Why is desktop publishing ideal for books magazines or newspapers

Earlier we published about the history of desktop publishing, and in this article we are exploring the advantages of DTP. In today’s competitive business world, word processing by itself is not enough — effective desktop publishing can provide better-looking documents and help your bottom line by impressing customers and producing more sales. Our aim is to summarize the advantages of desktop publishing and present some desktop publishing ideas.

What Is Desktop Publishing?

Desktop publishing (usually abbreviated as DTP) is a process for producing printed content by using specialized software to link desktop computers with desktop and other printers. The quality is designed to equal or exceed typeset printing in books. While desktop publishing can include any office or home network that allows you to produce a printable document, DTP usually refers to professional computer-based publishing from expert providers such as Artwork Abode.

Desktop publishing software makes it easy to vary typefaces and margins while embedding graphs and illustrations — this feature involving images is especially important in an increasingly visual business world. DTP applications allow users to create and alter page layouts such as a book layout or magazine layout. With DTP, text formatting and typesetting can be accomplished with a click of a computer mouse.

Advantages of Desktop Publishing

Here are the primary desktop publishing advantages:

  1. Increased productivity
  2. Reduced production costs
  3. Improved appearance of documents
  4. Enhanced creativity with an element of fun
  5. Ability to produce customized documents
  6. Reduced time to print

Desktop publishing has effectively replaced the need for large printing presses. The ease of importing images from various sources and then resizing images allows desktop publishing software to produce professional-looking documents without graphic design skills.

Improving Appearance with Effective Page Layouts

Page layout is the process of arranging (and rearranging) graphics and text on the page. A workable page layout is a central piece in any desktop publishing project. Ultimately the “test” of a good layout is whether people are reading the content and then taking desired action such as buying your products and services.

A professional touch from experts like Artwork Abode will often be helpful in improving page layout. An effective layout design requires a delicate balance among white space, contrast, balance and colors that grabs the attention of your readers.

Even if you are not producing a book or magazine layout, the principles of effective page layouts are largely the same for flyers, sales brochures and informational booklets. While you might need to engage in some trial-and-error in determining what works and what doesn’t, professional computer-based publishing experts can usually help you to shorten the process.

Customized Documents for Businesses

Most businesses have a long list of documents that they periodically want to customize for a specific audience — here are some examples of desktop publishing ideas to consider:

  • Visual aids
  • Statements
  • Prospectuses
  • Press releases
  • Menus
  • Manuals
  • Instructional materials
  • Graphs
  • Documentation
  • Bulletins
  • Schedules
  • Proposals
  • Presentations
  • Pamphlets
  • Newsletters
  • Magazines
  • Flyers
  • Directories
  • Catalogs
  • Brochures
  • Resumes
  • Posters
  • Notices
  • Name tags
  • Maps
  • Letterhead stationery
  • Greeting cards
  • Diplomas and award certificates
  • Charts
  • Calendars and schedules

After reviewing the above list, pause and reflect as to how each one can significantly improve the ways in which employees, customers, suppliers and investors think about your business. In some cases, the items (such as a newsletter or brochure) might represent the first exposure — if you want to improve the first impression, desktop publishing is a winning strategy for helping you do it quickly and cost-effectively.

Reducing Production Costs with DTP Software

The basic DTP production requirements involve a very short list — computer, printer and software. While basic word processing programs like Microsoft Word and Apple Pages can be used for basic desktop publishing, you should plan on the practical need for more advanced desktop publishing software such as Adobe InDesign, QuarkXpress, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. If you don’t want to invest in DTP equipment and software (and upgrades), a practical solution for reducing production costs is to outsource your needs for desktop publishing services to DTP experts like Artwork Abode.

Desktop Publishing — WYSIWYG

With desktop publishing, “What You See Is What You Get” (WYSIWYG) refers to the ease of comparing what the final published content will look like by simply looking at your computer screen. However, in a dose of reality, remember that you must still design the layout and “make it work” for your needs. Regardless of what kind of help you need to make your desktop publishing journey a smooth and profitable one, Artwork Abode can help.

Please leave your comments and experiences about desktop publishing below — and please share on social media by using the provided icons.

