Contact Prints
Be sure to ask if this service is available before you drop off your film to be developed! A contact print is one of the most effective (and inexpensive) ways to look at every picture taken from a single roll of film - without having full-size prints made. It shows each shot in miniature on one sheet, so you can choose which one(s) to enlarge for your newsletter. By using a magnifying glass, you can easily check for detail.
Cropping
Don?t be afraid to crop photos to enhance the main point of interest in the picture. The only exception would be in the case of a need to fill space in your newsletter.
Logotype - 1
The logotype or logo is the name of your company set in a distinctive typestyle or in the form of a trademark. It is used for easy identification and should be incorporated consistently on related printed material including business cards, envelopes, letterhead, etc.
Bylines
Whenever someone else contributes an article to your newsletter, they should be given credit for their piece; by using a byline, the person who wrote the article also assumes responsibility for what is written. Most of the time when an article is printed without a byline, readers will assume the article speaks for the entire group publishing the newsletter. Also, a newsletter without bylines, will seem cold and unfriendly.
The byline is usually set in text-size type under the headline of the article.
Activities
When listing several activities at a time in your newsletter, arrange them in a way that makes sense to your readers. This can usually be done by grouping them by date or specific area of interest.
*Running Heads
A running head is a title repeated at the top of the each page of your newsletter (if your newsletter consists of more than one page). It usually contains such information as the name of the publication, a description of the page itself, and/or a page number.
Word Choices for Titles
Some of the most commonly used words in newsletter titles include: Alert, Brief, Bulletin, Channel, Connection, Daily, Digest, Examiner, Gazette, Highlights, In Brief, Journal, Letter, Monthly, News, Notes, Quarterly, Report, Review, Spotlight, This Week (This Month, etc.), Times, Update, and Weekly.
Also: Access, Accents, Advisory, Almanac, Axis, Beacon, Board, Circle, Communicator, Courier, Details, Edge, Essentials, Et Cetera, Eye, Facets, Facts, File, Focus, Forecast, Forum, Guide, Horizons, Hotline, Image, Ink, Information, Insider, Leader, Letter, Line, Link, List, Log, Monitor, Network, Outlook, Outreach, Perspective, Pipeline, Point, Post, Profile, Recorder, Report, Resources, Sampler, Scene, Scope, Scoop, Sounding Board, Spectrum, Survey, Talk, Topics, Trends, Viewpoint, Views, Voice, What¡¯s New, Wire, and World.
Choosing a Name - 1
Select a name for your newsletter that people will remember. It should be lively as well as effective and should describe the subject matter of your newsletter. Also consider using an "active communication" word to describe a "benefit" of your newsletter. (Examples include: Briefs, Digest, Facts, Outlook, Review, etc.)
Logotype - 2
When designing your logo, make sure it is flexible enough to be reproduced in different sizes for use on business cards, letterhead, and even billboards. You will also want to be sure it is adaptable for printing in black and white, just as well as it is in color.
Uncurl a Photograph
Handling a photograph that has curled is difficult. There are two simple ways to eliminate this problem:
1. Spray removable adhesive on the back of the photo and press it down carefully on card stock. (A dry mounting press is ideal!)
2. Flatten the photos with a homemade solution of three teaspoons plain unflavored gelatin dissolved in a quart of hot water. Brush the solution on the back of the photos and let dry.
Volume and Issue Numbers
If you are beginning a brand new publication, you should, of course, start with Vol. 1, No. 1 - then each month, only the "No." changes. Once you have completed a full year, the Vol. number changes to 2, and you begin again with No. 1 (and so on). The date is also important and may be indicated weekly (June 16, 2005), monthly (June 2005), or quarterly (Summer 2005). For instance, your first issue would be Vol. 1, No. 1 Summer 2005. You can also use Roman numerals for the volume number if you prefer - Vol. I, No. 1 2.
This is important information and must be included in every issue - preferably on the front page, in the masthead, or within the first five pages of a larger publication.
Understanding Proportion
To understand proportion, think of a perfect 8"x8" square that you want to reduce. When reduction occurs, the width of the square will be exactly the same as the height. For example, if you reduce your square by 50%, the finished size will be 4"x4".
One of the most common errors for those new to reduction is a 50% reduction of 17"x22". The correct answer is 8-1/2"x11", but many often give 11"x17" as an incorrect answer.
*Masthead
The masthead is the information printed in each issue of your newsletter stating the title, editor, publisher, ad rates, contact names/numbers/emails, and any other information regarding ownership and/or subscriptions.
Choosing a Name - 3
If you are self-publishing a newsletter, you might want to consider using your own name! For example, I could choose something like, "Pinter?s Perspective."
All Caps
NEVER ever use all caps for the body of text in your newsletter - it is extremely difficult to read. You should also avoid using all caps in your headlines as well. However, since heads are are shorter by nature, you can sometimes get away with it for design purposes.