To create a
score, here is an effective method to get a correct page-setting
and avoid making certain symbol adjustment operations twice. You
can adapt it according to your needs. If you often use the same
kind of score, you can create a template where several of these
operations are already done and start from there.
Start from
the score template called "One linear measure",
located in "Templates ==> Templates". Work
in linear mode (popup menu in the tool bar of the score
view).
Add the
number of measures and staves as needed.
Fill in the
instrument view, specifically the instrument names and
select the sonorities to be played.
Fill in the
characteristics of the instruments (double click in front
of the staves), specifically the measure numbers, the
braces…
Always in
linear mode, introduce the contents of the measures:
notes, rests, accents, symbols but not the symbols which
extend over several measures (slurs over several
measures, crescendo…). Use the automatic
justification for the notes encoding ("J" check
box in the tool bar of the score). If the measures have
several voices, use the voice menu if those are too
complex (popup menu on the left of the score tool bar).
Add comments in text blocks, but only those related to
the measures.
Place the
chord symbols if there are any as well as the lyrics.
Select all
measures of the score (Edit menu, Select all) then
justify all (Edit menu, Justify). The measure widths are
adapted to the content of the measures. You can specify a
scale factor to modify the density of the score. It is
accessible via the Option menu, Justification.
Set the
spaces between staves in an optimal way. This spacing
will be used for all pages, therefore check if it is
appropriate to all measures of the score.
Switch to
the page mode. If the page setup dialog does not appear,
call it with the Page setup item in the File menu. Select
the print scale (Pro version only), adjust the margins
and disable the measures per system and systems per page
check boxes. Pizzicato will optimize by taking the
measure width into account. Check the
"Calculate" box and validate.
Review the
pages and adjust the number of measures per system and
systems per page as necessary by using the layout tool.
Arrange so that the score is well distributed on all
pages and that no a half empty page stays at the end.
Once this
is done, you can review measures and adjust symbols and
add the symbols relating to several measures (large
slurs, crescendo…). Add the title, the page numbers
and any useful comment which must be fixed on a page. You
can then print your score.
This method
contains the main steps. Adapt it to your needs.
