Desktop publishing

Desktop publishing, also known as DTP, is the creation of documents using special software on a personal computer. It was originally used mainly for making printed materials like magazines and books, but today it helps create many types of online content too. With desktop publishing, people can design pages that look very professional, similar to what traditional typography and printing can produce, without needing an expensive printing company.

This technology lets anyone—from small businesses to large organizations—publish a wide range of materials, such as menus, books, or newsletters, right from their own computer. To do desktop publishing, you usually need a personal computer and WYSIWYG page layout software, which helps you design documents that can be printed or shared online. Even though some specialized systems like LaTeX are used especially in scientific publishing, most people use easy-to-understand desktop publishing tools.

The skills and tools used for making printed materials are also helpful for creating many other kinds of graphics. These include designs for point of sale displays, presentations, infographics, brochures, business cards, promotional items, trade show exhibits, retail package designs, and even outdoor signs. Desktop publishing has made it easier for everyone to produce high-quality designs and publications.

History

Desktop publishing was first developed at Xerox PARC in the 1970s. Another claim says it began in 1983 with a program called Type Processor One made for a newspaper in Philadelphia. This program ran on a personal computer and used special graphics to show exactly what the page would look like when printed.

The desktop publishing market grew quickly in 1985 when Apple introduced the LaserWriter printer for its Apple Macintosh computer. That same year, PageMaker software from Aldus became the standard tool for creating publications. This software allowed people to design pages with text and pictures much better than older word processors like Microsoft Word.

Before desktop publishing, people used typewriters to create documents, which could only offer a few fonts and sizes. Desktop publishing changed this by letting people design whole pages on their computer screens and print them out with high quality. This new way of publishing transformed how newspapers and magazines were made, moving them away from expensive special equipment to regular personal computers.

Terminology

In desktop publishing, there are two main types of pages: digital pages and virtual paper pages that are printed on physical paper. Digital pages, like web pages, can change size, while virtual paper pages need to match standard paper sizes such as A4 or letter paper. Some programs even allow custom sizes for posters or billboards.

Master pages are templates that help designers quickly apply consistent styles and elements across many pages. This makes it easier to update a design without changing every page. Layout involves arranging text and images on the page in an organized and attractive way. Styles for colors, fonts, and other design elements can be applied to make the document look professional.

Comparisons

Desktop publishing software shares some features with word processing programs, but it has special tools for designing pages for printing. In the early 1980s, word processors like WordPerfect and WordStar were mostly for writing text and did not have many page design tools. Over time, as computers became more powerful, word processors added some publishing features.

Desktop publishing is also different from other digital layout tools. While programs like TeX and LaTeX require writing special codes to create layouts, desktop publishing uses a "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) style, letting users see the design on the screen as it will look in print. Some newer tools mix these approaches, focusing more on the meaning of the text rather than just how it looks. Desktop publishing and web design share similar skills, but web design uses special codes like Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to control how pages look on the internet, while desktop publishing is mainly for printed materials.

Software

For a more comprehensive list, see List of desktop publishing software.

Many different programs and websites can help you create and design documents using desktop publishing. These tools let you arrange text and pictures just like professionals do when making books, magazines, and other printed materials.

File formats

For a more comprehensive list, see List of desktop publishing file formats.

The design industry standard is PDF. The older EPS format is also used and supported by most applications.