Designing Posters with Publisher

Skills for Learning

Skills for Learning IT booklet

http://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/

skillsforlearningtutorials@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Screenshots reprinted by permission of Microsoft Corporation.

Contents

Introduction.................................................................................................................1Aims............................................................................................................................1The basics...................................................................................................................1

1. Open Publisher....................................................................................................12. Open a new Publisher document.........................................................................23. View document guides........................................................................................44. Insert text boxes..................................................................................................45. Insert a shape......................................................................................................46. Apply a ready-made style to text boxes and shapes...........................................57. Apply your own style to text boxes and shapes...................................................58. Add text to a shape..............................................................................................69. Viewing boundaries around text boxes................................................................710. Insert an image..................................................................................................711. Insert an image from the web............................................................................812. Insert a table......................................................................................................913. Copy and paste a SmartArt object from PowerPoint.......................................1014. Fill a shape with an image or texture...............................................................1115. Add a border style to an image........................................................................1216. Layering objects..............................................................................................1217. Grouping objects.............................................................................................13

Working with text.......................................................................................................1418. Linking text boxes............................................................................................1419. Growing text box to fit text...............................................................................1420. Adding columns to text boxes..........................................................................1521. Changing the spacing between columns in text boxes....................................1522. Adding a Drop Cap effect to text boxes...........................................................16

Design elements.......................................................................................................1723. Add background colour....................................................................................1724. Insert WordArt.................................................................................................1925. Apply shadow effects to objects......................................................................2026. Apply 3D effects to objects..............................................................................2127. Printing the poster...........................................................................................22

Further information....................................................................................................23

Introduction

After working through the booklet, you will be able to work more effectively with Publisher 2013 to create an academic poster. You will be able to transfer the skills you learn to creating newsletters, flyers and brochures.

Aims

Create A1 and A0 sizes

Use visual guides and boundaries

Insert shapes, images, SmartArt and textboxes

Work with Publisher’s designs

Cut and paste from other applications

Use Publisher’s View tools

Use design elements like 3D effects

Understand printing options

The basics

1. Open Publisher

1. Click on the Start button, shown in Fig 1.

2. Type in publisher in the search box.Publisher will now be listed.

3. Click on Publisher to open the programme.

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Fig 1

2. Open a new Publisher document

1. Open Publisher.Click on the More Blank Page Sizes icon, shown in Fig 2.This opens the More Blank Page Sizes window, shown in Fig 3.

2. Click on Create New Page size, under Custom. This opens the Create New Page Size window, shown in Fig 4.

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Fig 3

Fig 2

3. Type the measurements in the Width and Height boxes.Choose from the following poster sizes:

o A0 Width 118.9 cm Height 84.1 cm

o A1 Width 84.1 cm Height 59.4 cm

Note: For portrait posters, swap the width and height measurements.4. Click OK.5. Click Create on the right of the screen, shown in Fig 5.

Note: If you require A3 there are ready-made templates, shown in Fig 3.

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Fig 4

Fig 5

3. View document guides

Guidelines help you layout the text, images, SmartArt and other objects in a balanced and visually appealing way.

1. Click on the Page Design tab, shown in Fig 6.

2. Click on Guides.3. Click on the style you want

from the drop down list.

4. Insert text boxes

1. Click on Insert.2. Click on Draw Text Box, shown in Fig 7.

The on screen cursor will now be a cross.3. Keep the left mouse button pressed and

drag the cursor across and down until the text box is the required size.Note: You can also insert text boxes from the Home tab.

5. Insert a shape

1. Click on Insert.2. Click on Shapes, shown in Fig 7.3. Click on the Shape you want from the drop

down menu, shown in Fig 8.The onscreen cursor will now be a cross.

4. Keep the left mouse button pressed and drag the cursor across and down until the shape is the required size.Note: To draw a perfect circle or square, keep the shift key pressed as you draw your oval or rectangle.

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Fig 8

Fig 6

Fig 7

6. Apply a ready-made style to text boxes and shapes

1. Click on the text box or shape to activate it.2. The Drawing Tools tab is now visible at the top of the screen, shown in Fig 9.3. Click on Format.

