Newbie Pagemaker User...What is the Best Tutorial Book

[elizbeth]

Hi,

I just changed jobs last week. Am now working for a non-profit organization. We produce and mail a quarterly magazine type publication, which is approximatley 40 to 45 pages. The information contained in the quarterly changes each time it is published. I was just told today that I will now be responsible for it's production. They also just purchased PageMaker 7. I have never done any desktop publishing. I would like to know what is the best book to purchase to learn Pagemaker. The next quarterly must be ready to go June 1st, so I have alot to learn in a short period of time. Thanks for the help.

elizbeth

 

[Eggles]

What an impossible situation to put you in!! If you have never done any desktop publishing, you're in for quite a steep learning curve - not just in learning the software, but also some basic design principles.

If you really must do this job (which I think it incredibly unfair of your employers to ask - unless DTP was a requirement of the job description? if so, why did you get the job?) then two books that I can recommend are:

For learning Pagemaker, get Adobe's 'Classroom in a Book' and also read this very thoroughly and follow everything it says:

http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/328514.html.

Another book that's OK is Ted Alspach's 'Pagemaker Visual Quick Start Guide'.

For some basic design principles, try 'The Non-Designer's Design Book' by Robin Williams.

You've got a really tough road to follow, as with no DTP experience, you're going to find it's a little more complicated than Word. Do you also have to know how to use graphics software such as Photoshop and Illustrator? How is the newsletter printed?

 

[elizbeth]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. DTP was NOT a requirement for the job. I am very good with computers and many software applications, but I have never used Page Maker. Graphic software is not an issue, as I use it quite often. My post read like I was upset about the added responsibility. I am not; I actually love my job. They understand that there will be a big learning curve. They want the body of the quarterly to look abit more pulled together and polished.

We only produce about 300 copies, so the quarterly is produced in house on a high end copier, and then sent to the printer for the covers to be professionally bound/stapled. They have looked into having the entire publication professionally printed, but being a non-profit the cost is prohibitive. It is strictly a black and white publication with a few graphics.

Thanks,

Elizbeth

 

[Eggles]

Good luck. If you have any problems, post back.

 

[BionicJohn]

Lots of FAQs about PM at:

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.1de7c91d

Links to tutorials at:

http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.2ccd2634/0

LIVERPOOL FC - 5 times Champions of Europe. 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005.
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.