What is Publisher?

Publisher is an application that enables you to create documents meant for printing, distribution and display.
If you have used Word, or other Microsoft Office products you will find many similar features and functions in
Publisher. In addition to similar features available in other Microsoft Office products, Publisher has some
different features designed to create publications like flyers, posters, newsletters, brochures, and menus.
Publisher gives the user more control over the file that they are working on. Publisher includes a work
environment much like a desktop that makes it easy to manipulate different elements (i.e. text, images, art)
of a file in a variety of sizes and shapes. The application includes a wide assortment of tools and features that
help you arrange and align these elements on your page.
In this class we will be creating a flyer for a yard sale. To do this exercise we will use the following features
and tools available in Publisher.

• Opening the file/choosing page size • Inserting Word Art

• The Ribbon • Inserting Text Boxes
• The Work Environment • Inserting Pictures/Images
• Guides • Useful links to help with content creation

The goal of the class is to make publisher more accessible and help people realize its value as the right tool
for the job.

***This class is meant as an Introduction to Microsoft Publisher 2019. It is intended for those who have an
understanding of Word 2019 and basic word processing.***

***If you are unfamiliar or not comfortable with Word 2019 or word processing please consider taking the
library’s Word 2019 class or enrolling in the Universal Class – Microsoft Word 2019 training course before
taking this class.***

1 Spring 2019
Getting Started
Double-click the Publisher icon to open the program.

If you have used Word, you will notice differences, but there will be many similar features. Publisher uses
the Ribbon like many other office 2019 programs. The Ribbon is organized into different tabbed sections at
the top, each with their own set of tools. Some tabs, like Text Box Tools or Picture Tools, may appear only
when you're working with certain items like text boxes or images.
Also, you might notices that the Title Bar is at the top and, and in the bottom right you can zoom in and out
of your publication view similarly to how you can in Word.
Ribbon Tabs Title Bar Special Ribbon Tabs

Zoom In/Out
Work Environment/Scratch Area

2 Spring 2019
Familiar and Useful Tabs on the Ribbon
Home Tab
If you have used Word before the Home Tab should look familiar. The Home Tab in Publisher has many
features and functions also found in Word. The Home Tab has some of the most used features that are
helpful for creating your publication.

Home Tab

Insert Tab
The Insert Tab also has many useful tools that Publisher uses frequently. On the Insert Tab you will find the
necessary tools to insert Pictures, Text Boxes and Word Art.

Insert Tab

Review Tab
On the Review Tab you will find several tools that you may be familiar with. There aren’t as many options as
a full word processing program in Publisher, but there is enough functionality to do basic proofreading and
editing.

Review Tab

3 Spring 2019
View Tab
Under the View Tab there are a group of tools that are helpful for the layout of your text and the design of
your publication. These can be turned on an off and won’t appear in the final version of you publication.

Boundaries - This shows the boundaries for shapes, text boxes, and pictures.
Guides - Shows adjustable drawing guides that help you line up objects.
Rulers - The rulers are used to measure and line up objects in the document.
Page Navigation - Shows the page navigation pane, which displays an image of each page in the publication.
Scratch Area - Show objects in the work area not placed in the publication.
Baselines - Used to line up text in the publication.

Page Design Tab

In the Page Design tab you will find tools that help you select the page layout and design of your publication.
Here you can set margins, change the orientation of the page to portrait or landscape, choose the size of the
page, set guides, and choose or create a color scheme.

4 Spring 2019
Creating a Simple Flyer
For this class we will be creating a flyer for a yard sale. Publisher has many different templates and layouts
where you can create brochures, posters, menus and more. For now we will create a simple flyer from a
blank 8.5”x 11” page.

When you open up publisher you will see a page that allows you to choose different types of publications.
The publications types that you can choose range from blank to complex depending upon what you are
trying to accomplish. If you don’t want to start from a blank publication there are many templates to choose
from.

Double Click on Blank 8.5x11”

5 Spring 2019
Click on the Insert Tab and then click
on Word Art

Choose the WordArt

Style that you want
to Insert.

Type your desired

words to display as
WordArt.

6 Spring 2019
 You can use Guides to
help you align pictures,
WordArt, and Text Boxes

Guides can be activated by

clicking on the rulers and
dragging the Guide line to
your page.

You can also align pictures

WordArt, and Text Boxes
by using the Align button
in Format Tab.
If you notice that an
object that you have just
inserted is not displaying,
it might be behind
another element on the
screen. The Bring Forward
and Send Backward
buttons will help you
arrange your work if this is
the case.

7 Spring 2019
 Resize the WordArt to your
desired size. Use the
mouse cursor and to click
and drag lines on the
WordArt box. If you drag
from the corner the
WordArt will remain in the
same aspect ratio.

You can use the mouse and

cursor to grab the “handle”
to rotate the WordArt to a
different angle.

8 Spring 2019
 Add pictures from a file
on your PC. You can also
copy and paste images
into Publisher from other
sources.

Adjust the picture to

your desired size.
Remember to click and
drag on the corner of
the picture with your
mouse to keep the
correct aspect ratio.

9 Spring 2019
 Insert a Text Box to
write your desired
message.
You can find many
familiar word processing
features in a Text Box

If you click on the special

Text Box Tools Tab you’ll
find many other useful
tools specific to Text
Boxes
You can change the
hyphenation settings,
the text fit and the text
direction.

10 Spring 2019
 You can also insert
pictures from the
Internet by doing a
Bing search.

Choose your picture.

From the selection.

11 Spring 2019
6 principles of visual hierarchy for designers
https://99designs.com/blog/tips/6-principles-of-visual-hierarchy/

Youtube - Search for Publisher video tutorials.

www.youtube.com

Universal Class - Publisher courses available, brought to you by

the library.
http://nashuanh.universalclass.com/register.htm

Microsoft Publisher video training

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/publisher-video-training
-5ce4abaa-3557-4115-84c0-3232a5d59939

12 Spring 2019