Congratulations!

If you are reading this blog you are the Emerson/ DaVinci yearbook staff, congratulations!  Yearbook is a great experience where you will improve your communication, team work, and responsibility skills while creating a book that everyone will love at the end of the year.  Shannon and I have created this blog to make your first deadline as pain free as possible.  Follow these and you will do well.  Good luck and we can't wait to see your final product!

Editing

When you are making corrections to your page:

• correct at the obvious spelling and grammar stakes
• make the changes to incorrect formats
• change awkward spacing, pictures, etc.
• make everything pop and more visually interesting
• fix the font and color problems
• except the constructive criticism
• ask the editor if you have any questions about corrections

Special Effects!

When your page needs a little something extra try these got to the format tab and then select effects at the top to create:

• COB-cut out background
• Colorize-making the picture all one color
• Selective Color- highlight certain colors
• Black and white/ Sepia

Examples of Special Effects:

This is example of selective color.

This is an example of a COB but you can also eliminate the whole sky too.

This is an example of colorizing and you can do any color.

This is an example of black and white.

This is an example of sepia.

Headlines

When coming up with a headline:

• use rhymezone.com!
• make it verbally and visually interesting
• keep it connected to the theme
• place the headline at the top of the page

Examples of headlines:

A headline for the Letter from the Editors and it ties in with the theme.

This is a headline for the DaVinci Page and it is visually interesting.

This headline is for a mock page and it is verbally interesting.

This headline is for the baby pictures page and it is visually interesting and connected to the theme.

This headline is for the Peer Helping page and its connected to the theme.

Layouts

When picking a layout think about:

• what do you need- quotes space, photo space, etc.
• what fits the theme
• what is the best use of space
• what is the most visually interesting
• what layout your page partner is using

Step by Step of Starting Your Page:

Start by opening your page then find your layout under the the design tab.  To get you layout on the page just click and drag onto the page.

To add pictures click on the photo tab where you can search by event or name.

Just like the design just click and drag with the picture.

To add text and color click on the format tab.  To add special effects click on the effects button up at the top so you can COB, colorize, or make text glow.

Advertising

5 Easy Ways to Advertise the yearbook:

1. Posters!  Go poster crazy, hang them everywhere, add glitter, and make them colorful.
2. The Daily Bulletin!  Just go to the office and ask for a bulletin announcement slip.  Create your announcement and smack on a signature and bam, the next couple days everyone at school will hear it over the inner com.
3. Flyers!  Cover the campus with flyers- bathroom stalls, on teachers' boards, in the enclosed bulletin boards- everywhere!
4. Be a bug!  Bug your friends, bug everyone to buy their yearbook.  Keep them updated on the prices, give them order forms, and just keep talking about it!
5. Make an Announcement!  Go into homeroom classes to remind everyone to buy their yearbook and some teachers will even let you write it under homework.

What should a poster/flyer look like?

• NEAT, if it is not easily read people will not give the effort
• Simple, don't try to cram a whole paragraph in your poster a simple "Buy Your Yearbook" with basic price/deadline/place to buy information below is fine!
• Colorful! No one wants to look at a boring piece of paper.

A handy play on words flyer!

Two posters of why you should buy your yearbook!

A flyer drawn by our excellent Bianca in the enclosed bulletin board at the front of the school!

This poster literally took up a whole wall catching everyone's eye.

Writing

Writing:

• keep your writing short (1-2 sentences)
• start with an eye-catching sentence 
• finish off your writing with a good conclusion
• use survey results to add facts to your writing 
• talk about what your page is going to feature

Examples of Writing:

FAQ's

Q: Where is the blue tape to hang up posters?

A: Behind Mrs. Wolfe's desk in the closet's right corner.

Q: What should I do if a teacher won't let me pull a student out of class?

A: Try and get the student during another class or ask the teacher when would be a more appropriate time.

Q: What should I do if I can't come up with a headline?
A: Google it, use rhymezone.com, or just ask the class you will be surprised to see what everyone can come up with.

Q: What do I do when I can't come up with an angle for my page?
A: Think about the theme and how it could be incorporated, look at past yearbook pages for inspiration, or ask fellow yearbookers for ideas.

Q: What should I do if a deadline is coming up and I'm really busy?
A: Make every moment count.  During class, lunch, and the little bits of time at home.

Interviews and Formatting

When interviewing:

• be polite
• always ask for full name and grade
• always copy down their exact words
• always take their picture
• if they don't want to be interviewed your editors will understand just pick another person!
• use someone who isn't already on your page unless you absolutely HAVE to, this usually only applies to sport/club pages

Proper interview format include:

• A photo of the person you interviewed
• The question phrased like, Q: "Question?"
• The answer phrased like, A: "Answer."
• Then add their names, grades, and sometimes placement if its not obvious like, -Name (Grade)(Placement)

Before Submiting

Check for:

• spelling for both the story and names
• incomplete elements
• blurry photos
• correct interview format
• 20+ per page
• fonts and color from our family 
• SPELL CHECK
• coordination with your page partner
• coverage report!

Photography and Uploading

Photography

Do...

• use different techniques (worms eye, birds eye, candids, etc.)
• ask for permission
• ask for name and grade
• use appropriate flash
• ask for teacher's permission to take pictures during class
• always have your camera ready, you never know when a picture perfect moment is going to come up
• take candids! (candids means not posed)
• pay attention to your camera settings, if you are taking pictures at a basketball game there is (usually) an action setting on your camera

Don't...

• only take mug pictures
• get up in people's grill
• take pictures of the same people
• download photos from the internet

Photo Effects:

Photo Effect: Worm's Eye View (down below)

Photo Effect: Reaction

Photo Effect: Framing

Photo Effect: Candid (Action)

Uploading

Do...

• save to your Y drive first
• put them in specific folders
• NAME ALL YOUR PHOTOS!

Don't...

• upload poor quality photos
• upload the same picture twice (it leads to pictures being used twice in the yearbook)

Step by Step Photo Uploading:

Click the Upload button in the top center of the bar.

Click add files.

Browse the photos and highlight the photos you wanted to upload.

Then press Open in the bottom right hand corner.

This window will pop up so just wait a bit.

When the bar turns green click to add names or to upload more.

Everything Else

Do...

• ask questions
• learn to take and give constructive criticism
• get and stay organized
• listen and write down everything from the bulletin
• try your best at all times
• use time effectively

Don't...

• procrastinate 
• tell anyone the theme of the book
• ask irrelevant questions
• also stupid questions are not appreciated (ex. "Where are the scissors?" when they are right in front of you)