Jan's Computer Basics: 2-Applications

Computer Basics

2 - Applications: Desktop Publishing

Newspaper Desktop publishing does on the computer what used to be done with scissors and glue and other non-computer methods - put together text and graphics for printing.

High-end word processors can do much of what a desktop publishing program does, at least for fairly simple documents. The difference between them has become a bit blurred.

Look at a national magazine and try to duplicate the layout and graphics quality in a word processor! You will see that there IS a difference.

For professional publications, a desktop publishing program gives the precise control needed and also advanced capacities such as preparing four-color separations for commercial printing.

Levels of Software

"Desktop publishing" covers a wide range of activities and difficulty levels:

Professional	Create for commercial printing - magazine, company annual report, newspaper, book, full-color advertising
Small business/home office	Use a wizard or template to create a brochure, business card, or ad and print on your own printer
Specialty programs	Make your own greeting cards, calendars, or labels. Print T-shirts.

Major players in the desktop publishing game include Microsoft Publisher, Corel Ventura, QuarkXpress, and several Adobe products - PageMaker, FrameMaker, InDesign.

Purpose:	To prepare documents with graphics with precise control of the layout
Major Advantages:	Ability to place text and graphics precisely on page Ability to chain sections together like newspaper columns Advanced tools for professional work

Where you are: JegsWorks > Lessons > Computer Basics
	1. Computer Types
	2. Applications Intro Word Processing Desktop Publishing Spreadsheet Database Graphics Presentations Communications Browser Web Pages Email Project Management PIM Integrated & Suites Quiz
	3. Input
	4. Processing
	5. Output
	6. Storage
	7. Computer to Computer
	8. System Software
	9. Programming

	10. What You See
	11. Hands On!
	12. On Your Own

	Search Glossary Appendix

Features/Terms:

Layout -	arranging text and graphics
Clip art -	pre-drawn pictures to add to page
WYSIWYG -	What You See Is What You Get pronounced "wiz-e-wig" How page displays on screen is the same as how it prints
separations-	For full color in high quality printing, the paper goes through the printing press 4 times, once for each of the colors cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK color system). The print shop must create separate versions of your document, called separations, for each color.

Teachers: Request permission to use this site with your class

Download lessons
Want to help?

~~ 1 Cor. 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~~

Last updated: 22 Jan 2008