)
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!
Intro to Desktop Publishing
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
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