Layout is important when processing text and images. All that raw data on the computer needs to be turned into something attractive, such as a glossy magazine. Word processing, desktop publishing and images come into play. At school, you will usually have been allowed to use whatever layout and fonts that you like. This enables you to find out for yourself how software works by trial and error and to see what looks best on paper. Professionally produced magazines and newspapers have a set of rules called the house style. This gives the magazine a consistent appearance. A magazine is usually... Show more

Layout is important when processing text and images. All that raw data on the computer needs to be turned into something attractive, such as a glossy magazine. Word processing, desktop publishing and images come into play. At school, you will usually have been allowed to use whatever layout and fonts that you like. This enables you to find out for yourself how software works by trial and error and to see what looks best on paper. Professionally produced magazines and newspapers have a set of rules called the house style. This gives the magazine a consistent appearance.

A magazine is usually produced using desktop publishing software. There are many different brands but they have certain functions in common, depending on the operating system. Many schools, possibly even your own, will use computers and tablets based on the Windows® operating system. On Windows machines, whatever text processing software you use, generally two mouse clicks will highlight a single word and three clicks will highlight a sentence. Other common keyboard shortcuts include ctrl-C to copy and ctrl-V to paste.

A word processor is a computer application used for the production (including composition, editing, formatting, and possibly printing) of any sort of printable material. We have said 'possibly printing' because usually, desktop publishing (DTP) software will be used to lay out the pages, to include both text and images. Some people attempt to use word processing software to layout the whole publication. This can be done but is much more difficult and less reliable than using a DTP program.

When using a word processor, you can use the built-in spell checker and grammar checker. It is much better to learn grammar and how to spell properly if you can. The aim of proofreading is to check through your work after you think you have finished. You can then spot any spelling mistakes and errors of grammar and put them right. Relying completely on your computer program for proofreading is not a good choice. It might not find missing words, it won't spot correctly spelt words like their and there used in the wrong context, and some of the words you use may not be in the dictionary it uses.

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