If you have an iMac, then
chances are you have iWork, the office software that comes with most Mac
computers. Within the iWork platform is Pages, a word processing
program that allows you to create banners of varying sizes, colors,
fonts and other features. Once you've made your banner using your iMac,
you can either print it or save it and take it to a printing company
that will allow you to print it in a large size.
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The Right Document
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Open your Pages program from your iMac dock, or by typing "Pages" in the Finder and selecting the program from the list of results that comes up. Click the "Blank Landscape" option from the Template Chooser that appears on your screen, or simply select "Blank," under Word Processing, and then click "Blank Landscape." This will create a document that is wider instead of longer, so you'll have more room for your banner. You can then create a custom size for your page by selecting "File," "Page Setup" and "Manage Custom Sizes" under Paper Size. Simply type the height and width you want and click "Save."
The Banner Box
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Next you'll want to create a shape for your banner. Pages provides an easy way to do this with its Shapes function. Click on the "Shapes" icon and then select a rectangle from the list that appears. Don't worry that it's not the right dimensions just yet; you can adjust those in a minute. When the shape appears on the page, drag its corners to make it the size you want it to be. You'll notice that you can see the shape's size in inches displayed in a box as you drag. To make the banner a different color, click on the box again to to highlight its parameters, then click "Fill" from the menu in the grey area of the Pages window. Select the color you want from the selections displayed.
Adding Text
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To add text to your banner, click the "Text Box" icon from the grey menu area of Pages. When a text box appears on your page, drag it to fit inside your banner box, and then drag its corners as you did with the shape box to make it the size you want it to be. Highlight the default text to type in the text you want to use. Then adjust the font, size and color of the text using the menu items that display in the grey area while the text is highlighted.
Extras
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You can also adjust the banner border to give it a different look. Click on the shape box to highlight it, and then click the line selection drop-down list at the bottom left of the grey menu area. Click on the border selection you want to display.
If you want to add an image or logo to your banner, place your cursor in the location where you want the image to appear, and then click "Insert" and "Choose." Select the image from files saved on your computer.
Saving or Exporting
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When you've completed your banner, you can print it on your own printer, or save it for use on another printer. If you're taking it to a print shop, you'll probably want to export the banner as a PDF that can be read by a myriad of different computer systems. Click "File," "Export," and then save the file as a PDF. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to accomplish this task, though most iMacs come equipped with this software. If you've created a big banner, you may need to adjust your page size before you print.
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