Purposes of desktop publishing #1

DTP is cheaper than traditional methods of publishing. The goal is to produce unique, attractive publications that combine text and graphics and are easy to read.

Traditional methods of printing are time-comsuming and expensive. The production of a technical manual, for example, with complex diagrams and text would traditionally involve layout artisits, typesetters, proofreaders, editors and printers. These people would generally be employed on a contract basis and may not have any technical knowledge about the subject matter. The finished manual would have to be checked by the technical people that originally wrote the manual. The involvement of so many people  means that last minute changes are often impossible and that each page could cost thousands of dollars.

DTP allows for the involvement of fewer people and last minute changes are not a problem. Simple tasks as restaurant menus can be printed just prior to opening for the evening meals and can be based on the seasonal availability of produce. Newspapers with late breaking news can incorporate these changes.

 

ADVERTISING

The aim of advertisements is to increase sales. To do this, advertisements must grab the reader's attention. The most obvious way of achieving this effect is by using bold headlines and noticeable graphics. Effective advertisements take into account the intended market. Markets can be young adults, old-age pensioners, businesspeople, unemployed etc. Large posters need striking graphics with little text and magazines can include more text because it is read closeup.

The optical centre of a page is the where the eye looks first. The optical centre of a page is 3/8 of the way down the middle of the page. White space can emphasise pictures or text.

 

Terms

ADVERTISING                      ROTATION                             STRETCH

FONT                          BULLETED POINTS

Theory Exercises
P213 Q1 to Q2