Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course
Layout and Design
Introduction to Desktop Publishing
(DTP) Software
Public affairs journalists in the military
are largely counted on to be independent
operators. You may very well be sent
to the field or fleet and be expected to
produce a newsletter on your own with
little assistance or guidance. Using the
design principles you have learned,
combined with being familiar with the
latest desktop publishing software, will
ensure you are successful in your mission
of supporting your new unit’s command
information program. The quality of
the writing and professional look of the
internal product you make, will reflect
directly on your command. At a more
basic level, the better looking the product,
the more likely someone is to pick it up
and read. It’s that simple.
Document Setup | Basic Workspace | DTP Jargon
The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
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Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Document
Setup
First, let’s take a look at
properly setting up a document in
InDesign.
Create new file and default settings in
“new document”.
Layout and Design
1. To create new file, you must click
on FILE + NEW.
2. These are the default settings
when you open a new document.
Now we will format it for a tabloid
size page. Tabloid publications
are the most common size of
publication on military installations.
You will be working with tabloid
size pages for your Design
assignments.
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The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Set up a basic tabloid page
1. A document setup box will appear.
Next to Page Size, select TABLOID
page size. Now under the Columns
label and next to the Number label,
change the number in the box to 5.
Layout and Design
2. Next, change the margins to the
following: Inside: 2p Outside:
2p6 Top: 4p6 Bottom: 4p6.
3. Now click OK and your basic page
is set up.
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Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Layout and Design
How to change units of
measurement on the workspace in
InDesign
1. The unit of measurement by
default is set picas. This is what
you will be using for your design
assignments. Should you want to
change your unit of measurements
to inches, just right click on the
ruler and select inches. This works
on both the vertical and horizontal
rulers.
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The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Layout and Design
Basic
Workspace
1. Your basic workspace is divided
among two “docks” on the left and
right areas of the screen. Most of
the tools you’ll need can be found
here.
2. By clicking on the double arrows
you can expand and collapse the
different sub-docks, giving you
more room to see your tools.
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Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Layout and Design
Basic
Workspace
4. If the docks are collapsed, you can
click on it and a flyaway box will
appear.
5. Margin guide – These are the
visible guidelines of the printed
area. They appear pink on the top
and bottom of the page and blue
on the left and right edges.
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The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Layout and Design
Basic
Workspace
5. Paste Board – The paste board,
which is the unprinted working
area, can hold elements until they
are placed on the page. The solid
black line distinguishes the page
from the paste board.
6. Root Menu – Standard menu for
locating different tools and options.
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Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Layout and Design
Basic
Workspace
7. Ruler Origin Box – In order to set
your vertical or horizontal ruler to
zero at any point on the ruler, you
must click and drag starting from
this point.
Click icon to complete Desktop
Publishing tuturial
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The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Introduction to Desktop Publishing
DTP Jargon
Here are some helpful terms to
know about. Some of these you
have likely seen or encountered
while using PhotoShop.
Photo frame vs. photo content
yy The photo frame is the box with
“handles” that surrounds the
photo. Moving the frame does
not necessarily move the photo,
particularly when you are using the
“selection” tool, or the black arrow.
It only changes the frame through
which you “see” the photo.
yy Photo content must be adjusted
separately from the photo frame.
Photo content can be moved with
the “direct selection” tool, or the
white arrow. By using this tool, you
can move the photo content within
the frame. This is just one example
of how the two differ.
Layers - Each document includes
at least one named layer. By using
multiple layers, you can create and edit
specific areas or kinds of content in your
document without affecting other areas
or kinds of content. For example, if your
document prints slowly because it contains
many large graphics, you can use one
layer for just the text in your document;
then, when it’s time to proofread the text,
you can hide all other layers and quickly
print the text layer only.
Styles – There are two different styles
that you will see most while working on
your design projects – character styles
and paragraph styles.
Layout and Design
yy A character style is a collection
of character formatting attributes
that can be applied to text in a
single step. If you highlight some
text and select a character style
that you want to use for the main
body text of your publication,
it will change all the text you
have selected without changing
the spacing or indents of the
paragraph.
yy A paragraph style includes
both character and paragraph
formatting attributes, and can be
applied to a selected paragraph
or range of paragraphs. If you
highlight an entire story in your
publication and select a paragraph
style, it will change the font,
spacing and indentations, all at
once! This can be a handy tool for
quickly formatting a module, or an
entire page.
Placeholders – There are two
basic types of placeholders – text
frame placeholders and graphics frame
placeholders. These can easily be placed
on the page to see if a mock-up made
on paper will work on the page you have
created. They can easily be dragged and
dropped onto different areas of the page
to test different layout designs.
Paths – There are three different
types of paths – simple paths, compound
paths, and compound shapes. These can
be used to either draw, or create, graphics
within InDesign. Paths can also be used to
creatively display text and photos on your
page.
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Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course
Layout and Design
Conclusion
The difference between word
processors and desktop publishing is
becoming blurred. Desktop publishing
programs normally give you greater
control over the layout of a document.
Becoming familiar with your program
is the key to creating professional
and pleasing layouts in newspapers,
magazines, brochures, flyers, and
advertisements.
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The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Introduction to Desktop Publishing
Layout and Design
References
Moen, D. (2000). Newspaper, layout & design: A team approach. Iowa State Press
Arnold, E. (1969). Modern newspaper design. Harper & Row
Baskette, F., Sissors, J. & Brooks, B. (1997). The art of editing (6th ed.)
Garcia, M. (1987). Contemporary newspaper design. Prentice Hall
Harrower, T. (2005). The newspaper designer’s handbook. The McGraw-Hill Companies
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