| 1. Creating business cards. If you're self employed or | | | | messy!5. Designing flyers. Scale that banner or poster |
| run a small business, you know how expensive printing | | | | down to half a page, and you've got a flyer to hand |
| business cards can be. If someone leaves your | | | | out.6. Typesetting newsletters. A newsletter is the |
| employ, or the phone area code changes, all that | | | | easiest way of letting customers, or members of your |
| money is down the drain. Most printers and stationers | | | | club or other organisation, know what's going on. |
| work to standard designs anyway, so your business | | | | Typing them up on a word processor is fine, but use |
| card looks pretty much like all the rest. With your own | | | | your DTP software to make them more eye-catching, |
| DTP software you can really let your imagination rip, | | | | and your newsletter is more likely to be read than |
| and design a unique and memorable card. You can | | | | trashed.7. Magazine layout. Go one further and layout |
| then print it out on your colour printer and save a | | | | your own glossy magazine with pictures ad text put |
| bundle - you can even get pre-cut card to print your | | | | together in full colour. It's easier (and cheaper) than you |
| design out on that can make your work | | | | may think.8. Product packaging. Think package design |
| indistinguishable from a professional job.2. Designing | | | | is the preserve of expensive design shops or |
| letterheads. Just like business cards, really, only bigger. | | | | advertising agencies? Think again! Most package |
| You can get them offset printed by the ream, or save | | | | design these days is done using computers. "Reverse |
| the design as a file and print out the letterhead every | | | | engineer" a package by taking a similar sized one |
| time you print out a letter.3. Custom DVD covers and | | | | apart to get the dimensions, build your own template |
| labels. Making movies is fun (I know), but if you make | | | | from the measurements, then let your imagination run |
| home movies and videos, and burn them onto disk | | | | wild. You'll be surprised at what you can come up with |
| yourself, the label that comes with the disk looks pretty | | | | - and how little it will cost.9. Laying out a catalogue. If |
| boring. It's easy to design an insert to go inside the | | | | you sell multiple products, or just want to let customers |
| DVD case - and a matching label - using your DTP | | | | know what's in your shop or store, a catalogue can |
| software. Now your epic can take pride of place on | | | | keep you uppermost in your customer's mind. |
| the shelf alongside the professional ones from the | | | | Designing it using your own DTP software means you |
| video store.4. Making banners and posters. Throwing a | | | | can easily update it without having to pay a fortune to |
| party? Want to advertise your goods or services? | | | | an agency.10. Designing a yearbook. Don't let precious |
| Got an event you need to publicise? Banners and | | | | memories fade away. A yearbook isn't just for high |
| posters are a simple way to catch someone's | | | | school. Use your DTP software to organise pictures, |
| attention. The traditional way of creating them is by | | | | facts and reminiscences into a document you'll |
| using markers and paints. A combination of your DTP | | | | treasure forever.Shaun Pearce is a writer and video |
| software and colour printer is much quicker - and less | | | | maker. |