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Design 101: Newsletters Planning - Step 6

Produce. This is when you put it all together to create an issue. It's easier than you think because now you know all the elements you need to include. You already have a design and, if you have set your deadlines carefully and enforced them, you should have adequate time to create the newsletter.

Once it's created, give it to several people to proofread. For some unknown reason, mistakes are always easier to find after you've printed hundreds or thousands of copies – yet that's something you really want to avoid. So the more people who look at it before you duplicate it, the higher your chances are of finding and eliminating errors. Once you've changed the errors, you need to proof the newsletter again, because it's not uncommon to make new errors while fixing old ones. Nothing is ever perfect, so don't get too upset if you do end up finding an error or two.

Now it's time to duplicate. If you're going to use spot-color offset printing, you may be creating laser-printer output for your originals. Or you may be creating Adobe PostScript files to send to a service bureau, where film will be created for printing.

If you're duplicating in-house, it's time to print the newsletter on your color printer. This is as easy as choosing "File/Print," though you may also have to collate, staple, etc.

Creating a successful publication does take a lot of planning. But using a step-by-step method makes it much easier and ensures the best possible product.