Daily Updates - all the latest additions including new or updated Subjects, interesting links, commentary, and feature articles.

No More Double Hard Returns - 12/20/02
Putting hard returns at the end of paragraphs is leftover from the days of typewriters. Learn to keep the mark of the amateur out of your pages by specifying paragraph spacing. It's more versatile and looks better to boot.

Clip It! - 12/13/02
Intermediate Desktop Publishing tutorial explores the differences in embedded paths and alpha channels used as clipping paths and offers instructions for creating and using clipping paths in Photoshop, Photo-Paint, InDesign, QuarkXPress, and PageMaker.

Break It Up! - 12/06/02
Quick design lesson shows three ways to break up text to improve readability, add emphasis and interest.

Color Matching Exercise - 11/25/02
Test your knowledge of color symbolism. Match a list of 10 colors with a list of descriptive phrases. Graded JavaScript Quiz.

Scanning Resolution - 11/15/02
Follow these simple steps to calculate the right resolution for scanning and printing. Includes a scanning calculator and LPI chart.

Don't Get Hung Up on These Terms - 11/04/02
It's my birthday so I thought it was time for a little fun and games. Take a working break. Test your knowledge of desktop publishing with a round or two of hangman.

Is Freelance Design Right For You? - 10/25/02
Get a reality check before delving into a freelance desktop publishing business.

OpenType Fonts - 10/11/02
Cross-platform use is only one feature of OpenType fonts. They also have other benefits including simplified font management and more efficient typesetting. Find out if you need to be using OpenType fonts.

Top Free Desktop Publishing Software - 10/04/02
Free doesn't always mean stripped down or with limited functionality. These free downloads are powerful office suites and one is a true page layout program.

Top SOHO Desktop Publishing Software - 9/27/02
Take a look at the top desktop publishing programs for the small business owner.

Top Desktop Publishing Software - 9/20/02
The primary programs that define desktop publishing - with an overview of each program.

Book Review: The Non-Designer's Design Book - 9/12/02
Provides a good introduction to the principles of design for the beginner and non-designer. If everyone read and applied these simple techniques it could put an end to most sloppy, amateur designs.

Book Review: The Non-Designer's Type Book - 9/11/02
This is an excellent introduction to typography for non-designers and beginning designers. It shows how and why to set type like a pro.

Book Review: Getting It Printed - 9/10/02
If you've never worked with a service bureau or commercial printer before this book demystifies the process. It's an invaluable reference for beginners who want to go beyond desktop printing.

Dingbat Font Reviews - 9/9/02
Find out which of several free Halloween dingbat fonts are worth downloading, Read my reviews, view full character sets, download Mac and PC fonts.

Help! I Have Too Many Fonts - 8/12/02
Deal with font overload on your PC or your Mac.

Sitting For A Portrait - 8/05/02
Virtues and advantages of portrait monitors.

Before You Buy Academic Software - 8/01/02
What to consider before purchasing desktop publishing software at educational discounted prices.

Boxed in By Nothing - 7/28/02
Quick Design Lesson: Margins.

Picture Perfection - 7/21/02
How to calibrate your digital camera.

The Secret to Good Scanning - 7/14/02
How to calibrate your scanner.

WYSIWYG Printing - 7/07/02
How to calibrate your printer.

I Can See Clearly Now - 7/01/02
How to calibrate your monitor.

Let 'er RIP - 6/27/02
What you need to know about RIP and troubleshooting files that won't print.

Hang it Here - 6/20/02
How and why to use hanging punctuation.

Proof Positive - 6/13/02
Why and how to use proper proofreaders' marks.

Say it Without Serifs - 6/12/02
Top 10 sans serif body/text fonts - periennial favorites for maximum legibility.

Say it With Serifs - 6/11/02
Top 10 serif body/text fonts - tried and true treasures every designer needs.

PS, Do I Really Need You? - 6/06/02
Do you really need to know PostScript and have a PostScript printer to do desktop publishing? Find out here.

Take Your Best Shot - 5/29/02
Screen captures for on-screen display are tricky enough. When you want to print those shots it takes a bit more finessing.

Tag, You're It - 5/22/02
Here's your basic introduction to tagged text and its use in desktop publishing.

All About B - 5/19/02
How do type designers alter the basic shape of the uppercase B and lowercase b?

Words of Art - 5/15/02
Tweak Microsoft Office Word Art then get it into your desktop publishing application.

All About A - 5/12/02
What do the various glyphs representing uppercase A and lowercase a have in common and how do they differ?

Chart a Course - 5/08/02
Move tables and graphs from Microsoft Office into your desktop publishing application - with a little detour along the way.

Get Rich - 5/01/02
Learn how to transfer formatted text cross-platform or between programs using the Rich Text Format.

What's Delimit? - 4/24/02
How to use tab delimited files to get tables and spreadsheets into your desktop publishing application.

Plain and Simple - 4/17/02
Understand and use plain text files in desktop publishing.

The DPI Dilemma - 4/10/02
The basics of resolution for beginners without a lot of technical jargon.

Essential Tools - 4/03/02
Most desktop publishing applications have these four basic tools.

The Desktop Published Document - 3/27/02
Not sure exactly what is involved in desktop publishing? Here are the six phases of taking a design from concept to printed piece using desktop publishing.

Fab Tabs - 3/20/02
Don't settle for the default tabs in your software. Learn how to use tabs more effectively and creatively.

List En Space - 3/13/02
Improve the appearance of lists by removing excess space. Here are 4 ways.

5 Ways to Use Dingbat Fonts - 3/05/02
Try one of these simple techniques to alter dingbat symbols to make them more useful or interesting.

How Much Money? - 2/14/02
In 2000, the median income was $30,600 for desktop publishers and $34,570 for graphic designers. Find out whether your state and city falls above or below.

This Job's For You - 2/08/02
Desktop Publisher is one of the top 10 fastest growing occupations in the US. Find out what the next decade holds for both DTP and graphic design.

Your Family History Book - 1/15/02
Tips on desktop publishing a book about your family that includes narratives, charts, and cherished family photos.

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