Desktop Publishing (& Design)

Tutorials

The primary "page make-up" program is OpenOffice.org Draw.
However, The GIMP is also used for image manipulation and making logos etc. as it is very, very powerful. There is a short tutorial here.
There is a much bigger tutorial on grokking the gimp(!) - an external link that seems to cover everything. This opens in a separate window; close that window to return here when you're finished.
The official collection of tutorials is available.
GIMP specal effects with text - valid from GIMP >= 2.4.
Guidelines on using the Mustek Bearpaw A4 Scanner are here.
Guidelines on using the Mustek A3 Scanner are here.
Graphics from the command line

An A4 page is 210mm x 297mm in size.
An A3 page is twice the area of an A4 sheet, while an A5 page is half the area.
A compliment slip is 210mm x 90mm in order to fit comfortably inside a DL envelope.
A DL envelope (whether windowed or not) is 220mm x 110mm.
A normal business card is 90mm x 50mm but these dimensions may vary to make the card easier to store in a wallet or a card holder.
Normal copier & printer paper is 80gsm in weight.
Most printers have an upper limit on the gsm weight of paper they can handle. Typically this is about 100-110gsm. Above this weight you are beginning to deal with card.