An Introduction to Publisher

Microsoft Publisher is a software tool (a computer application) s used to produce 'high quality' publications for printing on a local printer, by a commercial printer or published on the web.

Among other things, the software enable you to:

  • Assemble text and graphics on the document page in a very controlled and precise way.

  • Create documents (pages) of almost any size.

  • Build documents consisting of either single or multiple pages.

  • Apply a common design theme to all pages leading to a consistent and coherent style across all pages in a multi-page document.

  • Edit stories in Microsoft Word and place them directly into Publisher documents.

  • Apply an automatic design check to a document before printing.

  • Package up a document and all the relevant font and images files ready for transport to a commercial printer without the risk of leaving out a critical element.

Publisher allows you to have much more control over the flow of text in single and multi-page documents than does a word processor such as Microsoft Word. In Word, text and graphics on a page often become scrambled or misaligned when you move material around.

Publisher is especially useful when material on a page within a document needs to be related to (link with), columns on other pages in the same way that articles in a magazine or newspaper start on one page and continue on pages toward the back of the magazine.

In short, Publisher is used to create high quality brochures, catalogues, stationery, magazines, flyers, annual reports, advertisements, greeting cards etc. It is possible to use Publisher as a mail merge tool.

The list of uses for Publisher is limited only by your own creativity.

Try some course materials

We have prepared some sample materials for you to try.

Movie

Click here (producing a poster) or here (placing graphics & text) to play a sample movie from the course. This movie will play on your computer monitor with an accompanying sound commentary. The commentary is best heard through external speakers. Depending on the speed of your computer, and your Internet link, the movie may take a little time to load and begin playing.

You do not have to do anything while the movie plays; just watch the screen. There is no need to move or operate your mouse while the movie plays. You can pause and re-start the movie by pressing the space bar. To close a movie before it finishes, press the Esc key. After the movie plays, you will automatically be returned to this point in the notes. 

During this course

We will design and build several publications, starting with single page documents and leading to multi page documents, rich in graphics and incorporating data from tables. Newsletters, flyers, brochures and other typical business publications are prepared. We encourage you to bring text files and images of your own so that we can create a document which is targeted at your particular needs.

Cost of courses

  • Online learning via broadband

The most popular option is to take a course as an online learning student. Our online broadband learning courses features rapid enrolment, many multi media instructional movies, online forums, multi-choice reviews, questionnaires, submission of assignments, email support etc. This is an enhanced learning experience at an affordable price. Visit http://www.softwaretutor.net now and enrol. The course cost is $AUD75.00 for >30 hours of high quality training. You have 12 months to complete the course and on request, we can re-enrol you at no additional charge. You can pay by PayPal which accepts direct deposit and credit cards and start immediately or send us an email requesting an enrolment. We will enrol you and post out an invoice. Payment can then be made by direct deposit. Our bank details will be on the invoice. We do offer reduced rates for students from the same organisation.

We also include a PDF version of your course notes and you can print from it if required. We would hope that you do not need to print to paper and can read it online using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

What we will cover:

The table below provides an overview of the course content. If you would like to learn more about desk top publishing, please click here. Use the back button on your browser to return to this position. Here is a link to frequently asked questions.

Module

Description

The Process of Desk Top Publishing

A first look at Publisher. Creating your first 'pieces' of work - a poster for a motorcycle race meeting and a two page product information document for a distributor of medical devices. The importance of using templates is emphasized, especially ones that you create yourself. The advantages and disadvantages of Desk Top Publishing (DTP) are discussed. We comment on the need to learn to use additional tools such as vector drawing programs, image editors, scanners and digital cameras for successful DTP. The benefit of producing PDF files from Publisher is also illustrated with some examples created by some of our students.

Preliminaries

Some steps to take before beginning serious work with Publisher. Installing Publisher  and some type of Type Manager. Installing a print driver. Installing a new Windows font. Postscript type 1 fonts. Check out your printer, making sure that you can accurately define the print area. Setting Publisher preferences - units of measure, save times, toolbars displayed on startup etc.  Creating a suitable set of folders for Publisher projects. Getting to know key people at your local print shop. Computer requirements for successful use of publisher.

The Publisher Interface

The arrangement of the Publisher screen. Title bar, drop down menus, standard, formatting objects and measure toolbars. Surveying the tools available from drop down menus. The importance of fonts in determining the look and feel of a document. Understanding sans serif and serif fonts. Using boundaries and guides as an aid to layout. Page layout tips, columns and rows. Using more complex wizards. Using the catalogue. Applying colour schemes and layout themes to documents. Proof reading vs. copy editing. Installing freeware fonts.

Publisher in Action

You prepare for a 'real' Publisher job. Before beginning, we illustrate the value of building a catalogue of design ideas for documents. Having sketched our design ideas, we then build two publications from start to finish - a label for the spine of an A4 folder and a brochure advertising a service. Each job is then printed; the label on an 'in-house' printer and the brochure is packaged ready to send to a commercial print house. We examine the Pack and Go feature.

Entering information

Creating Artwork. Planning publications.  A case study - building an three fold advertising flyer. Checking Publisher designs.  Graphic file formats and their use in Publisher documents. Personal information sheets, publishing a calendar. Using a wizard to create a newsletter. Building a newsletter from scratch - (a newsletter for a motorcycle club). Text Frames, manipulating graphics, editing stories, linking frames and creating compound multi page documents. Creating and inserting diagrams, charts and tables into Publisher documents.

Editing

Changing information in Publisher documents. Working with frames, the value of the measurement toolbar. Editing text in situ. Formatting text, the Autofit option. Editing text in Microsoft word. Changing the properties of a text frame, adjusting word wrap. Mastering the various editing commands.

Using text styles

Speed up your publications by using text styles. Examining various styles used in a restaurant menu. Saving a document as a template.

Printing

Getting information out. Printing a document. Using the 'Pack and Go' feature to send material to a commercial printer. Packaging materials for a copy centre.

Tips and Tricks

Design ideas. Things to do in Publisher and things not to do. Guidelines from a commercial publishing house (for a web offset newspaper).