Desktop Publishing & Design for Dummies [Paperback]

Roger C. Parker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1568842341 | ISBN-13: 978-1568842349 | Publication Date: January 20, 1995

"A …For Dummies book from the foremost authority on desktop publishing and design is a dream come true." — Dan Gookin, Bestselling Author of DOS For Dummies^® "Desktop Publishing & Design For Dummies provides the reader with all the basics for successful design in a simple, step-by-step manner." — Jill Robbins Israel, Editor-in-Chief, Technique Magazine

Includes Newsletter "How-To" Insert!

With all the desktop publishing software and books around, it seems like anyone can be a designer these days. But it's not so easy to whip up a well-designed brochure or newsletter without some guidance. Design guru Roger C. Parker reveals simple yet innovative techniques so you can create persuasive presentations, snazzy brochures, and informative newsletters — all without using an expensive design firm. Ask for IDG Books' …For Dummies^® Books, the Fun and Easy Way to Find Out about Computers. Also look for IDG Books' PCs For Dummies^®, 4th Edition, the fun and easy way to get started on your PC right away, and PageMaker^® 6.5 For Dummies^®, Internet Edition, the fast and friendly way to publish documents on the Web!

Inside, find helpful advice on how to:

• Apply basic design building blocks to any of the popular desktop publishing and page layout programs
• Choose the right computer hardware and software
• Scan photographs and place them on your page
• Take the mystery out of choosing the right typeface and type size for headlines, sub-heads, body copy, and captions
• Effectively use color in your publications — and know what to avoid
• Set up your files correctly to avoid service bureau hassles
• Speak the language with a glossary of over 200 important design terms
• Save time and money with numerous efficiency tips
• Plus, a special insert that provides a step-by-step introduction to the process of creating a newsletter

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the Author According to the National Association of Desktop Publishers Journal, Roger C. Parker is the "leading guru" of desktop publishing design. In addition to frequently contributing to a variety of publications like Graphic Solutions, Publish, Technique, and x-height, Roger has written numerous books, including IDG Books Worldwide's Harvard Graphics^® 2 For Windows^® For Dummies^® and Microsoft^® Office 4 For Windows^® For Dummies^®.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (January 20, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568842341
• ISBN-13: 978-1568842349
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Roger C. Parker is a graphic designer, design educator, and $32 Million Dollar author.

The author of 38 books, since his earliest NY Times best-seller, Looking good in Print, Roger has been promoting visual literacy and enhanced productivity. His other books include The Streetwise Guide to Relationship Marketing on the Internet.

A certified Guerrilla Marketing coach, and a frequent presenter at graphic design and web productivity bootcamps, Roger's clients include Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Mindjet.

Roger's latest book is Design to Sell. At my Design to Sell website, www.designtosellonline.com, you can download two chapters my latest book, subscribe to my free Design to Sell newsletter, learn about and read my Design to Sell blog, http://www.rogercparker.com/Blog/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily make your documents look professional, December 6, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desktop Publishing & Design for Dummies (Paperback)

This is a great, easy to understand desktop reference for making ANY document, brochure, newsletter, report, letter, etc. look professional, and for making people want to read them. It tells you what makes publications look better and WHY, and gives examples and ideas. Even using just a few tips from this book can help your documents look better and be easier to read. It explains fonts and how to choose, spacing, using pictures, clip art, and graphics (including scanning and sizing), borders, tables, charts, how to attract reader's attention, and how to use color and save money. The design, page formatting and layout tips also provide detailed instructions for most major word processing and desktop publishing applications, such as Word, Wordperfect, MS Publisher and Pagemaker (Windows and Mac). Although it was written in 1995, the tips and tricks still apply and I find the instructions generally hold up in the upgraded versions of the software applications (i.e., Office 2000)(- but it would still be nice to get a new edition of this book published). It also has a section on how to easily work with your service bureau or print shop, and on creating a corporate identity for your business.

I've read this cover to cover and keep it at my desk for quick reference. I think all design and publishing professionals should read this book as I can now do better than most I've worked with! I highly recommend this for anyone who owns their own business - but it even helps with the family Christmas newsletter.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspired a career change, March 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Desktop Publishing & Design for Dummies (Paperback)

OK, this book is old. I don't read it too often anymore, but have probably read it cover to cover three times, and referred back to it dozens of times. It is good generic information that still applies today. I bought this book back in late 1995. Around the same time I started fooling around with Corel Draw 4 and Serif Page Plus 3/Draw Plus 2. By June of 1996 I was a graphic artist at a weekly newspaper. Two years later I got a job as a signmaker for a few months. I returned to the newspaper business when a good offer came in, and have been doing dtp, design and signmaking freelance on the side ever since. When I bought this book, I didn't know the difference between a serif and san serif font. I was self taught, 100%. Other books that were a big influence "The Gray Book" and a little spiral bound book from DDC "Quick Reference Guide-Graphic Design for Desktop Publishing". Learning programs certainly is valuable, and I've worked with a lot of them. More valuable is the understanding of layout and design. Without this knowledge, knowing a bunch of programs is of little use. This book is good for someone starting out, or someone who thinks they know a lot.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introductory, March 26, 2010

By 

The Phantom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desktop Publishing & Design for Dummies (Paperback)

This actually was the textbook used for the desktop publishing class that I took in college. More than adequate as a starter for those interested in learning design theory.