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Desktop Publishing
Recommendations for professional looking documents
L DrummStaffordshire University
Introduction
This presentation guides you through rules which will help you to design professional documents.
It will run as a slide show timed presentation but where you are asked to redesign, switch to slide view and do the exercise.
When finished continue the slide show.
The 4 basic rules
•contrast
•repetition
•alignment
•proximityEach will be explained in detail on the following slides
Rule 1
Avoid similar elements (lines, font, colour), make them very different
Contrast
The keys to success
Contrast
Large graphics with small graphics
Contrast
Warm colours with cool colours
Contrast
Large fontwith
small font
Contrast
Old style fontwith
Modern style font
Contrast
Thin lines with thick lines
Example
British Gas Sale
Best for bargains
Starts Sunday, 21st May
British Gas Sale
Best for bargains
Starts Sunday, 21st May
Your eye is drawn more to
because of the contrast.
Student Rules
Turn up to lectures on time
Hand in assignments on time
Don’t drink too much
What is wrong with this?
Switch to slide view and have a go at amending it.
Student Rules
Turn up to lectures on time
Hand in assignments on time
Don’t drink too much
Or make the lines contrast each other to group the related elements together.
You could use the proximity rules to move related items towards each other.
Contrast
• Creates visual interest
• Makes your document more likely to be read
Contrast should make your document easy to understand
Summary
Rule 2
Repeating visual elements strengthens unity and develops organisation
Repetition
The keys to success
Repetition
Repeat elements throughout the design
Consistent Headings
Consistent graphics
Consistent lines, bullets, colours throughout
Repetition
Learn how to set up heading styles and use them
Repetition
Decide what will be repeated on each page
This is the design
Page No
Main Heading
Look for the consistent elements
Heading goes here
CompanyLogo
Bodytext
Bodytext
Bodytext
Bodytext
- the things that will be repeated on the next page
position and size of graphics
Heading goes here
CompanyLogo
Bodytext
Bodytext
Bodytext
Bodytext
width and position and of body text
font types and size of heading and body textposition and size of company logo
position of white space
Repetition
• Don’t forget to emphasize the unifying elements
• Don’t overdo the unifying element - you also need contrast
Unifies and strengthens a document - ties it together
Summary
Rule 3
Give visual connection for a clean sophisticated look
Alignment
The keys to success
Alignment
Switch to slide view and align the text on this business card
Travellers chequesCommission free foreign currency
One phone call
Convenient home delivery
01625 345678
AlignmentDid yours look something like this?
Travellers cheques
Commission free foreign currency
One phone call
Convenient home delivery
01625 345678
The improvements continue ….
Use contrast to highlight important information
Travellers chequesCommission free foreign currency
One phone call
Convenient home delivery
01625 345678
Use proximity to group like information
Travellers chequesCommission free foreign currency
One phone callConvenient home delivery
01625 345678
Be aware of the shape the text makes ….
Travellers chequesCommission free foreign currency
One phone call
Convenient home delivery01625 345678
Compare this with the layout on the previous slide
Switch to slide view and have a go at redesigning this business card for several lecturers
Staffordshire University
Trent Building
Leek Road
Mrs Lesley Drumm01782 294281
email: [email protected]
School of Computing
Stoke-on-Trent
Alignment - right, left, centre
Centred alignment can be quite unimaginative - safe but formal
Transport Reportfor
Dept. of Transport
By L. Drumm23rd February 1999
Alignment - right, left, centre
Contrast and proximity have improved the design
Transport Reportfor
Dept. of Transport
By L. Drumm23rd February 1999
Alignment - right, left, centre
But this is much more imaginative
Transport Report
forDepartment
ofTransport
ByL. Drumm
23rd February 1999
Alignment
The alignment of text is no accident
3,000 students will leave University with a degree this summer
How will you ensure you stand out from the crowd?
What’s wrong with this?
Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
Strange white space shapes have formed.
Let’s improve it ...
Sort out HEADINGS
Test This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns. This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
Heading has been moved to the left
Sort out INDENTS
TestThis is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns.This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
Paragraph indents have been removed
Sort out JUSTIFICATION
TestThis is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns.This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
Columns have been justified (blocked left and right)
The problem is that this has created some holes and rivers of white space - we’ll sort this in later slides
Sort out SPACING
Test
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns.
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
Spacing between paragraphs has been enlarged
Sort out GRAPHICS
Test
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns.
