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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:
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Assemble text and graphics
on the document page in a very controlled and precise way.
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Create documents (pages) of almost any size.
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Build documents consisting of
either single or multiple pages.
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Apply a common design theme to
all pages leading to a consistent and coherent style across all pages in
a multi-page document.
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Edit stories in Microsoft Word.
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Apply an automatic design check
to a document before printing.
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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.
We have prepared some sample
materials for you to try.
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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 may see a box similar to the one
below. If so, simply click on the Open button. |
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 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. |
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.
The full day course runs on demand -
please send an email
to
info@designcad.com.au and we will reply with some
possible dates. Training in this software is offered in both Adelaide and
Canberra, but in
Canberra, we need a minimum of three students in a group
to cover costs as we hire a training room in the Hotel
Kurrajong, National Circuit Barton.
The cost
of the course for in-house training is $A750.00 per person and includes GST.
We encourage payment prior to taking the course by
direct deposit to our bankers or via
PayPal. We
encourage payment via
PayPal, an organization which takes all credit cards
using a secure Internet facility. PayPal is a partner
within the eBay system. We have chosen PayPal because it
is independent of us, allows us to hold money in trust
until we have delivered the course and is now
operational in Australia.
We will provide a tax invoice on
receipt of payment. If you cannot attend after booking a
course, there is no penalty, we will simply re-schedule.
If this is not possible, we will refund payment.
This course can be taken by distance learning at a
considerable discount - $A250.00.
We ship a printed workbook and CD-ROM
containing a large collection of these instructional
movies. Together they enable you to learn to use the
software. We provide email support while you
work though the course.
Here is a link to
background material on the way our distance courses
work.
If your company or
organization is paying for the course, all we need is a
purchase order and an address to send the course
materials. We encourage payment via
PayPal, an
organization which takes all credit cards using a secure
Internet facility. PayPal is a partner within the eBay
system. We have chosen PayPal because it is independent
of us, allows us to hold money in trust until we have
delivered the course and is now operational in
Australia.
If you take the course as a private distance
student, payment for courses can also be
accepted through the the
PayPal system.
When taken in-house, An Introduction
to Microsoft Publisher normally runs over a full day session, although because of the
complexity of the program and the fact that it interacts with
image editors such as Photoshop, and
vector drawing programs such as Illustrator, some students like to book for two days.
When taken
externally, experience has shown us that students take
significantly longer to complete the course, primarily
because they are able to break up their learning into
small 'chunks' as time permits. InDesign is a large
program - please allow plenty of time to work through
our materials. We would estimate that you have 25-30
hours of work in front of you!
An
understanding of basic
computer operation including the ability to create, save and locate files. We
would expect that you have used a computer with
the Windows operating system for some
time and perhaps developed reasonable facility
with a word processor
such as Microsoft Word. If you do not have these
skills, visit the free software training section
on the web site.
If you take this course in-house, Microsoft
Publisher runs over a full day, starting at 9.15 am and
finishing around 4.30 pm. If you are a distance student, you
should allow at least 30 hours on your time to complete the
course. This time will include sending examples of your work to
your course tutor.
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.
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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.
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Preliminaries
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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. |
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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). |
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