Desktop Publishing

Question 1

Thumbnails

Answer 1

Thumbnails are preliminary graphics. They are first drafts that allow the designer to test out different ideas and layouts for promotional graphics.

Creating thumbnails allows a designer to:

Generate ideas quickly
Generate a range of ideas.
Evaluate ideas.
Share ideas with the client
Thumbnails can be created manually or digitally.

Question 2

Annotation

Answer 2

Annotation is used in the preliminary stages to communicate design ideas and design decisions. These simple notes that add information which would take a long time to add graphically to the thumbnails.

Annotations are very helpful when communicating with colleagues or clients and can save time by not having to add too many details such as final colours or pictures.

Question 3

Line

Answer 3

Line is one of the most essential elements of design. Lines have length, weight (thickness), and can be broken or solid. They can be straight or curved and can run in any direction on a spread. They can be used to add emphasis to a text by underlining it or can be used to direct the reader’s attention when turned into an arrow. Line can also connect elements or to split elements up

Question 4

Alignment

Answer 4

Graphic designers often align elements (text, graphics, lines, etc) in a deliberate, lined up fashion in order to connect elements visually to achieve a neat, structured look.

Question 5

Dominance

Answer 5

Dominance is created when one element on the spread catches the readers eye first and is at the top of visual hierarchy. Designers do this to create a starting point for the context of the spread.

Question 6

Unity

Answer 6

Designers create unity by combining different elements to create a sense of wholeness or cohesion in a spread. These different elements work together to help the reader make sense of the page.

Question 7

Depth

Answer 7

Depth stops a design from looking flat. When creating depth the designer carefully considers the background, mid-ground and foreground elements and uses layers to create this.

Question 8

Contrast

Answer 8

Contrast is the opposite of unity. When creating contrast designers want to draw the reader’s eye to a particular area of the spread.

Question 9

The colour wheel

Answer 9

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Question 10

Colour schemes

Answer 10

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Question 11

Hues, tints, tones and shades

Answer 11

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Question 12

Colour moods and feelings

Answer 12

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Question 13

Single page format and paper sizing

Answer 13

Single page format is any document that consists of one single page. This could be a poster, billboard, advert, pull up banner or any other promotional graphic with one page.

Standard paper sizing used in the UK is the A-series. Most standard print documents are in A4 format. In Graphic Communication A3 format is often used. A4 is half of the size of A3. This works for the full A-series.

You may be asked to create promotional graphics at sizes outside of this. Desktop Publishing packages allow page setups to be customised to fit the appropriate sizing.

Question 14

Cut, copy and paste

Answer 14

Designers use the cut, copy and paste commands to save time and to create exact copies of their work. This can help when creating unity and continuity across a spread.

Question 15

Page layout – margin, heading, column, gutter, header and footer

Answer 15

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Question 16

Text boxes, extended text, title, drop capita

Answer 16

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Question 17

Text wrap and flow text along a path

Answer 17

Text Wrap
-Text wrap is where the body of the text wraps around a picture or graphic. When used with organic shapes it creates an interesting visual for the reader.
Flow Text Along a Path
-Flow text along a path allows designers to create interesting shapes with text. Designers can select a shape or use the pen tool to create a shape, then apply their text to this. Designers often use this to flow text around shapes. Flow text along a path is featured on the colour wheel in the warm and cool colours section of this course and is shown below creating a wave.

Question 18

Serif and sans serif font styles

Answer 18

Font styles have a huge impact on the overall visual impact and readability of a spread. Two key font styles are serif and sans serif font styles.
Serif
-Serif fonts have a small stroke attached to the ends of the letters. They are commonly used for body text as they are considered easier to read than sans serif fonts when printed. Below are some commonly used Serif fonts:
Sans Serif
-Sans Serif fonts gets its name from the French ‘sans’ meaning without. These fonts are without the small strokes at the end of the letters. They are viewed as modern and are easier to read on screens. Below are some commonly used sans serif fronts:

Question 19

Justification

Answer 19

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Question 20

Reverse and caption

Answer 20

Reverse
-Reverse is a technique which uses text to create contrast on a spread. This is created by placing white text on a dark background. On the example below the text ‘Business Proposal’ is in reverse creating contrast with the black text at the bottom and with the dark blue background.
Caption
-A caption is text beneath an image or graphic that describes it. It can also be used to credit the photographer. Most social media platforms allow users to apply a caption to their images.

Question 21

Cropping, handles, rotation

Answer 21

Cropping
Square cropping is where an image is made narrower and shorter but still has a background and remains in a rectangular or square shape.

Fully cropped images have the whole background removed. These tend to have a more organic shape as they are a cut out of the focal point of an image. These can then be placed on different backgrounds and text can be wrapped around them.

Handles
Handles are small boxes that appear around an element when it is clicked on. These allow the designer to manipulate its size.

Designers must be careful not to distort an image when manipulating it vertically or horizontally.

Rotation
Rotating an elements allows it to sit an angle. This can improve the visual impact of a spread by bringing an element out of alignment.

Question 22

Colour fill, colour picking and transparency

Answer 22

Colour fill
Colour fill allows a designer to fill an object with a colour. This can be a solid colour, texture or transparent variant. The symbol for colour fill is a paint bucket in most desktop publishing programs.

Colour Picking
Effective colour picking is vital in creating a unified spread. The colour picking tool allows a designer to take colours that have been used elsewhere on the spread and repeat it. It allows for consistency of colour across a spread and is an easier method than noting the colour codes of a graphic. The symbol for colour picking is usually an eyedropper.

Transparency
Transparency can be applied to colour fills on a spread. Applying this allows elements to become see through which can help designers when creating depth on a spread. Transparency can be applied to a colour to a certain percentage, for example a colour becoming 50% transparent or different patterns and effects can be added. The most common transparency effect used is gradient where a colour becomes gradually transparent.

This effect has been used in the image below, the text is situated behind the purple transparent gradient:

Question 23

Drop shadow

Answer 23

Drop shadows are used by designers to create depth in a spread. Adding a drop shadow makes text, graphics or images appear to be sitting off of the surface of the spread.

Question 24

Bleed

Answer 24

In desktop publishing, bleed is used by designers to ensure that ink extends over the edge of the page when printing. Designers do this by placing the image or shape with colour fill over the edge of the page on their program.

Question 25

Line and shape

Answer 25

Line
Lines can be added to a spread for a variety of reasons. They can tie together elements, create a pattern or underline an element.

Geometric Shapes
Geometric shapes are mathematical shapes which are perfect and regular. These shapes are easily identified and have given names such as square, rectangle, circle, and oval to name a few. They provide strong focal points and are easily recognisable.

Organic Shapes
Organic shapes are shapes found in nature, they are imperfect and irregular. These shapes do not follow a regulated pattern or dimensions. Designers add these to their designs to create interest to a spread.