Top Ten Rules for Effective Desktop Publishing

1. Top Ten Rules for Effective Desktop Publishing

2. 1 Use a Limited number of Typefaces (fonts) • Unusual fonts can help direct the eye toward text, but too many different fonts on a page can be distracting, and some fancy fonts are difficult to read.

3. 2 Use different fonts for title and text • To aid the reader, use a serif typeface (a font with small curves or “hands and feet” that extend from the ends of the letters) for text in the main body of the document. Use a sans serif typeface, a font without extensions, for titles and headlines.

4. 3 Use appropriate sizes for type • Make large enough to assist the reader (e.g., younger readers usually need large point sizes), but not too large to dominate the page.

5. 4 Avoid overuse of type styles • Breaking up text with too many style changes interferes with reading, Avoid excessive underlining, boldfacing, and italics.

6. 5 Match text and background colors • Use white or yellow type on a black block to add drama. Avoid color combinations than can be difficult to read (e.g., orange on green or red on blue).

7. 6 Use visual cues • Attract reader attention to important information on the page by using frames or boxes around text; bullets or arrows to designate important points; shading of the part of the page behind the important text; different text styles (e.g., boldface or italic type); and captions for pictures, diagrams, and headings.

8. 7 Use white space well • There is a saying in advertising that “white space sells.” Don’t be afraid to leave areas in a document with nothing in them at all to help focus attention on areas that do contain information.

9. 8 Create and use graphics carefully • Use pictures and designs to focus attention and convey information, but remember that too many elaborate pictures or graphic designs can be distracting.

10. 9 Avoid common text format errors • Common desktop design pitfalls include using irregularly shaped text blocks and angled type, which are difficult to read.

11. 10 Avoid common text or break errors • Use desktop publishing software features to control for widows and orphans (leftover single words and phrases at the tops or bottoms of pages) and excessive hyphenation.