Before you begin to create any type of document you have to decide what it is you are creating. The documents listed in the Definitions section are simply a handful of common desktop published items. There are many more documents that can be published from the desktop including display ads, labels, envelopes, books and booklets, calendars, bookmarks, nametags, packaging, etc.
When you know what you plan to create there are some questions you should answer before you start. Some questions may take only a moment to answer. Other times, especially when working with clients, it may take longer to decide what is right, what is needed.
Who is your intended audience?
The design of a holiday greeting card for your family may be substantially different from a card you might send to the customers of your small business, for example.
What is the purpose of the document?
Is the newsletter meant to keep club members informed of upcoming events and showcase the talents of members or is it a subscription-based publication containing expert tips and indepth articles on buying and selling Internet stocks?
What are the limitations on production?
Are you limited to what you can crank out from your desktop printer or do you (or your client) have the budget and software for doing full-color photographs and commercial printing?
For the first part of this series of lessons we'll learn desktop publishing as we create a "Back to School" Greeting Card. Teachers might create it for their students or students might make it for their teachers or fellow classmates. Not a student or a teacher? Don't worry, just use the basic design techniques and turn your greeting card into a birthday card or any other type of card or invitation.
Bonus Study Material: For more discussion see: What Are You Going to Design? from our Beginner/Intermediate Class on How a Desktop Publishing Document is Created.
Create a Greeting Card > Lesson 2 Definitions | Instruction | Assignment
