Assignment information

MSTD 236 -- Print Production

Assignment # 1 -- Copy fitting

Indesign: New file: Two letter size pages with two columns each. Place 236.Ex1.doc. Create separate space for headline at top of first page. Justify and add 1p4 first line left indent.  Adjust tracking and leading to fit exactly. Spell check.  Save as pdf and submit.

Assignment #2 -- Typography, copy editing

Indesign: New file: Tabloid page. Edit the given copy using the spell checker, Fit the copy ( 236.Ex2.doc) and write the following headlines: 3-30-1, 2-24-2 and 1-18-3. Use a different typeface for each. Read the headline rules page and write five headlines for stories given on that page.

Assignment # 3 -- Design an advertisement

Create a poster advertising a vacation spot or an event on campus, real or made up. It should have a photo that fills the 8.5 by 11 letter space exactly. Use at least four layers and two or three different fonts. Be sure to vary the size of the text, vary the color of the text and the color of the stroke and background of text boxes.

Assignment #4 -- Design a public relations brochure

Create a mailable three-fold brochure on a vacation using an 8.5 high by 11 inch wide sheet. Note the WIDE orientation. Use two pages as front and back. Be sure to understand the panel folding arrangement and work accordingly.

Assignment #5 -- Design a company newsletter

Create a four page newsletter 8.5 x 11 inches on an imaginary subject using dummy text and stock photos. Set the page up with "facing pages" so that you can adjust for recto and verso design. Use all of the following elements: 1) Front page: Flag, folio line, teaser box, picture, cutline, liftout quote, two headlines, two stories, one jump line to an inside page; 2 and 3) inside pages need folio lines, photos, cutlines, headlines, one or two stories per page including story jumped from front page, liftout quotes and other devices as appropriate. Be sure to flow text accurately. 4. folio line, headline, story, quote or photo and cutline optional. Be sure to create a mailer space with return address, bulk postage stamp and space for address sticker.

Assignment #6 -- Design a tabloid newspaper

Create a tabloid newspaper using text and photos given in class. Use standard folio lines, dummy text and photos from Tartan.

Assignment #7 -- Design a broadsheet newspaper

Width is 14 and height is 22 inches, use 6 columns. Again, use dummy text and photos from Tartan.

Assignment #8 -- Design a broadsheet photo spread (page 127 - 131 Harrower)

Width is 14 and height is 22 inches, use 6 columns grid with half inch margins. Use consistent photo selections.

Assignments # 9 -- Design a book

1) Design, estimate cost and consider ISBN and publisher

• Choose the type of binding you want (Ex: http://www.printondemand.com/product-manuals.php)
• Choose a standard size ( Ex: http://www.lightningsource.com/products_paperback.aspx )
• Choose a weight of paper (Ex: http://www.thepapermillstore.com/paper-weight-demystified )
• Contact printer for cost of on-demand or volume printing (not required for the exercise but an important step)
  • This will depend on number of books ordered, size of books, weight of paper, number of pages, binding and cover
  • Typical: 500 books, 6x9, 50 lb, 280 pages, perfect binding, color cover = Aprox. $5 per book / 50 books might be $12 per book / single book $20
• Order ISBN number - Can be thru printer or thru ISBN Standards Organization for US -- http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/index.asp

2) Create a book template in InDesign (or Quark or other publishing application. We are using InDesign in this class, but other apps are similar).

• Create margin guides -- Add 1/8 inch gutter for perfect binding on the bind side (left on recto, right on verso). No extra gutter required for saddle stitch binding.
• Create master pages with auto numbering, folio lines, chapter titles (recto), book title (verso)
• Create two chapter fines and import text into the chapters
• Create InDesign "book" file and add chapters
• Create a Table of Contents
  • First create and apply the paragraph styles you’ll use as the basis for the TOC.
  • Second, specify which styles are used in the TOC and how the TOC is formatted.
  • Third, flow the TOC into your document.

3) Export to PDF

Assignments # 10 -- Design a book Book cover-- Use Photoshop and InDesign to create the cover for your book.

1) Calculate spine based on page count size http://www.lightningsource.com/spinecalc.aspx

2) Generate template with extra half inch of 'bleed' over the margins

Assignment #11 -- Excel -- Infographics -- Create three charts based on an Excel data file provided by the instructor.

Assignment #12 -- Infographics - Create a chart in Illustrator using data imported from Excel.

Assignment #13 -- Infographics -- Use an image from the Window / swatch libraries / other library or create one yourself.

Put a bounding box behind the image and group the image and the box together.

While the image is highlighted, go to Object / graph / design and click on New design

Now it's "loaded" into Illustrator.

Next go back to your chart (Assignment 12) and go to Object / graph / column and select your design. There are options here you can try to see which works best for your project.

Assignment #14 -- Create a Google map and load a photo into it. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzmrohA0aNc&NR=1 for an idea of how this looks in real life.

Project (see syllabus). Your project, at minimum, is to build your own web portfolio and put all other assignments onto your blog. For additional credit, a redesign of a newsletter, newspaper or other live project can also be done.