DTP - Design

Desktop publishing
Overview | Checklist | Comp preparation

Overview

COMP is a common abbreviation of "comprehensive", which is a complete and detailed mockup of a publication to show how the finished publication will look.

Designers create comps to preview and, if necessary, redesign the publication before going to the time and expense of creating the version that will be reproduced by a commercial printer.

Checklist

Before you start your comp go through the following checklist:

What is the purpose of your publication?
Why is it needed?
Who is the intended audience?
What kind of information will you include?
What kind of image do you want to project?
Does the publication need to fit into an established design program or conform to a corporate style?
What is the overall format?
What kinds of art or photography – and how much – will you include?
What are the printing specifications?
What will you use for camera-ready pages?
How will the publication be reproduced?
How will it be distributed?
When is your deadline?
What is the budget?

Comp preparation

Preparing your comp – you need one comp for your master page/s and one for each page in your publication

Master page/s -

Measure, rule up your margins and write in measurements for top, bottom, left and right margins
- Write on header/footers and indicate font, size and leading to be used
- Rule column guides and write on the space to be used between them
For all other pages
- Measure and draw a box to indicate the size and placement of pictures and write on file name/s
- Indicate where text is to be placed, write on filename and the font, size and leading to be used
- Measure and indicate where lines, boxes etc are to be placed and their line weight and fill

DTP - Design

Overview

Checklist

Comp preparation

Master page/s -

For all other pages