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 top-
to-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. ABC
abc

 The type must match the message.

 Use the same typeface for the same

elements. Vary the size to change
the look.
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 City Dumps Mayor
Calls a Shame
give new meanings to
your words. or

 Don’t use ALL CAPS City Dumps

Mayor Calls
if the headline is long. a Shame

 Shorter is better!
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