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Open a Newsletter Digital Scrapbooking Template background. Shown here is Newsletter Family Front. Insert a neutral digital scrapbooking paper of your choice.
Open up the next template layers: the Bar and the Title. Hold down the Shift key and drag the Bar into position onto your background. Repeat with the Title. At this point, it's a good idea to do a "Save As" of your newsletter.
Change the colour of the Bar by adjusting the variations or applying a Colour Overlay. It's also a good idea to name your layers as you work.
You can also recolour the headline, if desired. Next, open up the two photo template layers. Above, the main photo template has been dragged into position and the template layer for the small photo is active. Hold the Shift key and drag this template into position. You can insert your photos now, cropping them to the template size, or you can add them later and move on to the text.
To add the text, open up the text box templates, 1 and 2. Drag each into position, holding down the Shift key. They simply show you how much space your text should take up.
Add your text over the block by selecting your Type Tool and typing. You can bring in guidelines, or add a text block if that is how your software works. You can also copy and paste type from a word processing program. The text block is a guide and represents a column of text. You can format your text to fit; adjusting the point size, width, space between the lines, space between the letters. It depends on how sophisticated your program is. The more sophisticated the software, the more control you will have over your type.
For text, a serif face, like the one above, is easier to read. The serifs, or "little feet" are designed to guide your eye along the line.
The type above is set in a style called flush left, ragged right. All the sentences line up on the left side. Your type size is measured in points. The type size above is 12 pt. Choose between 8 and 12 point for the best newsletter legibilty. I choose a larger size so it would be easier to read over the stars. Keep your type within the area shown by the text block template.
When you have finished setting your type, turn off the template by closing the eye. Just click on the eye, and the layer becomes invisible.
Continue to add text. The main story is contained in these two columns. You can continue it on the back, if you want, or in the third column. The third column can also be used for another story, or more information about the main story. Its template is called a Sidebar. There is a template layer for a verical rule to add a visual separtion between the main story and the sidebar. Finish adding your text, then add in your photos if you have not already done so.
Below the main photo, add a caption. Here, a sans serif font in a bold face is appropriate.
Just like with scrapbooking, you can add digital scrapbooking embellishments, photo corners, grunge it up, add a doodle. It's up to you! Just use the text blocks to position your type, the photo blocks for photos and then have fun.
Layout by Valerie Randall
Layout by Valerie Randall
larger view
Tutorial by Valerie Randall
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