I need one question answered re desktop publishing...exhausted all avenues so far. [Vanity]

Pharmboy ^ | 1-13-11 | Self

[Pharmboy]

I just started a small business and I put out a monthly newsletter. The first 4-pager (last month) I wrote in Word, converted to pdf and took the pen drive to Kinko's. They printed out 100 on glossy paper and it looked great (the bulk go out by email to my list, but I need about one hundred hard copy anyway).

Now this would be fine, except Kinko's charged me 455 bucks for the 100 copies. They printed it on 11 x 17 paper and folded it (so pages 4 and 1 were on one side, and 2 and 3 were on the other).

So, I researched the cheapest printer that could print 11x17 paper (I wound up with the HP 7500 which is fine), got the glossy 11x17 paper online, and tried to print with the Adobe or the MS Word 2007 programs. Couldn't do it.

I went to staples and asked for the program that would merely allow me to place the pages side by side and print on 11x17 paper, 2 pages per side. They sold me a Nuance PDF Converter program, but that did not work.

I brought it back and the guy said "Oh...you need Publisher." So I bought it...but when it converts it to its own file, things get jumbled.

[GeronL]

did you try converting it to a TIF file?

and that is the extent of my knowledge on this issue.

thank you, thank you very much

[Biggirl]

InDesign or Creative Suite.

[Unknown Freeper]

Hi, Pharmboy,

Look through these samples/templates of newsletters and see if there is something you might like. Notice there are four pages of examples. These can be done in Word. Just select a sample and substitute the text and images for what you need. Also, see the other marketing material and samples that might be helpful.

HP Creative Studio Newsletters
http://www.hp.com/hho/smb_hp_create/postcards_flyers-newsletters.html

HP Creative Studio for Business
http://www.hp.com/hho/smb_hp_create/

HP also has a link for Creative Projects at Home. http://www.hp.com/hho/hp_create/

Here is a link to Microsoft’s Templates for newsletters. Most of these can be done in Word. Just choose the one that uses the version of Word you have.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT010104328.aspx#

I have used an Epson Stylus Photo 1400 printer. With the right paper, I have printed larger documents that came out much better than those from the office supply store. This printer prints on 11x17 paper. I have had it for a few years now. You may see a newer model available.

Here is the link to Epson wide format printers.
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/ProductCategory.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-8170

When you insert an image, select the image, choose to format it, select Layout, then choose Square. This way, you can move the picture around without messing up your text.

Regards,

U/F

[Pharmboy]

Yep...most go out via email as a pdf, but I still need to drop off about 100 hard copies.

[Pharmboy]

You Freeper guys/girls are the best...thanks for all your advice and suggestions. I will try them over the next few days and report back on what worked...

[Inyo-Mono]

Whatever you do, DON'T use the execrable Microsoft Publisher, which traps your work in a proprietary format that printers hate.

Publisher is only difficult for commercial printers to use. But Pharmboy is going to save money by printing it at home and Publisher works great for that. In addition to the newsletter I printed, I also produced a weekly half page newspaper ad with publisher (converted to pdf). It is a very versitile program, I even use it to create graphics for video editing.

[Pharmboy]

This is sooo frustrating. When I go to the drop down menu on Word, it gives me 11x14, and Japanese envelopes (among 30 or so other choices), but no 11x17...

[Bartholomew Roberts]

In Page Layout go to Orientation first. Select Landscape.

Then in Page Layout, go to Size. At the bottom, you should see More Paper Sizes. Click on that. You should see Letter in the first box. (If not, change to Letter.)

In the second box, change Width to 17. In the third, change Height to 11.

There should be no other changes needed to Page Layout.

Then Save As your blank document

Set up two Columns on your new document, each being 8.5 X 11 side by side

I would then Copy/Paste your first document from Word (not PDF) with your old Page One on the right hand side column. Copy/Paste Page Four on the left column.

Depending on how you did the first one, it will either look just right or things will get fudged around a little.

Don’t worry about it too much yet.

Now try to print.

If it prints OK, then you can either fix that one up for practice or start laying out your next one.

Don’t forget to set up a gutter near the fold so text and pictures are not too close to the middle. That looks bad on your finished piece.

Let me know if we are close!

[Pharmboy]

Thanks so much for staying with me on this...I will try it on Monday when I’m back in the office and report back. It sure sounds reasonable...

[Bartholomew Roberts]

How did you come out on all this?

More than a year ago!!

[Pharmboy]

Wow, BR, nice follow up! Thanks...

I finally figured out what switched had to be hit to get it done...easy on Adobe with the pdf...just had to go to "Booklet Printing" and it was a piece of cake after that. I am on Vol. 2 now...