No matter what your level of expertise, you can produce a great desktop document by focusing on page layout, typography, graphics, and printing. Are you a beginner or a non-designer? Your best bet for turning out a polished publication: templates, simple font and clip art selections, the right paper for your printer.
1) Try a Template
One of the prime reasons for using pre-designed templates is the ability to look good without having to become a graphic designer. Often abundant in entry-level or creative printing software, templates are there to help you -- use them, learn from them.
2) Use Fewer Fonts
Fonts are fun. Most desktop publishing programs come with tons of nifty alphabets. But when it comes to putting professional polish on your desktop designs, use restraint. Three or fewer typefaces are usually enough for most publications.
More: How Many Fonts to Use
3) Cut Clip Art Clutter
You can have lively, interesting pages without any clip art, but if you just can't resist use restraint. Limit clip art, photos, graphic accents to one or two per page. Nine times out of ten a single medium or large image is better than three, four, or more smaller graphics scattered around the page.
More: Rules of Image Use
4) Pick a Pack of Paper
Home and SOHO users are increasingly turning to desktop publishing to create everything from greeting cards to business cards from their own desktop printers. While the results may not be as great as the output from a commercial printing press you can still get good results by choosing the right paper and using it properly.
Before You Buy: Inkjet Photo Papers
