DESKTOP PUBLISHING Desktop publishing is the use of the computer and software to create visual displays of ideas and information. Publications may be for desktop or commercial printing or electronic distribution such as email newsletters, electronic books …. Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing  program that can be used to create a  variety of  publications. Ms-Publisher has a variety of templates that can be used to achieve the variety of publications.

DTP gives the user more tools and control over the page layout, text manipulation and graphic design than a word processor. NB: some word processors can do all that can be done in DTP thus the difference is minimal. Examples of DTP software: Ms-Publisher, Adobe PageMaker, Maul Publisher, Ventura, Calamus, CorelDraw, Akhar2016, Corel Ventura, Frame marker, Xara designer, Serif PagePlus, QuarkXpress, Apple Page 2 etc.

Purpose of DTP Graphics design – A typesetter can create and edit very complex text and graphical objects. Page layout design – with a DTP one can design the page layout by setting consistent picture and object locations, dividing a page into frames and creating layers. Printing – DTP helps the user prepare artwork for printing

Some Useful Definitions:     Frame – Most publications are divided into several different areas called frames.   A frame can contain a variety of objects such as graphics, tables, or text boxes.   Frames can be resized, moved and manipulated to suit your needs.     Handles – When you click on a frame, small circles appear around the edge of  the frame.  These are called handles.  You can click and drag on the handles to  resize your frame. 

Template ‐ A Template is a tool used in Publisher to help you easily create basic  publications.  The  template has a set of pre‐chosen design styles that you can  use or customize as you see fit.   Layer – Arranging objects one on top of the other with the top one being the first layer. Master page - Is a page that contains the default objects and content you want to apply as a page layout to all publication pages. Pasteboard – It is the holding areas for text and images during page layout. Printable area – the area surrounded by margins on the pasteboard.

Kerning and tracking - Kerning is the process of adding or subtracting space between specific pairs of characters. Tracking is the process of loosening or tightening a block of text.