This will open the menu shown in Fig 9. 4. Click on one of the Shape style icons to apply it to your shape. For more style

options, click on the arrow shown in Fig 9.

7. Apply your own style to text boxes and shapes

If you prefer, you can create your own style.

1. Click on the text box or shape to activate it.2. Click on Format on the Drawing Tools tab.3. Click on Shape Fill, shown in Fig 10.

This will open a drop down colour palette, shown in Fig 11.

4. Click on the colour you require.Note: If you don’t see a colour you like, click on More Fill Colours, shown in Fig 11.This will open the Colours window, shown in Fig 12.Click on the colour you require.

5. Click on the Standard tab.6. Click OK.

5Fig 12

Fig 9

Fig 11

Fig 10

Shapes are automatically given a dark outline. Text boxes are not. You can add or remove an outline, or change the thickness of it.

7. Click on the shape.8. Click on Format.9. Click on Shape Outline, shown in Fig 10.10.Click on the outline colour required, shown

in Fig 13.11.Click on Shape Outline again.12.Click on Weight.13.Click on the line weight required from the

drop down menu.

Note: If you don’t see a colour you like, click on More Outline Colours, shown in Fig 13.This will open the Colours window, shown in Fig 12.

Click on the Standard tab. Click on the colour required. Click OK.

8. Add text to a shape

If you want to use a shape as a banner with a title inside, you can add text to it.

1. Right click the shape.2. Click Add Text, shown in Fig 14.3. Type the text required.

Note: The text will not be very visible with a poster size as large as A1 or A0.

4. Double click inside the shape to select the text. It will be visible in the top left corner of the shape, shown in Fig 15.

5. Click on the Home tab.6. Click on the Font Size box,

shown in Fig 15.7. Click on the size required or

click the larger A icon, shown in Fig 15, until the text is the size you require.Note: You can also type in the font size you require.

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Fig 15

Fig 13

Fig 14

9. Viewing boundaries around text boxesUnless you put an outline around a text box it will seem as if it has disappeared. You can make the boundaries around text boxes visible and switch them back off when you no longer need to view them.

1. Click the View tab, shown in Fig 16.2. Click the Boundaries checkbox.3. Click the Boundaries checkbox

again to switch the boundaries view off.Note: If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, press Ctrl+Shift+O.

10. Insert an image

1. Click on the Insert tab.2. If you have a saved image, click on Pictures,

shown in Fig 17.This will open the Insert Picture window, shown in Fig 18.

3. Browse to where your picture is saved.4. Click on Insert.

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Fig 16

Note: You can insert images directly into text boxes.If you want to make the image bigger or smaller: Click

on the top right

corner resizing handle, shown in Fig 19 and keep the mouse pressed.

Drag the mouse to the right and upwards to make it bigger. Drag it to the left and downwards to make it smaller.

11. Insert an image from the web

1. Click on Online Pictures, shown in Fig 17.This will open the Insert Pictures search window, shown in Fig 20.

2. Type your search term in the box. The results will be listed under the search box.

3. Click on the picture you want.4. Click on Insert.

8Fig 20

Fig 18

Fig 17

Fig 19

12. Insert a table

1. Click on the Insert tab.2. Click on the Table icon.

A drop down grid will appear, shown in Fig 21.3. Roll the mouse across and down until you have the

size of table you require. The table will appear in your document as you roll the mouse.

4. If you want to apply a design to the table, click on it to activate the Table Tools menu, shown in Fig 22.

5. Click on the design you want for your table. Click on the arrow shown in Fig 22 to get more options.

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Fig 22

Fig 21

Copy and paste a chart from Excel

The Introduction to Excel 2013 booklet demonstrates how to copy a chart from Excel into Publisher. You can find this on the Skills for Learning website, under the IT section.

http://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/local/information_technology/ks_materials/ks_materials.shtml

13. Copy and paste a SmartArt object from PowerPoint

SmartArt is an easy, professional way to present information visually. You can’t create SmartArt within Publisher but you can create it in PowerPoint and paste from there into your Publisher document.

