Microsoft publisher - HELP PLS!

[rebellion]

Hi everyone,

Hoping some kind souls out their have microsoft publisher/printing experience and can help me out!

I'm basically producing a local A5 size business directory with half page black and white adverts (glossy cover) and I'm using publisher to produce it. My skills lie in selling and running the business and the printing is something I'm a bit worried about.

I'm basically concerned that when the 5000 copies come back from the printers they won't look like I was expecting! Yikes. I'm quite new to publisher and have never had anyhting printed from it. So hoping someone can give a few handy hints/tips/things to be awre of, with regard to the following. Many many thanks in advance to any replies.

-I've just bought a cheap scanner which is 1200 dpi resolution. Should this be ok to scan in business ads?
-What is the blue dotted line on the pages of publisher for? Is it just a guidance line?
- What text font and size is best to use for my articles?
-What resolution and format should I save my scanned image adverts as?

Any general help at all is v much appreciated.

My printer has said they can';t really do a trial copy as they might as well run all 5000 once its set up.

I really want to make sure its professional looking.

Thanks guys

Reb

[Jayne]

Hi,

I don't know too much, as i'm learning myself...but i'll have a go :D

If you scan in your ads, click in the dotted box where you want your ad to go, there's a little tool bar at the top, click on insert picture (pick your ad you want and open). You can then move the ad around the page or make it bigger.

I find the best way is just to mess about with it, you can always delete :lol: and it's quite fun!

Probably no help what so ever, but I tried :D

Jayne

[MinuWeb]

your printer should be able to tell you if the material you provide will produce good quality print or not, and should also advise you on any changes you could make to get better quality print.

[rebellion]

Hi Jayne & VS. Thx to botth of you for taking the time to reply. My printer although the cheapest by far doesn't seem to open with suggestions!! MMM maybe better to pay the extra price for a more friendly printer!

Reb

[MinuWeb]

A good printer will always be willing to help, maybe not by providing a test print, as mentioned this could be quite time consuming. Mine also proof reads and offers suggestions totally free of charge before he prints anything for me.

I would be quite concerned if the printer was not able or willing to tell you the expected print quality based on the material you have provided

[MorethanWords]

I agree - any decent printer should give you advice on print quality and whether the format you're supplying will look any good in true format.

Also, just for the record - most printers I've dealt with don't even like touching material produced in publisher. It's ok for some things, but if it's a professional look you want, you should really be using Quark or InDesign. But that's just a design preference really.

Maybe it might be worth taking a short course in Publisher/publishing before you get cracking with this idea. My local college does weekend school courses that are kind of crash courses in various subjects. I'm going to be doing a design one as I'd like to understand more about this side of things (I'm a wordsmith through and through but know a bit about design from working in the publishing industry).

Sorry if this all sounds like expense but if this is an idea you want to take seriously it's one worth doing properly.

One other thing. You can always run a trial print on your home comp. It'll give you an idea of layout at least.

The printer should tell you if the scans are of high enough quality/resolution. I know images have to be at least 300 dpi for scanning but anything higher is good.

[RedArc]

Hi there,

We currently work with Serif Pageplus (fantastically versatile DTP) but some years ago, we published a newsletter using MS publisher but there were quite a few issues when the publication came back from the printers which weren't evident when we ran a copy off our own printer. After that, we've always placed our publications into PDF for our printers as there is apparently less chance of things going wrong. We suggest that you have a good chat with your printers in any case and see if you can get a proof before you commit to the print-run.

Good luck with your venture!

Carol

[rebellion]

thanks everyone for all the useful info. Think I'll have to have a few harsh words with my printer or give him the sack for the more expensive printer!

Reb