Desktop Publishing (DTP)

-Preparing a page for printing by laying out text and graphics in an interesting and readable fashion. All text and graphics can be easily manipulated.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNBalance – When all of the pictures, text and graphics have been added to a publication, there

needs to be an overall balance. This is so that one element does not dominate the page without another element to balance it out. The two kinds of balance are SYMMETRY and ASYMMETRY.

Contrast – To make a design exciting and attention-grabbing for the reader, the designer should look for ways to make contrast on the page. This can be achieved by using contrasting typefaces, contrast of tone, contrast in colour, contrast in use of shapes and even in use of texture.

Consistency – can mean simply using the same typefaces throughout a publication, the same colours or the same graphic elements such as page numbers, section headings etc.

Rhythm – is achieved when there is repetition of elements, such as section heads and/or page numbers that lead a reader through a document. Careful positioning of elements can be used to guide the readers eye through a document.

GUTTER – spacing between columns and the extra white space at the centre of facing pages to allow for folding and binding

COLUMN – a vertical area of the page usually filled with text.

COLUMN GUIDES – non-printing guides showing margins and columns.

MARGIN – Space between the edge of the printed paper and the text or drawings on it.

FOREDGE (MARGIN) – the margin of a page which is on the side of the publication which opens (i.e. the side of the page which is not bound or folded)

LAYOUT GRID

PAGE ORIENTATION

LANDSCAPE – a page layout function which arranges the page so that its widest side is horizontal

PORTRAIT – a page layout function which arranges the page so that its widest side is vertical.

PORTRAITLANDSCAPE

BALANCESymmetrical - balance is seen in perfectly centered compositions or those with mirror images.

Asymmetrical - Not having planes which

divide the structure into mirror-image halves.

PAGE LAYOUTCentre spread – The pair of pages that come at the centre of a folded section

Double spread or Facing pages– drawing and text which is designed to be printed over two facing pages.

Single page – Output printed on one single piece of paper

Front cover

Advertising poster Recto – A right hand page

Verso – A left hand page

ALIGNMENTALIGNMENT – positions of text lines on a page or column e.g. aligned right, aligned left or fully justified.

JUSTIFIED

INDENT – beginning a line of text further in from the left margin then the rest of the text.

JUSTIFICATION – setting of type lines in which the space between words is varied from line to line so that each line is of equal length.

INDENT

JUSTIFIED

GRAPHICS BLEED – this is to extend an artwork graphic beyond the trimmed edge of the page. The bleed is the extent to which it exceeds the page, commonly 3mm.

BLEED

GRAPHIC – an illustration prepared on a paint, draw, CAD package or captured by image scanner which is then imported into a DTP layout.

GRAPHIC

MONTAGE/PHOTOMONTAGE/

COLLAGE – a combination of separate images combined to give a composite picture/image.

MONTAGE

LOGO – an emblem, or symbol, printed in a particular fashion as a trademark

PAINT-TYPE GRAPHIC –produced by paint applications programs, formed by a series of dots with a specified number of dots per inch.

DRAW-TYPE GRAPHIC – files created by a Drawing package which use vector lines which give an image which is independent of the screen used to generate them. This results in a very clear image compared to those produced by Paint packages

CAPTION – this is the descriptive text which accompanies a graphic or illustration.

CAPTION

QUOTES – marks which indicate speech e.g, they can be ‘single’ or “double”

QUOTES

WHITE SPACE– areas of empty space on a page. When used effectively it aids comprehension by complementing and setting off graphic images.

WHITE SPACE

TEXT

TEXT WRAPPING – text is wrapped around an image/graphic

TEXT WRAPPING

HEADLINE – line of type set in a display (large) placed above accompanying text. Usually guides the reader on the content of the body text.

Head – The margin at the top of a page in which the header is usually located.

Header – A line of text and/or page number placed at the top of a page which repeats throughout the main body of the publication

Subheading – a heading appearing within the body of the text.

HEADLINE

TEXT

Foot – The margin at the foot of a page in which the footer is usually located.

Footnote - Text placed at the bottom of a page prefixed by a superscript number which is cross-referenced by the same character in the text. Footnotes are used to provide additional information.

FOOTER – a line of text or page number placed at the bottom of the page which is repeated throughout the document.

FOOTER

TEXT

Example…Headline

Text Wrap

Subheading

Import

Caption

Example… Balance- asymmetric

Contrast – use of blue

Consistency – use of red