The Basics of Desktop Publishing Department of Instructional Technology Jacksonville ISD Jacksonville, TX

What is Desktop Publishing? The use of the computer and specialized software to create documents for commercial printing Refers to the process of using the computer to produce documents that were once created manually using a variety of non-computer techniques along with large phototypesetting machines

What is Desktop Publishing? The technical assembly of digital files in the proper format for printing Much of the "graphic design" process is also accomplished using desktop publishing and graphics software

Comparison between desktop publishing and graphic design: Desktop publishing-the process of using the computer and specific types of software to combine text and graphics to produce documents such as newsletters, brochures, books, etc Graphic design-the process and art of combining text and graphics and communicating an effective message in the design of logos, graphics, brochures, newsletters, posters, signs, and any other type of visual communication

Before you begin a DTP document… Identify the purpose Identify the audience Identify the intended outcome … of the writing

Define Target Audience To determine what to write To determine the tone of the document To determine how to organize layout and design

Text/Font Selection Standard type size is pts. Industry standard font styles: Times New Roman Arial Garamond Highlights include Bold, Underline and Italics.

Graphics… For visual impact For greater understanding Condenses large amounts of information No more than 10-25% of total project Add appropriate labels for visuals

Graphics… Types of graphics include- Charts Graphs Line graphs Illustrations Photographs Other diagrams

Works Cited Technical and Business Writing ed. Boca Raton, FL: Bar Charts, Inc. For more information on DTP, visit the following Web sites: Or in United Streaming search for and read the article: Desktop Publishing