1. Open PowerPoint: Click on the Start button. Click on PowerPoint. Click on Blank Presentation.

2. Click on the Insert tab.3. Click on SmartArt. This will open the Choose a SmartArt Graphic window,

shown in Fig 23.4. Scroll through the options and click on the SmartArt graphic you want to use.5. Click OK.6. Right click on the finished SmartArt graphic.7. Click on Copy.8. Go into your Publisher document.9. Right click.10.Click Paste.

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Fig 23

14. Fill a shape with an image or texture

1. Right click on the shape.2. Click on Format AutoShape, shown in

Fig 24.This will open the Format AutoShape window, shown in Fig 25.

3. Click on Fill Effects.This will open the Format Shape window, shown in Fig 26.

4. Click on Picture or texture fill.For textures

Click on the arrow shown in Fig 26.

Click on the texture you require. Click OK. Click OK again.

For pictures Click on the File tab, shown in Fig 26. Follow the steps in Task 10 to browse to and insert the image. Click OK. Click OK

again.

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Fig 26

Fig 25

Fig 24

15. Add a border style to an image

1. Click on the image to activate it.2. Click on one of the Picture

Styles, shown in Fig 27.3. Click on the border style you

require.For more border style options, click the arrow shown in Fig 27.

Note: If you want more options for your picture frame, insert the image in PowerPoint and paste from there into Publisher.

16. Layering objects

You can layer objects, such as shapes and images, on top of each other to create your own publication design.

1. Position the objects together. In Fig 28, two images have been put together.

2. Click on the object you want to bring to the front of the layered objects.

3. Click on Format, shown in Fig 28.

4. Click on the arrow next to Bring Forward.

5. Click on Bring Forward or Bring to Front.The object will now lie on top of the other one. Note: You can also move things backward, shown in Fig 29.

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Fig 29

Fig 28

Fig 27

17. Grouping objects

When you have the layered objects in the layout you want, you can group them together. This means that if you move them around the Publisher document, they will move as one object.

1. Click on the first object you want to group.

2. Press the Ctrl key on the keyboard and keep it pressed.

3. Click on the other objects you want to group, one at a time. You should see the resizing handles around all the objects selected. Some of them are circled in Fig 30.

4. Click on Format.5. Click on Group, shown in Fig

31.

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Fig 30

Fig 31

Working with text

18. Linking text boxes

You may wish to have a series of text boxes with information flowing automatically from one to the other. This can be done by linking the text boxes.

1. Type the text into the first text box.Note: You can cut and paste the text.

2. Click inside the text box.3. Click the Ctrl key and the letter A to select the

text.4. Change the size of the text to that required.

When the text disappears off the bottom of the text box, a link icon, with three dots, will become visible, shown in Fig 32.

5. Click on the link icon.6. Move the cursor to the part of the document that

you want the next text box to be. 7. Click on the document.

The new text box will appear. The text will flow automatically from the first text box into the second one.

8. Adjust the size of the text boxes as required.The text will move from one text box to another automatically.

19. Growing text box to fit text

If you want to keep text within a single text box and the text is running off the bottom, you can easily adjust it to make the text fit perfectly.

1. Click inside the text box.The Text Box Tools tab will now be visible at the top of the screen.

2. Click on Format, shown in Fig 33.3. Click on Text Fit.4. Click on Grow Text Box to Fit.

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Fig 33

Fig 32

20. Adding columns to text boxes

You can add columns to text boxes so that text displays similarly to the text in Fig 34.

1. Click on the text box.The Text Box Tools tab will now be visible at the top of the screen.

2. Click on Format, shown in Fig 35.3. Click on Columns.4. Click on the number of columns required.

21. Changing the spacing between columns in text boxes

Increasing the white space between the columns can often make the text easier to read.

1. Click on the text box.The Text Box Tools tab will now be visible at the top of the screen.

2. Click on Format.3. Click on Margins, shown in Fig 36. 4. Click on Custom Margins.

This will open Format Text Box window, shown in Fig 37.

