1. DTP: Techniques and Terms

2. The following terms are the main DTP terms you need to know for your Final Exam:
Copy/cut/paste, text box, handles, colour fill, margin, single-page format, title, extended text, cropping, text flow text along a path, serif and sans serif font styles, bleed, text wrap, transparency, drop shadow, rotate, justification, paper sizing, reverse, column, gutter, caption, header and footer, line, grid, snap to grid, guidelines and snap to guidelines
Alignment, dominance, unity, depth, contrast, line, the use of colour (warm, cool, contrast, harmony, advancing, receding, mood, tints, shades, primary, secondary and tertiary), reflection and shade.

3. Copy, Cut and Paste
If you would like to duplicate something, copy, cut and paste can be a quick and easy way to do this! For example, if I wanted to make a poster for a new loch coming to Shetland that will be full of nature, and wanted to add multiple pictures of swans to the background below, copy, cut and paste would make that process very quickly and easy.

4. Copy, Cut and Paste
By copying, cutting and pasting the swans and moving them on top of the background, I have populated the loch full of swans very quickly and easily.

5. Text Box
A text box can be an easy way to add text to something, with the luxury of being able to choose where to place it.
Swan Loch is a new and exciting space to relax whatever the weather!

6. Swan Loch is a new and exciting space to relax, whatever the weather!
Text Box
The text box fill can be left with “no fill” if you still want to see the background, the text box border can be removed or changed colour easily, the alignment and the style of font, size of font and colour of the font can also be changed to suit the background / poster.
Swan Loch is a new and exciting space to relax, whatever the weather!

7. Handles
If an image, text box etc. needs to be resized, you can either choose to “format picture” and resize the image specifically, or by grabbing the “handles” onto the corners of the shape or text box, and dragging it to the correct size.
You can also rotate the shape, image or text box using this “rotate” arrow.
Specific resize option.
Handles.

8. Handles
By resizing the image specifically with the “format picture” option, or by dragging the handles from the corners of the image only, this can help stop the image becoming distorted / without altering the proportions.
Corner handles.
Specific resize option.

9. Colour Fill
By inserting a shape, you can easily change the colour fill under the “format” option. You can make the colour fill have a gradient, texture, pattern, transparency or a specific colour from the range found in the colour library.
Gradient
Texture
Pattern
Solid Fill
Transparency

10. Swan Loch is a new and exciting space to relax, whatever the weather!
Colour Fill
Swan Loch is a new and exciting space to relax, whatever the weather!

11. Margins
Margins can alter where text, images etc. sit towards the edge of the page.
In the example to the right, the margin has been “narrowed” so the text sits closer to the edge of the paper.
In the example to the left, the margin has been left “normal” so the text sits a “normal” distance to the edge of the paper.

12. Alignment: Left, Centre, Right and Justified
Left Aligned
Centre Aligned
Right Aligned
Justified

13. Grids
Grids and guidelines help us to improve the accuracy of positioning and aligning the various elements. By setting up a grid/ guideline, it allows any graphic designer to plan out their document successfully.
Columns structure can make a publication easier to read and interpret. They also help to improve the alignment and page layout.

14. Extended Text; extra information about the publication.

15. Flow Text or Flow text along a path

16. Typeface

17. Balance

18. Reflection: This can help add depth to posters, advertisements etc.

19. Drop Shadow: This can also help add depth to posters, advertisements etc.

20. Text Wrap: Text wraps around an image as shown

21. Reverse Examples: Changing the text colour to white on a dark background is a reverse

22. Have a look at the following DTP Poster…

23. How did the designer create Depth?
Overlapping of various elements
Drop shadow on the shoe graphic gives illusion of depth
Line under runner creates depth.

24. How did the designer create Dominance / Emphasis?
Focal point is created by large graphic of shoes
Bold and capitalised text
Blue gradient fill recedes and makes the graphic of the shoe more dominant
Red for text stand out

25. How did the designer create Bleed?
The line / flashbar runs off the edge of the advert
The line / flashbar overlaps the side / edge of the poster

26. How did the designer create Alignment?
End of “cheetah” aligns with top of dynamics making the whole title appear structured and organised
“Dynamics” is centre aligned above the runner and body text
Slogan is centre aligned above graphic of shoes
Runner is aligned with horizontal line
Text is left aligned to vertical line

27. The designer also used “Grid” and “Snap to Grid”, what are the benefits of this?
Makes it easy to position items accurately
Easy to create straight lines
Easier to align items accurately

28. The background has been removed from the image of the runner and of the shoes, what DTP feature can do this?
Fully Cropped
Crop

29. Describe why the graphic designer has used “fully crop” on these images?
It removes unneeded clutter from the final graphic
It allows the image of the runner to stand out more
It allows the blue flash bar/line to be place behind the runner
It allows text wrap the be used so the body text goes to the edge of the runner

30. Have a look at the following DTP Poster…

31. How did the designer create Unity?
Any relationship between:
Colour
Line
Shape
Typeface
Alignment
Positioning of elements

32. How did the designer use Line?
Layering of lines to create depth
Lines run parallel with website drawing attention
Physical connection between title and large logo
Leads eye across the page

33. How did the designer use Colour?
Harmonising colours in background: light and dark blue
Contrasting colours: orange in company name and blue in background
Receding colours in background making the advert appear bigger.

34. The designer also used Guidelines and “Snap to Guidelines”, what are the advantages of using guidelines?
Aids alignment
Aids accuracy
Aids structure
Description of being moveable
Visibility can be turned on/off
Elements can be snapped to them
Can be bespoke to individual layouts or multiple layouts (master pages)

35. Vehicles were traditionally hand painted to include information about a company. Modern processes involve printing promotional graphics which then applied to a vehicle.
Traditional Painting Techniques
Modern Painting Techniques

36. What advantages are there to the client of modern printing techniques over traditional painting techniques?
More complex images can be produced
Larger range of colours
Easy to replace/renew
Faster application process
Accuracy of print
Repeatability

37. What advantages are there to a graphic designer of using DTP software to produce a graphic layout?
• Layer function can be used to overlap elements • Ease of editing • Images can be manipulated • Variety of fonts are available to try • Grid/guide tools can be used to enable accurate alignment of elements • Speed of production • Layouts and files can be sent long distances via , remote working and share with client • Wide range of colour schemes available • Access to a wide range of media • Layout would be more accurate