Introduction to Desktop

Publishing

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Desktop Publishing (DTP)

• The world of
publishing was
radically transformed
in the 1980's by the
introduction of
desktop publishing

2
Producing a publication involves
many steps

• Writing text
• Editing text
• Producing art
(drawings, photos,
etc.)
• Designing the basic
format

3
The steps of production (cont.)
• Typesetting text
• Paste-up, arranging
text and graphics on a
page
• Going to press,
typesetting, shooting
plates, printing the
pages
• Binding the pages into
a finished publication

4
With traditional publishing

• This process was very

labor intensive
• It required a lot of
equipment, trained
people and time
• It was hard and
expensive

5
DTP, going beyond
word processing!

• Very precise layout

and design
• Software focus is on
the page
• Done with tools that
are small, economical
and easy to use

6
Typical DTP system

• GUI computer(s)
• DTP software (also
called page layout
software)
• Laser or other high
resolution printer(s)
• Other peripherals (like
digital camera)

7
 DTP Advantages
• Saves money and time
• Able to keep in-house and maintain quality
control
• Provides affordable publishing alternative for
small batch jobs and non-mainstream
periodicals

8
 DTP Software
• DTP software is precise
• DTP software aggregates!
– QuarkXpress® is the market leader
– Adobe InDesign is coming on strong
– Adobe PageMaker® has been discontinued
• Apple Macintosh® is predominate platform

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 Output methods
• Print:
– Laser printing
• 600+ dpi, (mostly for small batch, in-house, flyers,
newsletters, forms, black and white jobs)
– Electronic pre-press
• Professional service bureaus, 1200+ dpi, and large press
runs for bigger jobs
• Prepare “camera ready” output

10
Output methods (Continued)

• Electronic Output
– PDF® is the standard
– Cross platform
– Printable
– Editable
– Deployable on-line
– Importable into DTP
software
• XML
• eBooks

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This is an InDesign CS page

12
InDesign is Palette Based

• Tools Palette
– Introduces own terms
– One of many palettes
– “Tiny arrows” indicate
hidden tools
– “Flyout” menus
– Palettes dock and can be
disconnected
– Palettes are a strongly
followed Adobe UI concept

13
More about InDesign
• Palettes can be torn off,
grouped and joined
– Uses flyout menus
• Other great tools not
mentioned
– Layers, styles and tables
– A lot of what you know
about Pagemaker carries
over to InDesign
• Right clicking (ctrl-clicking)
brings up important
options

14
InDesign References
• The Book!
– Kvern, O. M., &
Blatner, D. (2004). Real
World Indesign CS.
Berkeley: Peachpit
Press
• Adobe web site
– User to user forums
• SF Bay Area IDUG
– Meets bi-monthly

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