Advanced Desktop Publishing: Publisher Tutorials
 
 

Creating a Publication: Process Overview

Before pointing and clicking your way through creating a new publication, it is important to have an idea of what you are creating and how you should create it. This document includes an overview of the steps in creating a publication.

return to topBrainstorm and Prepare

Gathering your ideas and determining the goals of your publication is an important step in the writing process. It acts as a blueprint for what your publication will become. Things you should consider include:

  • Audience
    • who is the audience
    • age of the audience
    • education level
  • Purpose
    • why are you developing a publication
      • creating awareness
      • generating publicity
      • sharing information
    • why are people interested (general, active, research)
  • Tone of publication
    • casual
    • conversational
    • bright
    • chatty
    • conservative
    • inviting
    • formal
  • Type of articles
  • Length of articles
  • Images
    • Type
      • Line Art
      • Photos
    • Purpose
      • share information
      • enhance pages
    • Quantity
    • Size
    • Color

return to topWrite the Articles in Word

Using Microsoft Word to write your articles or text is a good idea because Word is a more powerful word processor than Publisher. It is easy to move your text to Publisher when they are complete, but make sure you include the following steps before you do so: 

  • Write a draft
  • Edit
  • Spell check
  • Confirm content
  • Finalize
  • Save as Word 2000

return to topLocate/Develop the Images

Images play an important role in any publication. You can incorporate images from a variety of sources:

  • Microsoft Office clip art
    • add to document
    • copy
    • move to Publisher and paste
  • Scanning
    • digitize print image
  • CD or other Clip art collections
    • personal collections
  • Web
    • locate image
    • look for copyright
    • right click, select Save Image As
    • place into Publisher document
  • Create your own
    • Graphic programs
      • Paint
      • Photoshop
    • Drawing abilities

return to topExplore Layout Options

Looking at finished examples helps you determine what layout you like best. You can then use ideas from these layouts to make your publication look the way you want it to. 

  • Look, look, look at ...
    • newsletters
    • magazines
    • newspapers
    • web pages
  • Determine what you like and do not like
  • Take the best qualities and make your own document

return to topMake Layout Decisions

Creating the layout for your Publisher publication includes a variety of components, each of which contributes to the overall look. You have a number of options when deciding on each layout option.

  • Masthead
    • located on first page
      (placement varies: top, side, bottom)
    • identifies title of publication
    • often includes a graphic
  • Header and footer
    • images
    • page number
    • title of publication
  • Number of columns
    • 2 or 3 columns generally works well for a newsletter
    • variations may work on individual pages
  • Type of images
  • Graphic placement
  • Font faces and sizes
    • use a san-serif font such as Arial for titles and headings
    • use a serif font such as Times or Century Schoolbook for article text
    • use consistency to help polish the publication 
    • avoid too many font faces which clutter the document
    • work with sizes and formatting to create variety instead (e.g. bold, italics)
  • Headings
    • size
    • placement (single column or span over article columns)

return to topSketch the Layout on Paper

Before you get started with your Publisher publication, it is a good idea to sketch a rough draft on paper first. This will act as a reference when you are creating the layout in Publisher.  

  • Cover page
  • Inside pages
  • Back page

return to topPull Everything Together in Publisher

Use Publisher to bring all the components of your publication together: articles, graphics, and layout.

  • Build your skills on sample document
  • Place master items from layout on master pages
  • Place the articles
  • Add the graphics
  • Tweak the layout

return to topDevelop Specific Skills

Specific skills you may have to use as you build your publication include:  

  • Building the master copy
    • Insert columns
    • Insert any graphics that appear on every page
    • Type header/footer information
  • Typing in Publisher 
    • Text Frame Tool-creates text frames
    • Formatting Toolbar-changes font face and size
  • Adding the articles
    • Flowing the text into multiple columns
  • Adding the graphics
    • Placing
    • Adjusting size
    • Cropping
    • Wrapping text
    • Moving
  • Drawing tools
    • Initial creation
    • Modification