How to create my own worksheets
April 11, 2015 12:25 PM Subscribe
Hello All,
So Etsy has some really cool worksheets that folks sell. I would love to have someone design a worksheet for me, do you know how I could go about this?
Or, how can I create my own worksheets like the ones post below. I am not looking to copy the work of the authors, I am wondering what programs they used and how I can learn on my own, is there a youtube video, perhaps? Links: 1, 2.
They are probably using something like Adobe InDesign, a layout program. The Microsoft version of this is called Publisher. If you really wanted to, though, you could set something like these up in PowerPoint (it would just be more of a pain).
I think a big part of what makes these appealing is the graphic design skills on display (especially in the second example). Even with the software, if you don't have the skills and "eye" to put things together in pleasing and original ways, it won't look as good. And it isn't trivial to learn how to effectively use InDesign or Publisher, especially if you have limited computer skills.
On preview, I agree with zachlipton about commissioning a design, if that's what you really want.
posted by jeoc at 12:49 PM on April 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think a big part of what makes these appealing is the graphic design skills on display (especially in the second example). Even with the software, if you don't have the skills and "eye" to put things together in pleasing and original ways, it won't look as good. And it isn't trivial to learn how to effectively use InDesign or Publisher, especially if you have limited computer skills.
On preview, I agree with zachlipton about commissioning a design, if that's what you really want.
posted by jeoc at 12:49 PM on April 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
I make that kind of stuff! I use three programs for worksheets usually: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Illustrator and InDesign are great for print work like those worksheets because they allow you to create designs that easily scale up and down with no quality loss as you print the designs on bigger and smaller paper. There are lots of good courses out there that can help you get familiar with the Adobe Holy Trio. I like Udemy and Linda.com tutorials a lot. Many bloggers offer tutorials too. A good keyword for these products is "printables". Feel free to message me if you want!
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:50 PM on April 11, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Hermione Granger at 12:50 PM on April 11, 2015 [3 favorites]
This is a fairly simple layout if you are familiar with page layout programs. Does InDesign still have a month's free trial period? If not, there are a few free open-source graphic design programs (none of which I've tried) but what I wanted to point out is that it is possible to hand-draw something like this, a template, that you can just (color) photocopy and fill in the actual dates afterwards. If you want to include a monthly calendar, just cut up one and paste it down at the top, etc.
At the very least, this will narrow down your ideas in case you do have a designer work on it; it will save a lot of time.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:03 PM on April 11, 2015
At the very least, this will narrow down your ideas in case you do have a designer work on it; it will save a lot of time.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:03 PM on April 11, 2015
I know a lot of people who sell school related work sheets on Teacher's Pay Teachers that use Microsoft Powerpoint to design their products. Here is one video tutorial and another link that explains how to do it with links.
posted by momochan at 2:21 PM on April 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by momochan at 2:21 PM on April 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
I make things like this (I'm a teacher). I use Publisher, or if it's a quick thing I'll use PowerPoint or even Google Slides.
posted by rossination at 4:35 PM on April 11, 2015
posted by rossination at 4:35 PM on April 11, 2015
If you play around with Microsoft Word you can actually make all kinds of worksheets and templates. It takes some practice but using text boxes and tables, and occasionally adding a cute font, you can duplicate the same look as the links you included. But you still need to have an eye for design as mentioned above. That said, it's free and doable! (I make several worksheets a week for teaching purposes.)
posted by eisforcool at 7:46 PM on April 11, 2015
posted by eisforcool at 7:46 PM on April 11, 2015
Looks like E is For Cool beat me to it, but I'm still going to recommend Microsoft Office Word or OS X Pages templates for such things. They are easy to manipulate, easy to customize and you would still be learning a skill, albeit a less expensive one.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 5:02 AM on April 12, 2015
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 5:02 AM on April 12, 2015
Yep—the professionals (including the creators of the examples you link to, probably) mostly use InDesign and Illustrator for print design.
You can, of course, print documents created in any number of other applications—Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop; etc. But it will never look as good, and (as your skills and knowledge grow) it will be more frustrating, because these simply aren't design tools, per se.
What is your goal: to learn print design? To create some worksheets for yourself? To create worksheets to sell? Simply to dabble in this area long enough to have some fun and get a feel for what it's all about?
If you just want some custom worksheets for yourself: bear in mind that the creators of your examples probably have years of experience. Their worksheets may look quite simple, but you'd be surprised how much skill goes into making something like that look simple. If you want a worksheet as a practical tool, then just fire up Microsoft Word and create one. But it sounds like you're interested in these as aesthetic objects—and there is no program that can make the necessary aesthetic judgments for you.
If you just want some pretty worksheets, ask these Etsy sellers about commissioning a custom design (and be prepared for a price quote that's higher than you expected—designers are trained professionals and you'd be amazed how many people balk at the idea of paying them accordingly, because they're "just drawing pictures" or somesuch). If you want to learn design, get a copy of InDesign and/or Illustrator, and get thee to some good online tutorials and classes! (Lynda.com would be a good first place to look.)
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:46 AM on April 12, 2015
You can, of course, print documents created in any number of other applications—Word, PowerPoint, Photoshop; etc. But it will never look as good, and (as your skills and knowledge grow) it will be more frustrating, because these simply aren't design tools, per se.
What is your goal: to learn print design? To create some worksheets for yourself? To create worksheets to sell? Simply to dabble in this area long enough to have some fun and get a feel for what it's all about?
If you just want some custom worksheets for yourself: bear in mind that the creators of your examples probably have years of experience. Their worksheets may look quite simple, but you'd be surprised how much skill goes into making something like that look simple. If you want a worksheet as a practical tool, then just fire up Microsoft Word and create one. But it sounds like you're interested in these as aesthetic objects—and there is no program that can make the necessary aesthetic judgments for you.
If you just want some pretty worksheets, ask these Etsy sellers about commissioning a custom design (and be prepared for a price quote that's higher than you expected—designers are trained professionals and you'd be amazed how many people balk at the idea of paying them accordingly, because they're "just drawing pictures" or somesuch). If you want to learn design, get a copy of InDesign and/or Illustrator, and get thee to some good online tutorials and classes! (Lynda.com would be a good first place to look.)
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:46 AM on April 12, 2015
(I should clarify: Photoshop, obviously, is a design tool. It's just usually not the right tool for print design, because it's for bitmap graphics, not vector graphics.)
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:57 AM on April 12, 2015
posted by escape from the potato planet at 5:57 AM on April 12, 2015
Jumping in late to share this upcoming webinar about creating printables. (I have no connection to the person other than I follow her site.)
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:32 PM on April 26, 2015
posted by Sweetie Darling at 5:32 PM on April 26, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 PM on April 11, 2015