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
This is just an example to show how text
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
Graphic now aligns with columns - you could even frame the picture to make it the correct size
Sort out COLUMNSTest
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns
Columns should have approximately 7 words per line - change the font type/size or change the column width, or both
Incidentally, we’ve got rid of those holes and rivers of white space
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is.
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is
This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed into columns This is just an example to show how text can look when it is formed in
Size of fontsFonts have different heights and widths.
This is Times New Roman 24 point
This is Vivaldi 24 point
This is Zanders 24 point
This is Rimsky 24 point
This is Ariel 24 point
This is Book Antiqua 24 point
Changing the font may solve your problem if space is limited - BUT don’t use too many different fonts.
BEWARE
of holes and rivers of white space within the columns of text
- caused by 2 spaces after a full stop and justification!
An example not aligned
A day at Alton Towers
It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment
It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what
Have a go at aligning the elements on the page
The next pages shows examples of how it looks aligned
An example aligned
A day at Alton Towers
It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment
It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what
Alignment is down the centre
Another example aligned
A day at Alton Towers
It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment
It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what is typed here. It is just to show you problems with alignment It doesn't matter what
Which do you prefer?
Switch to slide view and improve this design
Big BenBig Ben is situated in London, it is part of the Houses of Parliament.
You need to get rid of the white space trapped in the centre
Was yours like this?
Big BenBig Ben is situated in
London, it is part of the Houses of Parliament.
The line at the bottoms aligns the left edge of the text and the bottom of the graphics
The white space is now round the outside
Alignment
• Unifies and connects elements on the page
• Organizes the page
Remember - avoid using centred text unless you want a formal look
Summary
Rule 4
Group together similar elements to organize information and ease understanding
Proximity
The keys to success
Try the squint test
How many elements can you see when you squint at this business card?
Staffordshire University
Lesley Drumm
01782 294281
Trent Building
School of Computing
Problems
To make something easy to read, your eyes should not have to stop more than 3 or 4 times.
Did you know which information to read first?
Solution
Don’t be frightened to leave white space (or blue space in this case)!
Staffordshire University
Lesley Drumm01782 294281
Trent BuildingSchool of Computing
White Space
is as important a design issue as actual text
You may find the next slides boring but they are very important
Don’t put 2 spaces after a full stops
Don’t trap small areas of white space - group it together for effect
Avoid centred headings that trap white space either side
Watch out for strange white space shapes on a page
White space between columns is important - it must separate the text so the eyes don’t jump columns
Justification can cause holes to appear - it may be safer and quicker to use ragged right margins
The advantages of moving related items closer together are ….
• the reader knows where to start reading
• the eye doesn’t need to stop so often
• the reader can see relationships between words
Enough reading - have a go at redesigning this
Call Now
British Gas
Warm to our winter sale
Save pounds on your central heating
Call Now
British Gas
Warm to our winter saleSave pounds on your central heating
Call Now
British Gas
Warm to our winter saleSave pounds on your central heating
Which do you prefer or was yours better?
Make this list easier to read using the rules
Somerfield Bargain Buys
Chicken & Mushroom Pies - 60p each
Golden Delicious Apples - 56p per lb
Bananas - 68p per pack
Spaghetti Bolognese - 99p each
Somerfield Bargain BuysFrozen meals
– Chicken & Mushroom Pies - 60p each– Spaghetti Bolognese - 99p each
Fruit specials– Golden Delicious Apples - 56p per lb– Bananas - 68p per pack
•group related items •highlight headings
Somerfield Bargain Buys
Frozen meals– Chicken & Mushroom Pies - 60p each– Spaghetti Bolognese - 99p each
Fruit specials– Golden Delicious Apples - 56p per lb– Bananas - 68p per pack
•space the sub-lists (not easy to do in Powerpoint) but you can see it’s easier to read
Font choice
Do you feel the font on the previous slides reflects the image of food?
See if you can find a more appropriate font and change it
Proximity
• Creates organization
• Makes information easier to read
• Avoids confusion
Summary
Practice
Move the elements on the next slide to form a design which obeys the crap rules.
Column Heading
Page Heading
Body text column ………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Body text column ………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Column Heading
Page Heading
Body text column ………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Body text column ………...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Is yours something like this?
That’s it folks!
I hope these slides have given you an idea of what to watch out for when doing desktop publishing.