Department
of
Technological
Education
Graphic Communication
Nairn Academy
Department of Technological Education
Desk Top Publishing
The DTP example shown to the right is
taken from the 2002 Higher Graphic
Communication Paper, Question 6 and will
be used to describe the terminology
required for the course.
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 2004 Higher paper
Material asked in 1996 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
The layout of the page in this example is
Portrait Orientation.
The height of the page is larger than the
width of the page.
If the page is wider than its height the
layout is known as
Orientation.
Portrait
Landscape
Landscape
Department of Technological Education
Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
The page shown includes a number of
different parts to its layout.
The word ‘DECO’ at the top of the page is
called the
HEADLINE
(or Heading)
The word ‘ORIGINS’ under the Heading is
called the
SUB-HEADING.
The text is arranged into
2 COLUMNS.
The page also includes a
GRAPHIC
Material
Material
Material
Material
Material
Material
Material
Material
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Department of Technological Education
Material
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Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
Arranged round the text and graphics there
are also other important parts of the
publication.
The area to the top of the publication
above the header is called the
MARGIN
TOP
The area below the text or graphics at the
bottom of the page is called the
BOTTOM MARGIN.
The areas to the sides of the publication
between the text or graphics and the edge
of the page are called the
MARGINS.
SIDE
The area between columns is called the
GUTTER
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Department of Technological Education
Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
Other techniques can be used to add style
and interest to the publication.
Text which is white on a black or dark
background is called a REVERSE. In
this case it is used only for part of the
Heading.
The line separating the Heading from the
rest of the document is called a RULE. If
this is placed between columns it is called a
COLUMN RULE.
The text indicating the contents of the
graphic is called a
CAPTION.
The text at the bottom of the page
indicating the page number is called the
FOLIO
Material
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1998 Higher
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Nairn Academy – Department of Technology
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 1996 Higher paper
Material asked in 1994 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
Other techniques can be used to show
standard features which apply to all pages
rather than being specific to one page only.
Some documents will have a HEADER which usually
gives information about the contents of the document or
the company who own the document.
Some documents will include a FOOTER which usually
gives information about location of where document is
saved, date, etc.
NOTE: Footers DO NOT give the page number –
This would be called a FOLIO
Some documents will include a
WATERMARK.
BACKGROUND or
An example of this is a company
badge which appears on every page of the document or
the company’s name
C://my documents/higher graph com/DTP notes/terminology PPP.ppp
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2004 Higher paper
Material asked in 2003 Higher paper
Material asked in 2001 Higher paper
Material asked in 1997 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
Other techniques can be used to add style
and interest to the publication.
Some areas of the document may not have
any content included. This area is called
WHITE SPACE
Other areas of the document may have a
picture which does not fit into the column
structure and reaches to the edge of the
page. This is called a
BLEED.
Graphics used taken from ‘Design and Layout: Understanding and Using Graphics’ by David Dabner
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 1997 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Page Layout
Page layout is important to try to draw
attention to different parts of a document.
The layout of elements on a page, or on
facing pages can be done in two ways.
If each of the pages has the same layout –
either for text, graphics or both – and each
page is a mirror image of each other - the
layout is said to be
SYMMETRICAL
If each of the pages has the different layout
and is not a mirror image of each other, the
layout is said to be
ASYMMETRICAL
Graphics used taken from ‘Design and Layout: Understanding and Using Graphics’ by David Dabner
Department of Technological Education
Desk Top Publishing

Font and Lettering Styles
The looks of the publication can be affected
by the types of font or lettering used.
Fonts can be grouped into 3 distinct styles
SERIF fonts
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SANS SERIF fonts
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DECORATIVE fonts
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Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 2001 Higher paper
Material asked in 1999 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Font and Lettering Styles
The various parts of a font are shown below.
Point Height
The parts which are important to know for this course are:-
point height
serifs
ascender and descender
Department of Technological Education
Desk Top Publishing

