Learn Desktop Publishing Skills With These Tutorials

Learn desktop publishing for print and the web one article at a time with this desktop publishing (DTP) series. This online tutorial is designed to be read one day at a time for 28 days. Or go at your own pace.

This introductory look at desktop publishing is designed primarily for those with little or no experience or training in DTP and graphic design. After you complete it, you will have a much better understanding of the desktop publishing process.

01

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General Concepts of DTP

The lessons in this section focus on defining desktop publishing and related terms. You'll find definitions, trivia, and articles that allow you to dig deeper into the subject if you want. Learn the difference between designing for print and designing for the web.

What Is Desktop Publishing? Topics include desktop publishing, graphic design for print, web design, and the modernization of DTP.
Tools of the Trade covers the supplies and equipment you need to get started in DTP.

02

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Fonts and How Best to Use Them

Fonts are the bread and butter of graphic designers and desktop publishers. Learn the lingo.

How to Locate Mac and Windows Font Files Learn how to locate fonts on your computer.
The 10 Best Classic Serif Fonts for Print Projects Choosing a Serif Font
The Correct Way to Use Bold Type Fonts Effectively in Design Using bolding to give emphasis.

03

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Design and Images

It doesn't matter whether you are designing for print or the web—images play a crucial role, and you want yours to have an impact on everything you design.

The Art & Science of Graphics covers the elements of graphic design.
Pictures in Print covers working with TIFF files.
Pictures in Pixels covers the best image formats for each purpose.

04

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Prepress & Printing

The articles in this section cover concepts and tasks related to file preparation for print and the type of printing used in desktop publishing.

How Many Colors? Here's what you need to know about the CMYK color model.
Using Inexpensive Printing Proofs to Check a Project covers printing proofs and why to use them.

05

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Rules & Tasks Part 1: Rules of Desktop Publishing

Yes, there are rules in desktop publishing. Mainly, they smooth the path to happy clients and standardize the processes of DTP for print and the web.

Use Fewer Fonts and follow the less-is-more principle in typographic design.
Smoothing Out the Ragged Edges explains the ins and outs of justified text.
Writing in All Caps Is Like Shouting When you want to use all caps, use it correctly.

06

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Rules & Tasks Part 2: How a Desktop Publishing Document Is Created

These articles revisit some things you learned previously but show how they are all connected and fit into the desktop publishing process when working on a specific document on a webpage. The main focus is on becoming familiar with the steps that are involved in the creative process.

Bring Out the Designer in You by learning the steps of the graphic design process
Use Ragged Right or Full Justification Appropriately covers text alignment in desktop publishing.
Getting Ready to Get It Printed covers preparing a document to send to a printer.

07

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Looking Forward

By the time you make it this far, you'll be familiar with the basic concepts of desktop publishing as they apply to print and web design. Don't stop here. There are plenty of other training opportunities, online software tutorials, and publishing skills you can acquire.

Take It to the Next Level covers additional education and learning steps you can take to advance in this field.

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