1. National 4/5 Graphic Communication
Layout techniques
Design principles
Design Elements
DTP terms

2. DTP – Desktop Publishing
Desktop publishing is the science of design techniques for a wide variety of presentations.
Included in this are:
Magazine pages
Folding leaflets
Posters
Letterheads
Business cards

3. DTP – Desktop Publishing
There are some guidelines that should be followed when designing effective presentations.
How you use these will effect how easy to read a presentation is or the impact that it has on the viewer.
Some of these are:
Alignment
How to use line effectively
Flash bars
Using the rule of thirds
Using accent colours

4. Alignment
You can use alignment to create rhythm in a presentation. This is how your eye moves around a presentation to grasp the information from it.
iPod
LCD screen
Jog dial
Metal case
You can see how both the text and the lines here are all aligned on the right hand side. This makes the details easier to read.

5. Using Line
You can use line for many different effects. It can split a page up or highlight specific parts of a graphic.
iPod
LCD screen
Jog dial
Metal case
The lines here are used to identify the various parts of the iPod the poster is highlighting. This helps to organise the details.

6. Flash bars
You can use flash bars to give a drawing some depth. These are strips of colour that go behind an object. Because the graphic being presented appears in front of these bars, it makes the abject being presented appear to come forward.
iPod

7. The Rule of Thirds
This is a guide used by photographers when they take a photograph. Imagine a grid that splits a page up into 3 equal segments and place the main parts of the presentation on these grids lines. Some cameras have this function installed on them to assist with layout.
Here is a picture of Edinburgh Castle. You can see how it has been split up into this rule of thirds grid to help the balance of the picture.

8. The Rule of Thirds
In this picture the tree is placed on one of the vertical thirds while the bay and the person sit on the horizontal thirds.

9. Accent colours
Accent colours are a colour used throughout a presentation to help the flow of it. A common mistake some people make is to use too many colours in their presentations. By using colours repeatedly throughout a poster, you can help to bring all the elements together to help with the flow or rhythm of the presentation.

10. The Design Principles The design principles are: Balance Contrast
Alignment
Proportion
Rhythm
White Space
Proximity/unity

11. Balance
Balance can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. This is similar to thinking of the page as a set of scales. Heavier objects can be balanced by smaller objects positioned further from it or lighter objects balanced by darker objects (darker objects tend to seem heavier than light coloured ones).

12. Contrast
Contrast is where some of the design elements are used as opposites for effect. This could be shape, text, colour, line or weight.
A word in a contrasting font or colour makes it stand out.

13. Alignment
This is how text is laid out in an article. Commonly this can be 4 things.
When an image is used as part of a presentation text can be used to describe it. To help with the rhythm of a page it is advantageous to align this caption with the image.
Left Aligned
Right Aligned
Justified
Centre Aligned

14. Proportion
Proportion is all about the relationship between elements on a presentation. This can be achieved through the effective use of grids and margins or by using large images to show what an article is about before a reader has to start with the text.

15. Rhythm
Rhythm is used to create movement through a presentation. This can be achieved by repeating and varying the elements used.

16. White space
This refers to areas on a page that are left blank. This can be used to help balance a presentation or to maintain the reader’s attention to the content of the presentation. It is a vitally important part of a presentation to prevent it from being too busy or cluttered.

17. Proximity/Unity
This is how close different parts of a presentation are positioned in relation to one another. Where parts are positioned close to each other it can be used to show that they belong together, e.g. a heading and sub-heading that are kept close but maybe have a different font size or an image with its caption.

18. The Design Elements The design elements are: Line Mass/weight Shape
Size
Texture
Colour

19. Line
Lines can be used to order a presentation, create rhythm or to split up different parts. They are a simple yet effective way of helping to improve the layout of a presentation. You can use various line types and colour to help with this.

20. Mass/Weight
Mass refers to the size or amount of space taken up by an element.
The mass plus the shape, tend to give relationship with other elements.
The various weights of different shapes can be used to emphasize type styles.

21. Shape There are three basic shapes used in presentations.
Squares and rectangles surround us in life so tend to be trusted. They can be seen as boring but can be made more interesting by rotating them.
Circles are used to show a number of different feelings. They are infinite shapes, i.e. they have no beginning or end point, they are protective and they can also suggest movement.
Triangles tend to suggest movement. They can be used to support the idea of conflict in a presentation due to their sharp corners.

22. Size
Size can be used in a number of ways. When designing a presentation you must consider the size of the paper used, how you use size to show the most important elements of the presentation and how you will attract peoples’ eyes to your presentation.

23. Texture Texture can be split up into 2 areas.
One is how paper physically feels. Top quality paper has a feel about it that instinctively feels good.
The other is how you can use patterns or images to imitate feelings.

24. Colour
Using colour is probably the most important decision a DTP designer will make when designing their presentation.

25. Colour
Yellow, orange, and red are considered warm colours and can give the feeling of aggression, excitement, and danger. These colours appear to advance from the page.

26. Colour
Blue, green, and violet are considered to be cool colours and are calming. These colours appear to recede into the page.

27. Colour
Brown, black, white and grey are neutral colours and can be used to maintain the reader’s attention on the more interesting parts of a presentation.

28. Planning a Presentation
Before you can produce your final presentation you should plan different ideas for how it will look.
This will enable you to explore various layout possibilities so that you can create the most effective possible layout.
Creating new ideas is difficult so this process will help you.

29. Thumbnail Sketches
Thumbnail sketches are smaller quick drawings that show how a layout will look. These should be produced fairly quickly but still show colour schemes, margins, columns, headers, footers, where text will be placed, different text sizes, different text styles and where images will be placed.
Each of these details should be labelled on the thumbnail sketches. This annotation makes it obvious as to what text styles and layouts are used so that they can be replicated in a finished presentation quickly and easily.

