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Desktop Publishing

Until perhaps fifteen years ago, Caxton, the father of printing in the fifteenth century, could have entered a print works and understood what was going on. Now, almost every mechanical process, except the actual printing, has been replaced by elec�tronics. All the editing, layout and preparation of books, maga�zines and newspapers can be done using computer keyboards and screens. There is also no reason why these processes have to be done by professional printers. As the power of personal com�puters has increased, it has become possible to run the very complicated programs needed for publishing on ordinary home or office computers. Now, authors can prepare books for print�ing (although, in practice, they don�t) and local societies can produce their own newsletters to a high standard.

The term desktop publishing, or DTP for short, is a rather vague term for a lot of different processes. DTP equipment and tech�niques can be used to produce anything from a small, photo�copied newsletter to the finished artwork of an expensive book. There are various DTP programs, aimed at both professional and amateur users, and, although the basic ideas are similar, the techniques can be very different. This also means that the wide range of employers who use DTP look for very different levels of skill from DTP operators or designers. DTP users can be highly trained graphic designers, office typists who have learned limited skills, or individuals who have taught themselves the techniques for a particular purpose.

DTP in graphic design

Graphic designers now use DTP to produce much of their work. They combine DTP programs with graphics programs to produce finished artwork for advertising material, magazines and books. They use DTP as a tool, in the same way as they might use a drawing-board and a paintbrush. All graphic design courses include training in the use of computers in the design process.

DTP in printing

Origination in printing is now largely electronic. Much of the text for printed material arrives in the form of word-processed documents, which the printer prepares for final printing. Decisions about what typeface, layout and colours to use can be made at a keyboard and then transmitted direcdy to the photo�graphic process used in making the printing plates.

General DTP work

Because DTP is comparatively cheap and simple to operate, many firms and organisations are using it to produce general office publications such as forms and information leaflets, and even advertising and publicity materials. DTP skills are likely to be combined with other skills, including word processing and possibly other computer work.

TRAINING

DTP work can be entered in several different ways. If you have an interest in design and typography, you can train as a graphic designer, through a college or university course. That way, you will certainly get a grounding in all aspects of computerised design for print. Alternatively, you can look for training with a printing fIrnl where you could become a typesetter. These are long-term options. The RSA Examinations Board offers qualifications in desktop publishing (contact RSA�s Customer Information Bureau on 01203 470033 for further details). There are also short courses in DTP, run at colleges of further education, where you can get a basic grounding in DTP tech�niques. To get the full benefit ITom a short course, you do need to have access to a computer to practise on and develop your skills. DTP programs are a great deal more complicated than word processing, and take some time to master properly If you want private training, contact suppliers ofDTP programs. Adobe PageMaker has a list of its authorised trainers.