Aims

This course is intended to enable the learner to produce various printed documents containing text and graphic images from design briefing to printing, using a desktop publishing system. It incorporates analysis, process, craft, technology and design elements, thus ensuring a comprehensive treatment of the subject.

Areas of Study

Unit 1 Design and Process

Learners should be able to:

  • define a brief for a publication in communication with a client/Assessor
  • present a number of design solutions for a given brief
  • sketch thumbnails and rough visuals, using greeking (as appropriate), for document design and page layouts
  • identify the human and technical resources required to produce the publication
  • draw up a production plan and schedule/timetable representing all the stages of the publication process
  • identify some of the legal implications involved in the publishing process e.g. copyright, licensing etc.
  • identify the cost factors associated with a publication
  • produce printouts which adhere to the brief.

Unit 2 Technology

Learners should be able to:

  • identify the essential hardware elements of a DTP system
  • distinguish between the functions of system and applications software as they apply to DTP
  • distinguish between auxiliary storage units in terms of function, capacity, speed, price and suitability
  • outline the significance of resolution in printing, VDU and scanning
  • distinguish between different types of printers such as ink-jet printers and laser printers in terms of price, print quality, print medium and speed
  • distinguish VDUs in terms of resolution, price, quality and size
  • identify paper sizes with a reference to the ISO A-series i.e. A0, A1, A2, A3, A4 etc.
  • perform routine disk and file management operations including appropriate data security measures
  • perform routine hardware maintenance such as toner/ink and paper replenishment
  • identify environments which could be harmful to hardware units and storage media
  • access and operate certain peripherals e.g.
    • printers – to set such parameters as choice of printer, print resolution, no. of copies, scaling etc
    • scanners – to scan graphics in line-art (1 bit), grey scale and in conjunction with OCR software
  • describe a typical DTP system specification such as; operating system, RAM capacity, disk formats and capacities, CPU speed, VDU type, printer type and resolution, scanner type and maximum possible resolution.

Unit 3 Craft – Preliminary Text/Graphics

Learners should be able to:

  • access a word processor and perform text entry, editing, spellchecking and saving routines etc.
  • identify how incompatibility problems might arise between DTP and WP files
  • distinguish between line-art (1 bit), grey scale and continuous tone (photographic) images
  • distinguish between bit-map and vector images
  • draw, with the aid of vector-drawing software and bit-map
  • software, simple graphic shapes such as lines, rectangles, ovals and polygons etc., with variations in line-styles and fills
  • perform (within system limitations) basic editing of,  and transformations on, drawn and painted graphic images e.g. to delete, copy, pixel-edit, rescale, reflect (vertically, horizontally), rotate etc.
  • save graphics in a format compatible with DTP software.

Unit 4 Craft – Electronic Page Set-up

Learners should be able to:

  • create a new document specifying page size, page orientation, margins, columns and gutters
  • plan/design for folded documents
  • import text and graphic files, placing them accurately on the page with the help of grids and rulers
  • save documents in appropriate formats
  • employ basic typographic tools to specify features such as:
    • fonts, sizes, styles and horizontal scaling
    • spacing between characters (kerning, tracking) and between lines (leading)
  • identify and set margins, indents, tabs, rules (lines), headers, footers, automatic page-numbering, and text alignment
  • create master pages and text styles to maintain consistency in a single document, a folded document and in a range of related documents
  • interpret standard typographic terminology.

Unit 5 Craft – Text/Graphic Integration

Learners should be able to:

  • add lines (rules), frames (boxes) to the electronic page, adjusting position, line-thickness, shade and box in- fills
  • create eye-catching titles and headlines
  • utilise appropriate graphic control features to import, delete, rescale, alter the shading and crop graphic images
  • control the white space around graphics (run-around/wrap)
  • place text inside frames and control the white space between frame and text (inset)
  • use grids, rulers, guides and other system features for precision placement of text and graphics
  • employ a number of text enhancing features, such as inverse print, banner print, raised caps, drop caps, text rotation, special characters.

Unit 6 Analysis

Learners should be able to:

  • analyse page layout on a variety of print media for balanced layout, style, ease of reading, effectiveness in attracting attention and aesthetics
  • outline a range of potentially useful ideas which could be used or should be avoided in specific publications, advertisements etc
  • compare the relative costs of different printing options.
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