Desktop Publishing Course

Lesson 1 • Core Principles of Visual Communication

Introduces hierarchy, contrast, balance, and rhythm as applied to editorial layouts. These principles underpin every design decision covered throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Anatomy of a Publication

Breaks down the structural components of magazines, newspapers, and books. Learners learn standard terminology used across editorial production workflows.

Lesson 3 • Understanding the Editorial Workflow

Maps the end-to-end production process from editorial brief to final output. Learners identify each stakeholder role and handoff point in a typical publication cycle.

Lesson 1 • Type Classification and Selection

Covers serif, sans-serif, slab, and display categories and their editorial applications. Learners match typeface personality to publication voice and audience.

Lesson 2 • Typographic Systems Across Formats

Applies consistent typographic rules across print, tablet, and mobile editorial products. Learners create a type style sheet that scales across multiple publication formats.

Lesson 3 • Building a Typographic Hierarchy

Teaches headline, deck, byline, body, and caption relationships using size, weight, and style. Hierarchy directs reader attention and organises editorial content clearly.

Lesson 1 • Designing Flexible Editorial Grids

Teaches construction of multi-column grids adaptable to text-heavy and image-rich spreads. Learners build grids that accommodate diverse content without losing structural integrity.

Lesson 2 • Applying Grids to Spreads

Demonstrates how to place text, images, and white space within a grid on facing pages. Learners produce balanced spreads that respect the grid while allowing creative variation.

Lesson 3 • Responsive Grids for Digital Publications

Adapts print grid logic to fluid and fixed digital layouts for tablets and mobile devices. Learners configure responsive grids that reflow content across screen sizes.

Lesson 1 • Building a Publication Colour System

Guides learners in creating primary, secondary, and accent palettes for a publication. The system ensures visual consistency across covers, sections, and digital editions.

Lesson 2 • Colour Theory Essentials

Covers hue, saturation, value, and colour relationships as applied to editorial contexts. Learners use colour wheels and harmony models to make informed palette decisions.

Lesson 3 • Colour Modes and Print Specifications

Distinguishes RGB, CMYK, and spot-colour modes and their impact on print reproduction. Learners prepare colour files that meet professional print production standards.

Lesson 1 • Cropping, Scaling, and Image Placement

Teaches compositional cropping, resolution requirements, and image scaling for print and digital. Learners place images within layouts to maximise visual impact and narrative clarity.

Lesson 2 • Image Retouching and Colour Correction

Covers non-destructive retouching, exposure correction, and colour grading for editorial images. Learners apply consistent image treatment that supports the publication's visual identity.

Lesson 3 • Editorial Image Selection Criteria

Defines standards for choosing images based on relevance, quality, and editorial tone. Learners evaluate image libraries and commission photography with clear creative briefs.

Lesson 1 • Integrating Image and Vector Software

Covers the workflow between raster image editors, vector tools, and layout applications. Learners place, link, and update assets efficiently within multi-page documents.

Lesson 2 • File Naming, Versioning, and Archiving

Establishes professional conventions for naming, versioning, and archiving editorial files. Learners implement a folder structure and version-control system for team-based projects.

Lesson 3 • Long-Document and Book File Management

Teaches book file features, chapter linking, and synchronised styles for long publications. Learners manage multi-chapter documents with consistent formatting and numbering.

Lesson 1 • Prepress Preparation and Preflight

Teaches preflight checks, font embedding, image resolution, and colour profile verification. Learners use preflight tools to identify and resolve file errors before submission.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Print Specifications

Covers paper stock, binding methods, trim sizes, and bleed requirements for editorial print. Learners read and interpret printer specification sheets accurately.

Lesson 3 • PDF Export for Print

Guides learners through PDF export settings for offset, digital, and large-format printing. Learners produce press-ready PDFs that comply with industry print standards.

Lesson 1 • Interactive Elements and Animation

Introduces hyperlinks, slideshows, video embeds, and micro-animations in digital editorial design. Learners add interactive layers that enhance storytelling without distracting from content.

Lesson 2 • Designing for Screen Readability

Adapts print editorial principles to screen environments, addressing contrast, type size, and spacing. Learners optimise layouts for comfortable reading across device types and lighting conditions.

Lesson 3 • Digital Publication Formats and Platforms

Surveys PDF, EPUB, web article, and app-based publication formats and their design constraints. Learners select the appropriate format based on audience, content, and distribution channel.