Introducing Desktop Publishing

Desktop Publishing

Desktop Publishing is the process of combining text and graphics into one file. Examples include brochures, greeting cards, and newspapers.

Although we have combined text and graphics before in a word processor and spreadsheet, we will now focus more on layout. Layout refers to how things are arranged. For example, if we were to talk about the layout of this room, we would talk about where the desks and furniture are. In desktop publishing, layout refers to where the pictures, text areas, and borders are.

When do you use desktop publishing? These three reasons help you know when to use it:

  1. When you need text and graphics together
  2. When precise layout is important
  3. For complex publications

Class Activity: Intro to Publisher

The following activity will help you see different parts of the desktop publishing program we will use, called Microsoft Publisher.

Practice:

    1. Start Microsoft Publisher. Although there are many options to use, we will always start with a blank publication (8 1/2 x 11 portrait).
    2. Zoom: Find the “percent” control on the bottom right of the screen. You can also zoom in and out with the wheel mouse or the F9 key.
    3. Type your first and last name in the text frame.
    4. Center your name inside the frame.
    5. Resize the text box so that the height is only the top 1/3 of the page.
    6. Click on a blank space outside your text box. Notice that the Formatting toolbars (Text Box Tools and Drawing Tools) disappear. The toolbar options change based on what is selected.
    7. Text Fit is an option to make words big enough to fill a text frame. Select the text frame and in the Format (Text Box Tools) toolbar, on the left side click Text Fit à Best Fit. Then click Hyphenation and uncheck the box for automatic hyphenation.
    8. The blue margin guides and the green layout guides do not print.
  1. Add a diagonal line with the Shapes button on the toolbar (on Home) and choose a line.
  2. Make the line thicker and choose a color and dash style, using the toolbar options on the toolbar. Choose Shape Outline and then Dashes, Weight, and Color.
  3. Insert a star from the Shapes button. Then choose Shape Fill (from the toolbar) and add a picture to the background.
  4. Make a new text box. Use the “A” text frame tool and drag a rectangle under your name.