30. Thumbnail Sketches
As part of this process it is also beneficial to explore different fonts you want to use.
Make sure that the font you choose is suited to the idea you want to convey in a presentation.
You can make particular words stand out by using a different font or size for it.
Do not use too many different fonts in a presentation. It will become difficult to read.

31. Using text Informal Fear Horror Handwriting Young Children
Sans-serifs fonts do not have tails on the ends of letters.
Efficient, sans-serif fonts are more suited to modern, fashionable and electronic products.
Serif fonts are suited to convey a traditional theme.
Other specialist fonts can be used or designed to convey other feelings such as horror, excitement or passion.
Serifs fonts have tails on the ends of letters.
Informal
Fear
Horror
Handwriting
Young Children

32. Desk Top Publishing terminology
There are some DTP terms you need to know.
These are:
copy & paste
cut & paste
text box
handles
colour fill
single and multi-page format
alignment
cropping
text wrap
flow text along a path
extended text
transparency
drop shadow
rotate
paper sizing
justification
reverse

33. Copy & Paste
When an image or frame is replicated somewhere else on the page.
iPod

34. Cut & Paste
When an image or frame is removed from one document or part of the page and moved somewhere else.
iPod

35. Text Box
A text box is a box into which text can be entered. It can be any shape you like.
Text in here.
Text in here.
Text in here.

36. Handles
These are the parts of a frame that can be dragged to resize or rotate it.
These circles are the frame’s handles.

37. Colour Fill
There are 3 different types of colour fill that can be used when producing a DTP document.
Gradient
Solid
Pattern
There is a wide variety pattern fills that can be used and each fill style can be used with a selection of different colours.
Gradient
Solid
Pattern

38. Single & Multi-page format
Presentations can be based on a page layout planned for one page or for a few pages. When producing double page layouts it is important to be able to see both pages together as you work on them.

39. Alignment There are 4 main types of alignment. Left Aligned
Right Aligned
Justified
Centred
Alignment should be used to help keep rhythm in a presentation. Where parts of text belong to each other or where text belongs to an image they can be aligned to let the reader know they go together.
Left Aligned
Right Aligned
Justified
Centre Aligned

40. Cropping
When an image is cropped you can select the part of it that you want to keep. This is set by dragging a frame around the area or by hiding parts of the frame the original image is in, depending on the software you use.

41. Text Wrap
This is the effect of text following the edge of an image.

42. iPod music on the move Flow text along a path
Text can be set to follow a line or shape.
iPod
music on the move

43. normal extended Extended text
This is a wider version of a standard font.
normal
extended

44. Transparency
This is a setting which allows parts of a DTP document to be set to be see through.
The amount of transparency used with this setting can be changed to suit the needs of the user.
We can see through the violet rectangle to the iPod.

45. Drop Shadow
A drop shadow can be added to an object to give it the feeling of depth. By adding the shadow it looks like it comes off the page.

46. Rotate
This allows you to turn an image around a desired angle.

47. Paper sizing
This relates to the size of the paper used for a presentation. The most common set of paper sizes in use are the ISO A sizes which tends to be halved from the largest size of A0 down to A8.

48. Justification
Frames can be lined up with each other. Horizontally they can be left, right or centre aligned. Vertically they can be top, bottom or centre aligned.
They can also be distributed evenly horizontally or vertically.
Left aligned
Centre aligned
Right aligned
Horizontal justification
Top aligned
Bottom aligned
Centre aligned
Vertical justification

49. Reverse
This is the effect of having text written in the same colour of the background with the area surrounding the text with colour.
It is a simple yet effective method of making text stand out without using too many colours in a presentation.
iPod
Reverse text

50. Features of Magazine Layouts
The following terms are all features of a magazine layout.
gutter
caption
header and footer.
title
heading
margin
bleed
sub heading
floating element
column
gutter
folio
image

51. Features of Magazine Layouts
The following terms are all features of a magazine layout.
gutter – the gap between columns
caption – text accompanying an image
header – detail at the top of the page
footer – detail at the bottom of the page

52. Features of Magazine Layouts
title – this is the name of a magazine cover.
heading – a few words to describe the an article. Usually a larger font size than the rest of the presentation.
margin - the gaps at the left and right hand sides of the presentation.
bleed – an area of an image that encroaches into either of the left or right margins
sub heading – text accompanying a title to give a brief description of an article.

53. Features of Magazine Layouts
floating element – parts of an article, usually text, that does not fit into the column structure.
column – area where the text is displayed.
gutter – the space between the columns.
folio – the page number.
image – any drawing or photograph included in the presentation.

54. Features of Magazine Layouts
Header
Bleed
Heading
Sub-Heading
Right margin
Floating element
Reverse
Left margin
Column
Footer
Image
Gutter
Folio
Caption

55. Advantages of using DTP
The introduction of DTP and computers has had a massive impact and influence of graphic communication activity on society and the environment.
Computers have completely transformed design offices which can now be paperless
Some of the equipment used is:
graphics tablets
digital cameras
editing suites

56. Advantages of using DTP
The time it takes to produce publications has been shortened with the increased ease of editing through the use of computer software.
People can also create their own DTP items from calendars to cards at home.
Some examples of what can be produced are shown over the next few slides.

57. Magazines

58. Business cards

59. Folding leaflets

60. Posters

61. Safe working practices with DTP
DTP businesses must protect the welfare of their employees.
Ergonomic factors have to be considered to look after a person’s physical well-being.
Some items that must be used are:
adjustable seating
adjustable footstools
wrist rests
Offices must be suitably lit with non-glare lighting.
Regular breaks must be taken from the computer screen to avoid headaches and eye strain.
Other factors that have to be considered are tidy workspaces and arranging hardware and cables safely.