Font and Lettering Styles
When a font is chosen for a publication the point size is normally chosen.
However, the part of the font which makes the size of the font look larger or smaller tends to be the xheight.
A font with a small x-height will look smaller than a font with a large x-height, even if the point size is the
same, as shown below.
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 2001 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Font and Lettering Styles
6 point
Whichever font is chosen it’s looks can still
be changed and altered.
The size of fonts are given in POINTS
and the point size can be altered
Fonts can also be changed in look and can
be:
8 point
10 point
12 point
14 point 16 point
NAIRNNAIRNNAIRN
NAIRN
NAIRN
NAIRN
NAIRN
NAIRN
NAIRN
NORMAL, BOLD or ITALIC
COLOURED or have
COLOURED BACKGROUNDS
They can be
UNDERLINED
EMBOSSED
They can be
or be
SUPERSCRIPT
SUBSCRIPT
Or they can be
or
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 2001 Higher paper
Material asked in 1999 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Text Layout
The layout of text in a column can be
altered in four main ways.
Normally text is
LEFT
JUSTIFIED to the
However it can also be justified in other
ways
The following examples show text justified:-
RIGHT
CENTRE
FULLY
This is an example of text which has been justified to the
left. This is an example of text which has been justified to
the left. This is an example of text which has been
justified to the left.
This is an example of text which has been justified to the
right. This is an example of text which has been justified
to the right. This is an example of text which has been
justified to the right.
This is an example of text which has been justified to the
centre. This is an example of text which has been justified
to the centre. This is an example of text which has been
justified to the centre.
This is an example of fully justified text. This is an
example of fully justified text. This is an example of fully
justified text. This is an example of fully justified text. This
is an example of fully justified text.
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2003 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Text Layout
There are other more specialised effects
that can be used to highlight particular
parts of the document.
A large ornate capital letter at the start of a
paragraph is called a
DROP CAPITAL
By formatting the paragraph the text can be
made to move round other graphics or to
overlap a graphic. This is called
WRAP.
TEXT
There are various different types
of text wrap. Two of them are given here
as examples
Wrap tight round the edge of a picture.
Wrap to the edge of the picture frame
his is an example of a paragraph which starts with
a drop cap letter. This is an example of a
paragraph which starts with a drop cap letter. This
is an example of a paragraph which starts with a drop cap
letter.
This shows text wrap round
the edge of a
graphic. This
shows text wrap
round the edge
of a graphic.
This shows text
wrap round the edge
of a graphic. This shows
text wrap round the edge of
a graphic. This shows text
wrap round the edge of a
graphic.
This shows text wrap
to the edge, top and
bottom of a graphic.
This shows text wrap
to the edge, top and
bottom of a graphic.
This shows text wrap
to the edge, top and
bottom of a graphic.
This shows text wrap to the edge,
top and bottom of a graphic.
This shows text wrap to the edge,
top and bottom of a graphic.
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 1999 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Text Layout
Leading is the amount of space between each line of text,
and this can be varied from the default to a more positive
leading which gives more space between lines, or to a
There are effects that can be used to
change the way the text appears in the
paragraph.
The spacing between each line can be
adjusted to tighten the text together or to
space out the text. This is called
LEADING
The spacing of each letter, or individual
letters, can be adjusted to make them
closer or further apart. This is called
KERNING.
negative leading which gives less space between the lines
Leading is the amount of space between each line of text,
and this can be varied from the default to a more positive
leading which gives more space between lines, or to a
negative leading which gives less space between the lines
Leading is the amount of space between each line of text,
and this can be varied from the default to a more positive
leading which gives more space between lines, or to a
negative leading which gives less space between the lines
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2003 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Design Considerations
When trying to design a publication for a client there are various thoughts and decisions to be made.
Some thoughts are listed below, but this is not an exhaustive list and many more could be added.
The
Target Market should be considered.
Is the publication for fun / serious readers?
Are the readers young / old ?
Should the layout be modern / traditional ? Etc.
The
Function of the publication should also be considered.
Is it a news based document such as a newsletter ?
Is it a trade journal or business publication ?
Is it a comic ?
The
Production Limitations also have to be considered.
Type of paper available
Type of printing / photocopying available
Number of colours available at printing stage.
Binding or stapling of pages.
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2006 Higher paper
Material asked in 2002 Higher paper
Material asked in 1996 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Design Elements
Finally, how each of the design elements fits together will determine how the publication looks and how
successful it is.
Proportion – There should be an equal balance between each of the elements of the publication - text
blocks and graphics items and white space – and none should be overly dominant.
Dominance – A particular element on a page can be dominant because of its position, size, boldness,
colour, etc. The dominant element of a publication should be the main important item which
the writer wants the reader to notice. An example of a dominant element can be the Headline
/ heading or a dramatic picture on a page
Unity – Unity describes where elements are placed on a page throughout a publication such as common
page layouts, or headers / footers / folios / company logo etc. all placed in the same position
throughout the publication, or a common colour or style being used throughout.
Balance - This refers to Symmetrical or Asymmetrical layout of the page(s).
achieve, but may not look as interesting as Asymmetrical layouts.
Symmetrical is easier to
Department of Technological Education
Material asked in 2002 Higher paper
Material asked in 1996 Higher paper
Desk Top Publishing

Design Elements (cont.)
Flow – Flow describes how information progresses through the document, such as text wrapping round
pictures, and the change from page to page. The reader should be able to follow where the
article goes without having to hunt for the next part.
Contrast - makes the design interesting and eye-catching.
The use of a bold font with a very thin font,
or with light and dark areas on the page will give contrast in the publication.
Consistency - When designing a series of publications for the same client the use of the same layout,
fonts, graphic items, colours, etc in each of the publications will give consistency
Rhythm - is achieved when there is repetition of elements, such as section heads, page numbers, etc
that lead through the complete document. Careful positioning of the elements can be used to
guide the readers eye through the document.
PowerPoint Presentation produced by John McRae, Nairn Academy 2008