– Artwork Abode

What is desktop publishing? We have probably all heard of it, but what is it exactly? Desktop publishing is the production of page designs with your computer using a special DTP software that integrates text and images.

The first DTP software was released in the mid-80s and desktop-publishing skyrocket from there. In the early 90s desktop publishing had almost completely replaced previous technologies used for that purpose.

While in the 80s and 90s desktop-publishing was almost exclusively used by professionals and for print, now it is also used for digital products, such as e-books, websites and much more.

Today, thanks to better devices, faster internet connections and cloud solutions basically everyone can use desktop publishing technology. Some DTP programs are even available for free online, no installation needed.

In this article we tell you everything about desktop publishing software functions, free and paid desktop publishing software and what DTP- software is used for.

Use of desktop publishing

Desktop-publishing software can be used to create the layout for a wide range of different publications, such as:

  • newspapers and magazines
  • brochures, posters, flyer, leaflets and catalogues
  • books and e-books
  • PDF
  • web pages
  • banner
  • newsletter
  • design of resume

Desktop publishing programs:

InDesign, Word and others

The number of desktop publishing programs is growing and growing. The good news, a lot of them are for free or available for subscription.

The leading desktop publishing software these days comes from Adobe. Products from the Adobe Creative Cloud are available for subscription. The costs vary, depending on the product and plan selected. For example, you can subscribe to all the apps starting from US$52.99 per month. This package includes programs, such as Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. But you can also opt for a single app.

Adobe InDesign CC is a top-rated desktop publishing software, one of the market leaders and used by most professionals.

Functions of desktop publishing software these days seem endless and InDesign CC is no exception. It offers a wide range of tools, to just name a few:

  • layout and typesetting tools
  • setting character and paragraph attributes
  • tools to create multicolumn pages
  • transparency and vector editing

In InDesign you create a page layout by placing frames onto your page. Those frames can be filled with content, such as text, photos, videos or graphics.

Why is desktop publishing ideal for books magazines or newspapers

More DTP programs:

 TypeCostsCategory
Adobe Creative SuiteDownload from Creative Cloud and install on Windows or macOSAvailable for subscription. Prizes vary depending on the packageMultimedia Suite + Video editing
Microsoft Word Either for installation on Windows and macOS or web based Microsoft 365 You can buy the program or subscribe online  

Word processor that can also be used as a DTP program

Scribus Open Source Solution forWindowsmacOSeComStationHaikuLinuxOS/2 Warp 4Unix

and more

Free download DTP software
LucidpressWeb-based
application
Free version with less features or paid full version DTP software
CanvaWeb-based
application
Free version or paid subscription for Canva-ProGraphic and DTP program

Desktop publishing and translation

Desktop publishers often work at publishing houses, advertising agencies or software providers, but they can also work for language service providers.

For example, EHLION language consultancy provides desktop-publishing and foreign typesetting services designed to optimize the look and feel of your products and adapt them to the target market.

Using a service like this can save time, money and unnecessary intermediate steps.

For example, you have a brochure that needs to be translated from English to Chinese? When you send us the InDesign file, we export the text, translate it and insert it again in InDesign. You will get the final product ready to print.

Problems of desktop publishing are that when you translate a text, it is unlikely that it will have exactly the same length as the original, as some languages need more words, while other need less, to say the same thing. Therefore, the layout must be adjusted accordingly to the new text volume.

If you hire a language service provider to do this, one of the most important advantage is, they know the language and the culture and can adjust the layout accordingly. While when you do it yourself, you probably find yourself wondering, if you can divide the text in paragraphs or not, because you have no idea what this Chinese character means.

Conclusion

DTP-programs are more affordable than ever

Desktop-publishing is not new, but what is new is the ever-growing number of free DTP-programs.

In addition to that, cloud solutions are also a game changer. Now that you can “rent” programs like InDesign or Photoshop instead of buying them, they are even affordable for non-professionals.

EHLION offers language services in more than 100 languages and over 800 language combinations. We offer a wide range of language services across all industries, such as professional translation, website localization or desktop publishing services.

Contact us for a free initial consultation, we are happy to help you with your next translation project.