Open Office Tutorial

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Creating Files in Open Office | Safety Margins | Save the artwork

Creating Files in Open Office

To create a new artwork in Open Office select File > New > Drawing.

To adjust the size of the document select Format > Page. For business cards set the size to 91mm x 61mm and for A6 post card to 151.5mm x 108mm. These dimensions include the bleed of 3mm for and business cards and 1.5mm (4.2pt) for post cards.

Set all the margins to 0.00cm, this will give you a warning when pressing the OK button. Answer the warning with yes and carry on with your design.

Safety Margins

Any time an image or colour is printed to the edge of a page, it must extend beyond the final dimensions of your job to allow for cutting. The size for the bleed of a business must be exactly 3mm and for an A6 post card 1.5mm (4.2pt).

Text or artwork you wish to preserve must be at least 3mm (8.5pt) inside of the final dimension of your design.

To create your card in the safe zone you can create guidelines by dragging them out from the ruler. For business cards set the guides to 3mm, 6mm, 55mm and 58mm vertically and 3mm, 6mm, 85mm and 88mm horizontally. For post cards set the guides to 1.5mm, 4.5mm, 103.5mm and 106.5mm vertically and 1.5mm, 4.5mm, 147mm and 150mm horizontally.

Save the artwork

To save the document as EPS choose the option File > Export and select .eps as file format.