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1:10 How to Use Simplicity to Create
More Powerful Documents, Part 2

I n this session, we’re going to look at ways to improve the visually cluttered document below.
Let’s take it one section at a time. As we go through this exercise, keep these three key
principles in mind: consistency, simplicity, and legibility.

First, let’s eliminate the dashed border. It’s too heavy, distracting, and doesn’t serve to group any
related information together. So it’s really unnecessary.
For those of you who already may have played around with Quark and would like to follow along,
here is how to do it. But don’t worry if you don’t feel ready yet. I will explain each step performed in
Quark in detail in future sessions. At this point, I am just demonstrating how easy it is to turn a cluttered
document into an easy-to-read, well-structured piece.

Your Hands-on Exesrcise:

Here’s how to do it in Quark:

1. Select the top box with the Content tool. This is the second
tool from the top in your toolbar – the one that looks like a hand.
(If you don’t see the toolbar, go to your main menu, click on
Window and select Show Tools.)
2. Go to the main menu and click on Item. Select Modify from the
drop-down menu. (Shortcut: If you’re using a PC, press <Control> + M. On a
Macintosh, press <Apple> + M.) This should open a dialog box.
3. Select the Frame tab at the top of the dialog box. When the dialog box goes to the
Frame section, find Width and change it to 0.

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4. While you’re still in this dialog box, click on the Box tab at the top. The dialog box should
switch to the Box section.
5. In the upper right-hand corner of the Box dialog box, find Color and click on it. This will
open a drop-down menu.
6. Select None from the drop-down menu. What was gray should now turn white.
7. Click on OK.

The next step you’ll take is to give the body text a consistent color and style. There are actually
two ways to do this: by selecting Style from the main menu, or by using the Show Measurements box.
If the Show Measurements box isn’t visible, select Window from the main menu and then select Show
Measurements.

1. Select the Content tool (the one that looks like a hand) from the toolbar.
2. Place your cursor anywhere in the bottom paragraph and triple-click with the left-hand
mouse button. This selects ALL the paragraph text.
3. Using the Show Measurements box, change the point size to 12 pt, but leave the font on
Times.
4. Now triple-click on the paragraph above – the one with the red text.
5. Using the Show Measurements box, change the font from Helvetica to Times and change
the point size to 12 pt.
6. Notice the row of icons below the font window in the Show Measurements box. Three of
them – B, I, and U – should be darker than the others. These are the Bold, Italics, and
Underline buttons. Click on each one to remove these styles from the selected text.

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7. If the Colors menu (see illustration) isn’t active, go to the main
menu and select Window and Show Colors.
8. If it’s not still selected, use the Content tool to select the paragraph
of red type, then change the color (in the Colors menu) to black.

Now let’s simplify the headline and give it a little punch.

9. Select the headline text with the Content tool.
10. Using the Show Measurements box again, change the font to Arial
Black. Your headline now has some visual “weight” – but it’s still too small.
11. Since this headline is long, let’s break it into two lines. To do this, change the point size to
23 pt. The larger size won’t all fit on one line, so it automatically goes to two lines. Now
your headline really gets some attention!

Let’s remove that awful blue border from around the picture. While we’re at it, let’s move the picture to
a better location, too.
12. First, select the picture using your Content tool. (Remember: You always have to select an
item before you can change it.)
13. From your main menu, select Modify. This will bring up the same dialog box you used
earlier in this exercise.
14. Select the Frame tab at the top of the dialog box.
15. When the Frame section appears, change the width to 1 point and the color to black.

How to Adjust the Photo

In its current location, the photo doesn’t line up with anything – it feels out of place. Let’s move it
to a better location.
16. Select the picture using the Item tool. (This is the top tool in the toolbox and looks like four
arrows facing four different directions.)
17. Drag the image to the left of the two lower paragraphs. The top of the picture should line
up with the first line (the one that begins “Willy’s Foods…”).

You’ve successfully moved the picture, but do you see the problem this creates? The text butts
right up against the picture… and that doesn’t look too good. We need to create some space on the right-
hand side of the picture to give the image and text a little “breathing room.”

18. Be sure the picture is still selected. From the Modify dialog box, click on the Runaround
tab at the top. Runaround allows you to adjust the “buffer” around an image.

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19. When the Runaround section appears, change the Right number to 15. (See illustration.)
You should be able to see the text “jump” to the right.

Congratulations! You’ve just completed Part 2 of the exercise – and you’ve successfully simplified
the design.

You’ve also had a chance to work with a few more of Quark’s many powerful tools. You’re
rapidly building expertise with this top-of-the-line software program – and you’re only on your tenth
lesson. Great job!

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