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DTP. Desktop Publishing. DTP: what is it?. ‘Page layout program’ Formatting of text and image, preparation of documents for commercial printing WYSIWYG Larger range of typefaces and type sizes than WP Greater facility to manipulate word spacing, line lengths etc. than WP
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DTP Desktop Publishing
DTP: what is it? • ‘Page layout program’ • Formatting of text and image, preparation of documents for commercial printing • WYSIWYG • Larger range of typefaces and type sizes than WP • Greater facility to manipulate word spacing, line lengths etc. than WP • Prepare text and graphics with other software, then import into DTP software and place in ‘frames’ which can be moved, resized, etc.,
DTP: products • Leading commercial products • Adobe InDesign (formerly Pagemaker) • QuarkXpress • Free software • PagePlus SE • Scribus
Graphics: colour (1) • Websafe colours: 216, from old days of 256-colour displays – hexidecimal codes • RGB now for on-screen viewing (red, green, blue), • CMYK for printing graphics (cyan, magenta, yellow, black (key plate) • Pantone colours for printing specific colours (Pantone Matching System)
Graphics: colour (2) • Pantone Matching System: swatches
Graphics: resolution • Minimum of 300dpi (dots per inch) required for printing • Note: graphics downloaded from web may be only 72dpi • See comparison of low and higher resolution graphics on next slide
72dpi (24KB) 300dpi (48KB) from website: 96dpi (2KB)
Files required for printing • DTP file • Graphics files • Font files • Software bundles these together automatically • QuarkXpress: ‘collect for output’ • InDesign: ‘package’
Key concepts: text editing (1) • Kerning • Adjusting the spacing between specific pairs of letters • See example, next slide • Tracking • Making overall adjustments to spacing between letters, e.g. for entire line, page, etc. • See handout for examples • Snaking • Text flow from between columns • Leading • Spacing between lines • e.g. use 10pt font and 2pt leading • See handout for examples
Kerning example Space between initial ‘T’ and ‘e’ (as produced in WP document)has been progressively reduced
Key concepts: layout (2) • Masterpage/template • Fix certain aspects here, e.g. page number position • ‘Standing elements’ appear on all pages, create consistency • White space • Also ‘breathing room’, creates airiness • Layering • Add and edit layers, e.g. to incorporate images
Reading and resources • Pantone: www.pantone.com • Free DTP packages: • PagePlus SE: www.freeserifsoftware.com • Scribus: www.scribus.net • QuarkXpress almost free: • Full (older) version free with Computer Shopper magazine (Jan 07, Feb 08)