Any ideas on how to make a template for Word from a Mac...

[backspin]

Okay, here's the story. I'm a graphic designer, using a Mac. I work in a department of all PC users. They want me to design some templates that they can put into a Word document & print off their printers to make copies (small newsletters, etc.). I have never worked with Word, & don't know how to format something that will work for them.

I can make the background "template" file into a .tif, .eps, or .jpg file; will any of these work? And if that file takes up a whole page (for example, if there's a border that runs around the page), can they then go over top of it to put in their text?

Hope this makes sense. I'm coming from the perspective that Word is for Word processing, not design, but I do understand their desire to create more professional looking documents. Is there any way I can help them?

 

[Dreamboat]

Hey, backspin. Right up my alley. Get ready to copy & paste.



Yes, they can insert a full 8.5 x 11 (or A4) image: gif, jpg, etc. But you might want to consider 7.5 x 10 as a *default* size to keep the printers clean.

When they insert these files, however, it MAY (probably WILL) keep file size down if they then cut and paste special as a plain old picture. This loses the graphic *header* info that bloats Word docs and Powerpoint presentations. Oh, and gifs would be best for presentations.

They can place graphics right in their document, then, using the Draw menu from drawing toolbar, they can choose Order-then send to back-much like your graphics programs have.

I have found that, for printing, wmf works best unless the original image is a photo, in which case jpg works best. Granted, I did most of my *desktop publishing in Word* in Office 97, so the newer versions may be better with heretofore-known *web-intended images* like jpg and gif. And I imagine the graphics proggies are better with compression too.

Don't call your files the templates, tho. This could confuse them. THEY need to insert your graphics, lay out docs, then File-Save as-Document Template. Real Word templates can be saved in a directory on the network, then user's go to Tools-Options-File locations, and change their Workgroup Templates to that directory OR, of course, you just store them where they're already going now.

Anyway...I guess you know the sizes you ought to make, like small images for newsletters, and larger for report covers, etc.

You let me know if you need any help at all. And check out my Word site. Some interesting stuff under PowerPoint about creating *visual media*. Have them check out the Word stuff...

http://www.TheWordExpert.com