How to Make a Newsletter Using Adobe PageMaker 7
PageMaker was the original desktop publishing software package. Introduced in 1985 for the Apple Macintosh, it became the “killer app” that pushed both PageMaker and the Mac to the forefront of a revolution that changed publishing. PageMaker made it possible for a regular person, without a printing press and large staff, to print virtually anything, including brochures, fliers and newsletters, according to Peter Adams in “PageMaker Past, Present and Future” at Makingpages.org.
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Instructions
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Gather the text and images you need to create your newsletter. It’s important to have all the photos, graphics and text formatted correctly before starting. You need to use a consistent resolution of images and file types such as .doc or .txt. Set photos to 300 pixels per inch resolution and illustrations to at least 400 ppi and save them as TIFF files for best reproduction quality. Because PageMaker 7 was released in 2001, there may be compatibility issues with newer versions of word processors.
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Determine the size and shape of your newsletter. Traditionally, a newsletter tends to be 8.5-by-11 inches, the same size as a regular sheet of paper and in portrait mode, meaning vertical. If you only need two pages--front and back--you can set PageMaker 7’s parameters easily. Go to “File” then to “New” and set the dimensions in the pop-up dialog box. For the 8.5-by-11-inch newsletter, set “Page Size” to “Letter,” “Orientation” to “Tall” and click off the defaults “Double-Sided” and “Facing Pages.” Then set the margins below to at least 0.25 inches, for “Left,” “Right,” “Top” and “Bottom.” If you intend to print it on a standard, home printer, it will be safer to set all margins to 0.5 inches. Set “Target Output Resolution” to at least 300 dots per inch at the bottom of the pop-up.
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Start your design. Some people draw out a sketch of page layout first, but PageMaker 7 allows you to change things rapidly, so the sketch may not be necessary. Start by naming the newsletter at the top of the page. Click the “Type” or capital “T” in the side Toolbar, then click near the top of the page and type. When the name is there, use Command-A (Mac)/Control-A (Windows) to select all the text. Then go to the “Type” menu and choose the font, style, size and alignment you want for the “flag” or name of your newsletter. Then type your first newsletter headline beneath the flag and follow the same procedure to format that text.
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Place the text from the word processor on the page. Go to “File” and then “Place” and choose the text file. The cursor will change to a small icon that looks like a newspaper. Click, hold and drag the mouse to place the text. You can change the size and shape of the text box to fit your newsletter. “Place” images the same way. PageMaker 7 automatically imports images or text appropriately, depending on which type file you choose. To make text flow around images, click on the image, then go to the “Elements” menu and select “Text Wrap.”
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Tips & Warnings
You can make text continue from one page to the next by selecting the text and going to the "Layout" menu. Choose "Autoflow."
Print a proof and copy edit your newsletter before printing it in large quantities. You may have errors you will see better on paper.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
