According to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary, desktop publishing (or DTP, its often-used acronym) is the “production of printed matter by means of a desktop computer having a layout program that integrates text and graphics.” That definition sums it up quite nicely; one could add that DTP is a process that can be used for producing online material as well.
A Brief History of Desktop Publishing
In 1984, MacPublisher was introduced as the first desktop publishing program for Macintosh computers. Apple then brought the LaserWriter printer onto the market in 1985 and Aldus later that year the PageMaker software (now Adobe PageMaker) and voilà, the desktop publishing boom was born.
Aldus founder Paul Brainerd is attributed with coining the term desktop publishing, focusing on user-friendliness and affordability of the process. The new technology revolutionized both the typesetting and the PC industries. The former, because many manual processes could be automated, making the typesetting and therefore printing process easier and faster; the latter, because anyone now had the option to become a desktop publisher.
What is WYSIWYG?
WYSIWYG (pronounced vizyvig) is simply an acronym for what-you-see-is-what-you-get, describing the principle behind desktop publishing: The page layout on screen gives a good indication of what the printed result will look like.
The term got picked up from the ‘70s Flip Wilson Show’s unpredictable character Geraldine who used it to explain her erratic behavior. Used in the context of desktop publishing, it stands for the exact opposite – no layout surprises – as it points to the straightforwardness of the process.
Desktop Publishing Software
DTP software is used by graphic designers and non-designers alike. Different software programs cater to different skill levels and uses in home offices, small offices and professional enterprises. Top high-end DTP programs include:
- QuarkXPress
- Adobe InDesign
- Corel Ventura
The best known among the many consumer-level programs are:
- Microsoft Publisher
- Publish-it (Poster Software)
- Serif PagePlus
Read a comparison of these six most popular desktop publishing softwares.
Desktop Publishing Designs
Choosing the right DTP software certainly depends on what purpose it needs to serve. DTP technology allows for various designs and the production of printing and publishing projects at different levels.
Simple project options:
- letterhead
- business cards
- labels
- flyers
- envelopes
Moderately complex projects:
- newsletters
- brochures
- catalogues
Complex projects:
- posters
- large-scale banners
- books
Word Processing Versus Desktop Publishing
In the ‘80s, when desktop publishing had just made an entrance, DTP programs were not very user-friendly and required prior experience in the field. Similarly, the first word processing programs were exactly that – programs for dealing with text and text only. At that time, desktop publishing and word processing were two different procedures.
Today, consumer desktop publishing programs are so user-friendly that they can be used almost without prior training. This is helped by the fact that many of the word processing features have been incorporated into them. Word processing programs have also evolved greatly and can now handle non-text elements like images, illustrations and tables. Unlike the beginning more than 20 years ago, today, the line between word processing and desktop publishing has become blurry.
Desktop Publishing for Books
DTP technology has improved in such a way that even whole books can be produced using this technique. But are all types of book geared for desktop publishing? An atlas or medical textbook, for example, that consists of many charts, images and illustrations and requires special paper would not make a good DTP project. A novel, for instance, with mostly text and few photographs and illustrations would be a better suited project.
As Reid Goldsborough in the April 1, 2006 Information Today article “Looking Good in Print” states: “As powerful as PCs are in making you look good in print, they can be equally powerful in making you look bad.” So, keep that in mind before loading that DTP software and getting started with publishing books. Also, check essential printing terminology for desktop publishers and keep the many steps in mind that are involved from book concept and finished product to managing reader feedback.
There are many, often detailed sources out there on desktop publishing. For the basics, check about.com's desktop publishing section and wikipedia for a WYSIWYG overview. The article "Working as a Desktop Publisher" sheds light on what desktop publishers do and the skills they need to compete in the workplace.
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