Desktop Publishing Tips

Desktop Publishing (DTP) is… The process of producing professional looking products.

2 Stages in DTP Planning Creating the document

Guidelines for design… 1.Focus 2.Balance 3.Coherence 4.White Space

Layout and Design Refers to the way text and graphics are used to produce a quality document

Font Text, font style, size, and typeface are important to design. Serif fonts have small strokes at the end of the letters. Sans serif fonts do not have small fonts at the end of the letters. Font size is measured in points. 72 points is one inch.

Graphics are… Used to add focus, interest, and excitement to a publication

Colors … Can be used to –organize ideas, –highlight important facts, –create focus and emphasis. –add emphasis.

Lines Can be used to –create a focal point, –add emphasis, –separate column, and –add visual impact.

Remember… Collect GOOD ideas Don’t use more than 2 types of font on a page. –Serif font for body –Sans Serif for headings Leave plenty of white space so the document doesn’t look crowded.

Remember… Use good contrast between the background and text so you can read it! Limit the number of objects on a page so the reader gets the message.