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Fig 36

Fig 34 Fig 35

5. Click on Columns.This will open the Columns window.

6. Change the spacing until the columns look the way you want.7. Click OK.8. Click OK again.

22. Adding a Drop Cap effect to text boxes

1. Click on the text box.2. The Text Box Tools tab will

now be visible at the top of the screen.

3. Click on Format.4. Click on Drop Cap, shown in

Fig 39.5. Click on the style you want.

In Fig 40, the curly Drop Cap style has been applied.

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Fig 40

Fig 39

Fig 37 Fig 38

Design elements

23. Add background colour1. Click on Page Design.2. Click on Background, shown in Fig 41.3. Click on the background you want from the drop down menu.4. For more options, click More Backgrounds, shown in Fig 42.

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Fig 42

Fig 41

This will open the Format Background window, shown in Fig 43.For solid colour backgrounds:

Click Solid fill. Click the colour arrow, shown in

Fig 43. Click on the colour you want. Click OK.

Note: You can click on More Colours for more options. See Task 7.

For mixed colour backgrounds:

Click Gradient fill Click on the gradient stops,

shown in Fig 44. Click on the colour arrow,

shown in Fig 44. Click on the colour you want. Experiment with the type and

direction of the gradients.Note: The preset gradients are an easy way to get a professional looking background.

18Fig 44

Fig 43

24. Insert WordArt

1. Click on Insert.2. Click on WordArt, shown in Fig 45.3. Click on the WordArt style you

require.This will open the Edit WordArt Text window, shown in Fig 46.

4. Change the font style and size as required.

5. Make it bold or italic if required.6. Click on OK.7. To move the WordArt object, click

on it and keep the mouse pressed. Drag to the new position.

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Fig 46

Fig 45

25. Apply shadow effects to objects

You can add shadow effects to images, shapes and text boxes.

1. Click on the object to activate it.For images, the Picture Tools tab will appear.For text boxes and shapes, the Drawing Tools tab will appear.

2. Click on Format.3. Click on Picture Effects.

(Shape Effects for text boxes and shapes).

4. Click on Shadow.5. Click on the shadow style

you require.

To customise your shadow: Click on Shadow Options. Experiment with the

transparency, size, blur, angle and distance, shown in Fig 48.

Click on OK when finished.

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Fig 47

Fig 48

26. Apply 3D effects to objects

You can add shadow effects to images, shapes and text boxes.

1. Click on the object to activate it.For images, the Picture Tools tab will appear.For text boxes and shapes, the Drawing Tools tab will appear.

2. Click on Format.3. Click on Picture Effects.

(Shape Effects for text boxes and shapes).

4. Click on 3D Rotation, shown in Fig 49.

5. Click on the 3D style you require.

To customise your 3D effects: Click on 3D Rotation

Options. Experiment with the

different rotation and options in 3D rotation and 3D format, shown in Fig 50.

Click on OK when finished.

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Fig 50

Fig 49

27. Printing the posterYou can print posters up to A0 size at the Print Room at Headingley Campus. To do this you will need to save the file as PDF.

1. Click on the File tab, shown in Fig 51.2. Click on Export, shown in Fig 52.3. Click on Create PDF/XPS, shown in Fig 52.

This will open the Publish as PDF or XPS window, shown in Fig 53.

4. Browse to where you want to save the file.5. Click on Publish.

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Fig 53

Fig 52

Fig 51

Further information

The Library has several books on using Microsoft Office with reference to Publisher.

Wang, W. (2013) Office 2013 for Dummies. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

Workshops and the Skills for Learning website

Workshops on using Publisher for creating posters are provided throughout the academic terms. For the most up to date timetable see the Skills for Learning website:

http://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/workshops/index.shtml

Information on posters can be found on the Skills for Learning website:http://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/local/academic_communication/poster_presentations/index.shtml

Video tutorials can be an effective way of developing IT skills. GCFLearnFree provides a comprehensive range of tutorial topics covering Word, as well as other Office and IT topics. Approximate timings are shown for each tutorial.

GCFLearnFree http://www.gcflearnfree.org/office2010/publisher2010

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