The difference DTP can make to your magazine

The image on the left is a reproduction of a typical church magazine layout. It's a single column, with lots of text. The single column gives what's called a 'long measure' – which means that the eye finds it difficult to read. It's not impossible, but it's not a comfortable read.

There are some tricks we can use to help readers:

Use headlines to help guide the reader

You can help the reader by clearly signposting their way around your magazine or newsletter. Instead of setting your headlines in bold, using the same typesize as the rest of the article, see what a difference you can make simply by making the headline a larger point size.

Experiment with columns

DTP software makes it easier to create page layouts with columns. Here, we've taken that basic page layout and put the article in two columns. It's instantly easier to read and therefore more inviting to the reader.

Increase the leading

One of the reasons why DTP software is better for producing magazines is that it allows you to experiment with the text formatting. Here, we've taken the basic 12 point text (12pt is the size of the typeface) and made it smaller - 10pts. However, we've increased the line spacing (called leading) to 12pt. This means there's more white space on the page, again making it easier to read.

The name leading comes from the days when printing was hand made. To increase the spacing between lines of text, little lengths of lead were inserted between the letters, hence the term leading.

Experiment with the formatting

You can start to use the DTP software to create an interesting magazine, simply by using it to create headlines and sub-heads, and create layouts with different column lengths. This is a three column grid, which again is easier to read than the previous example. However, it's still a little dull. What would improve the page?

Pictures paint thousands of words

It's one thing reading about a project that someone in your church has been involved in, but it's quite another to see a picture about it. It gives you extra details and information that words never can. Yet the majority of church newsletters never use them! Here you can see the difference that can be made simply by adding in a picture.

Advanced layout

Once you get the hang of laying out pages in your DTP software, you can start to experiment a little. Here, the headline has been placed inside the picture. The eye is drawn first to the picture, then to the headline and then to the sub head. It looks a million miles better than the original layout seen above.

The typefaces used in this demostration are simply Arial Black, Arial and Times New Roman, all of which you should have on your computer. Experiment with different typefaces, leading and sizes to see what works best for your magazine - and your readership.

Experiment with Quark yourself

If you want to have a go at a magazine page using Quark, you need to get a copy the next time it appears on a magazine cover disk. If you have Quark, then you can download this A5 page set up as a three-column grid. If you like it, then why not try using it to create your pages with some imposition?

• Download QuarkXpress A5 page (Quark 5.0)
• Go to Imposition page
• Return to help menu