Desktop Publishing
Basic Design Principles
and
Hazards to Avoid
Desktop Publishing
 Ability to design and develop publications by
combining text, graphics, and design elements.
 The purpose of design is to help convey a
message.
Basic Design Principles
What you should do!!
Basic Design Principles
 Focus
 Balance
 Directional Flow
 Unity
 White Space
 Borders
 Choosing Type
Focus
An element to which the
eye first moves.
 Use contrasting size,
density, and page
position.
 Use large, bold
display type or
graphics.
 Use elements with
visual weight.
Balance
How elements are
distributed on a page.
 Formal Balance--
centers all design
elements around the
visual center.
Balance
 Informal Balance--
arranges design
elements off center.
 It is achieved by
contrasts of weights
around a balance
point.
Directional Flow
Created by lines that the eye
follows on a page.
 Create flow on the page
with lines within
illustrations, rules, and
lines of type, and with
visuals.
 Use the “Z” pattern of
reading to place important
information.
 Use left-to-right and topto-bottom for graphic
elements.
Unity
 Create unity with
the use of
appropriate and
consistent
elements.
 Use appropriate
type, graphics,
and color: be
consistent!
White (Nonprinted) Space
 Design the white
space; do not
overcrowd type and
graphic elements.
 20 to 25% of your
documents should be
white space.
Borders
 Borders isolate a
page or a section of a
page.
 Borders can be light
or dark or on all sides
or on selected sides.
Typography
Anatomy of Text
Choosing Type
 The type must contribute to the
message, not detract from it.
 The type must match the message.
 Use the same typeface for the same
elements. Vary the size to change
the look.
ABC
abc
Body Text
 Choose a serif typeface for body
text.
 Body text should be from 9-12
points.
 Leading should be at least a point
more than the type size.
 Avoid excessive hyphenation and
too much space between words.
Serif Fonts
Headlines
 Use a sans serif typeface.
 Make headlines larger than
body text--14 points or more.
 Use all caps only for short
headlines; otherwise use
uppercase and lowercase.
 Be consistent with headlines
throughout your document.
Sans Serif Fonts
Desktop Publishing Hazards
Things to avoid.
Desktop Publishing Hazards
 Forgetting your audience
 Irregularly shaped type
 Excessive underlining
 Too many fonts
 Grammar and spelling errors
 Inappropriate borders
 Inappropriate headlines
 Violating the copyright law
Forgetting Your Audience
 Don’t let your graphic
design overwhelm
your message.
 Spend as much time
on content as you do
on design.
Irregularly Shaped Type
Excessive Underlining
 Irregular line shapes
take more time to read.
 Irregular line shapes
are confusing to the
reader.
 Too much underlining
confuses the reader.
Grammar and Spelling Errors
Too Many Fonts
 Proofread carefully after
the computer does!!
 Too many fonts creates a
disorganized appearance
and labels you as an
amateur.
 Limit fonts to 2-3 per page.
 Use special effect fonts to
attract extra attention--but
only for a few words.
Inappropriate Borders
 Borders can be
functional or decorative.
 The border should fit the
nature of the product and
the intended audience.
Inappropriate Headlines
 Be careful how the
lines end--you could
give new meanings to
your words.
 Don’t use ALL CAPS
if the headline is long.
 Shorter is better!
City Dumps Mayor
Calls a Shame
or
City Dumps
Mayor Calls
a Shame
Violating the Copyright Law
 Copyright laws give owners
exclusive rights to their
works.
 To use copyrighted work, you
must get permission and,
possibly, pay a fee.
 Clip art is OK!!!!!
The Final Steps
 Print a sample copy.
 Proofread it carefully.
 Make adjustments.
 Print your final copy
or publish to the Web.
References
Textbook
Lake, Susan. Desktop Publishing-10 Hour Series. Ohio: South-Western
Publishing. 2000.
Reference Books
Blanc, Iris. Desktop Publishing Activities. Ohio: South-Western
Publishing. 1998.
Davis, Graham. Quick Solutions to Great Layouts. Ohio: HOW Design
Books. 2001.
McWade, John. Before and After Page Design. California: JMS
Publishing. 2003.
OPAC Office Proficiency Assessment & Certification Software. Biddle
and Associates, Inc., California.
References
Websites
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/desktop_publishing.html
http://internetbrothers.com/desktoppub.htm
http://www.typography-1st.com/typo/txt-lay.htm
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/basics/f/dtp_rules.htm
http://desktoppub.about.com/od/layout/
http://desktoppublishing.com/
http://www.newentrepreneur.com/Resources/Articles/DTP_12_most_common/dtp_12_most_common.html
http://www.careeroverview.com/desktop-publishing-careers.html
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,312646,00.html