Book Reviews
After you've read the manual, read the book. Build your graphic design, desktop publishing, and typography library with books on the freelance design business, design principles and page layout, using type and graphics, and print production. These desktop publishing books are recommended reading to learn more about using your software or teach yourself design and publishing.
Quick and Easy Newsletters by Elaine Floyd
You can publish your own newsletter in an hour or a day — the quick and easy way. Elaine Floyd gives you everything you need to create a customized newsletter for your club, business, or church. You'll find templates, filler articles, clip art, and cartoons along with simple straightforward instructions and timesaving tips.
You can publish your own newsletter in an hour or a day — the quick and easy way. Elaine Floyd gives you everything you need to create a customized newsletter for your club, business, or church. You'll find templates, filler articles, clip art, and cartoons along with simple straightforward instructions and timesaving tips.
The Desktop Publisher's Idea Book, 2nd Edition by Chuck Green
It is what it says it is — a book brimming with ideas for desktop publishers. It is also much more than the name implies.
It is what it says it is — a book brimming with ideas for desktop publishers. It is also much more than the name implies.
Choosing a Desktop Publishing Book Tips
These aren't hard-and-fast rules or formulas but they are tried-and-true guidelines that hold true most of the time.
These aren't hard-and-fast rules or formulas but they are tried-and-true guidelines that hold true most of the time.
Writing for Design Professionals
Written for architects, engineers, and interior designers, the advice and samples in Stephen A. Kliment's book, Writing for Design Professionals work just as well for graphic designers, Web designers, and other professionals who aren't writers but need to write.
Written for architects, engineers, and interior designers, the advice and samples in Stephen A. Kliment's book, Writing for Design Professionals work just as well for graphic designers, Web designers, and other professionals who aren't writers but need to write.
Color Printer Idea Book, The
It's a great how-to book from Kay Hall and a tool for generating ideas and exploring your own creativity.
It's a great how-to book from Kay Hall and a tool for generating ideas and exploring your own creativity.
Design It Yourself Logos, Letterhead, and Business Cards
Another Chuck Green book that I recommend for small business owners and non-designers tasked with creating an identity system for their business. For designers, it is also a valuable addition to any design reference library. Full Review
Another Chuck Green book that I recommend for small business owners and non-designers tasked with creating an identity system for their business. For designers, it is also a valuable addition to any design reference library. Full Review
Design Rules for Letterheads by Roger Walton
How many ways are there to design letterhead? More than you might think. And while there may be no hard and fast rules for how you design it, there are some rules and guidelines that will help you create hardworking letterheads that look great. Design Rules for Letterheads is a great primer for anyone wanting to create their first letterhead or looking for new ideas in letterhead design.
How many ways are there to design letterhead? More than you might think. And while there may be no hard and fast rules for how you design it, there are some rules and guidelines that will help you create hardworking letterheads that look great. Design Rules for Letterheads is a great primer for anyone wanting to create their first letterhead or looking for new ideas in letterhead design.
Getting It Printed
If you've never worked with a service bureau or commercial printer before this book by Mark Beach and Eric Kenly demystifies the process. It's an invaluable reference for beginners who want to go beyond desktop printing.
If you've never worked with a service bureau or commercial printer before this book by Mark Beach and Eric Kenly demystifies the process. It's an invaluable reference for beginners who want to go beyond desktop printing.
Desktop Publisher's Idea Book, The
Recommended reading for new desktop publishers, SOHO business owners, club newsletter publishers, and novice or experienced designers who want a creative boost, it's a classic from Chuck Green.
Recommended reading for new desktop publishers, SOHO business owners, club newsletter publishers, and novice or experienced designers who want a creative boost, it's a classic from Chuck Green.
Forms, Folds, and Sizes by Poppy Evans
Subtitled All the Details Graphic Designers Need to Know but Can Never Find, Forms, Folds, and Sizes is a handy little reference book that answers tons of those little questions that you need to have answered in the middle of a project.
Subtitled All the Details Graphic Designers Need to Know but Can Never Find, Forms, Folds, and Sizes is a handy little reference book that answers tons of those little questions that you need to have answered in the middle of a project.
Non-Designer's Design Book, The
Robin Williams 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.
Robin Williams 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.
Non-Designer's Type Book, The
This is an excellent introduction to typography for non-designers and beginning designers. Robin Williams shows how and why to set type like a pro.
This is an excellent introduction to typography for non-designers and beginning designers. Robin Williams shows how and why to set type like a pro.
Roger C. Parker's One Minute Designer
Use One Minute Designer for quick reference any time you find yourself having trouble getting started, need to fine-tune or refresh a document, and as part of your on-going education program.
Use One Minute Designer for quick reference any time you find yourself having trouble getting started, need to fine-tune or refresh a document, and as part of your on-going education program.
Signs, Symbols, and Ciphers
This slim, nicely illustrated volume takes a complex subject and makes it fairly accessible and understandable. Not a must-read but a good historical look at signs and symbols.
This slim, nicely illustrated volume takes a complex subject and makes it fairly accessible and understandable. Not a must-read but a good historical look at signs and symbols.
Topical List: Books for Beginners by Roger C. Parker
These classic titles from Roger C. Parker may not be the newest books on desktop publishing but they are full of tried and true design advice. Recommended reading for both beginners and intermediate designers.
These classic titles from Roger C. Parker may not be the newest books on desktop publishing but they are full of tried and true design advice. Recommended reading for both beginners and intermediate designers.
Topical List: Books for Non-Designer SOHO Businesses
Design and print better-looking logos, business cards, and other marketing materials with the design tips and desktop publishing projects found in this selection of books.
Design and print better-looking logos, business cards, and other marketing materials with the design tips and desktop publishing projects found in this selection of books.
Topical List: Books on Brochure Design
Get inspiration from these photo-filled books showcasing numerous brochure layout ideas.
Get inspiration from these photo-filled books showcasing numerous brochure layout ideas.
Topical List: Books on Scanning
For professional designers and non-designers, one of these books can demystify the science and art of scanning and help you improve your digital images.
For professional designers and non-designers, one of these books can demystify the science and art of scanning and help you improve your digital images.
Topical List: Books on Graphics Software
Browse reviews of books on graphics software and graphics techniques reviewed by at About Graphics Software.
Browse reviews of books on graphics software and graphics techniques reviewed by at About Graphics Software.
Topical List: Jeff Fisher Recommends...
At Creative Latitude, Jeff Fisher has posted his recommended reading list including some great books most of us have probably heard of, and some that are probably new to you. Creativity, Business, Marketing, Typography, History, and Production are some of the categories.
At Creative Latitude, Jeff Fisher has posted his recommended reading list including some great books most of us have probably heard of, and some that are probably new to you. Creativity, Business, Marketing, Typography, History, and Production are some of the categories.
Before & After Page Design
Before & After Page Design by John McWade is full of easy-to-read mini-lessons, tips, tricks, design advice, step-by-step instructions, and generous illustrations for a variety of the most common desktop-published documents.
Before & After Page Design by John McWade is full of easy-to-read mini-lessons, tips, tricks, design advice, step-by-step instructions, and generous illustrations for a variety of the most common desktop-published documents.