A Guide to Desktop Publishing Software

Before you start buying desktop publishing software, you need to be aware of what programs, hardware and accessories are available to help you do the best job you possibly can. You should also go into it knowing a very important fact: desktop publishing is not the same thing as graphic design.

Desktop Publishing vs. Graphic Design
Desktop publishing, or DTP, is using your computer and software to combine text and graphics on a page that will be printed. Newsletters, brochures, greeting cards and any other number of items that can be printed on a regular printer-not a full press-fall under the banner of desktop publishing.

Unlike desktop publishing, graphic design isn't specific to printed products. It's a thin gray line that often gets blurred, largely because graphic designers use many of the same tools that desktop publishers use. The biggest difference is that graphic design is focused on the process of combining text and graphics to create things like logos, illustrations and other forms of visual communication.

In short, desktop publishing is focused on producing finished pieces, while graphic design is focused on the concepts and ideas for communicating a message. Although the two get lumped together a lot, remembering that you don't have to be a degree-holding member of the graphic design industry takes a lot of stress off of your shoulders.

Desktop Publishing Software
There are industry standards in desktop publishing that include the big names like Adobe, Corel and Quark. A single, best program does not exist though. What it comes down to is how well the software you use works for your needs.

The first thing you will need to look at is whether you will print solely from your computer or if you will also use a commercial printer. If you know for certain that you will always be printing to your own printer, any software that prints quality work can be used. All you will need is desktop publishing software you can work with, and you won't need to spend time learning new tools.

If you'll be working with a commercial printer, your options narrow. Desktop publishing programs like PrintMaster or Print Shop aren't going to produce files that will be accepted by commercial printers. Instead, you'll need to look for industry standards like Adobe PageMaker that produce digital files that commercial printers can process. Check with some printers in your area to find out what file formats and programs they require.

Word Processor-Any word processor will work, but if you invest in a recent version of a product that features spell checking, import/export features and other time-savers, you'll be much happier in the long run. Industry standards in this category include Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect.

Page Layout Editor-For the serious desktop publisher, invest early in the industry standards for your page layout editing software. Quark Xpress and Adobe PageMaker aren't the only options in this category, but their options and abilities should be the line against which all other programs are compared. This is a key component of desktop publishing software, and you need to make sure the program you choose supports PDF files and page resolution up to 1500lpi if you'll be using a commercial printer.

Graphics Editor-Adobe and Corel again rise to the front when we look at this category of desktop publishing. When you first begin, you will probably only need an image editor like Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo Paint. These pieces of software export the highest quality graphics to be used in other programs, like your layout editor, and usually cost a bit less than the illustration editors.

If you can afford to get both a graphics editor and an illustration editor like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW, definitely do it. Illustration editors allow you to create vector graphics that can be resized without any loss of quality, and they can even stand in for page layout editors if you're working on documents that can be printed by the page. Their amazing print quality and flexible graphics make them indispensable.

Desktop Publishing Printers
Desktop publishers often have to work with a commercial press, but the definition of desktop publishing wouldn't be what it is if you never printed on your own printer. So what is the best kind of printer to have?

Desktop publishing is flexible. You can easily use an inkjet or a laser printer, but keep in mind that neither will equal the quality of a commercial press. They're fantastic for low-volume jobs, personal printing and creating printed proofs of your digital work. If you're going to get serious about it, though, look beyond the inkjet. It costs more to refill the ink and it can't create the same quality of prints as a color laser printer.

The serious desktop publisher should own a color laser printer with a duplex printing attachment. These machines are faster than an inkjet and tend to have fewer problems with jams or uneven prints.

Desktop Publishing Extras
Once you've got your software installed and your gorgeous printer hooked up, you'll come to a very important question: How do I start? The answer comes in the form of paper and templates, the accessories of the desktop publishing world.

For the best finished products, you'll learn to love the variety of papers available. Look to big-name paper manufacturers like The Paper Mill, Georgia-Pacifc and Avery as well as specialty businesses such as LCIPaper, Paper Origins and Twinrocker. Creativity with paper means a huge boost to the professional look of your projects-a greeting card printed on printer paper is never the same as that same card printed on handmade sheets.

Finally, take some time to get acquainted with template suppliers, ranging from huge stock sites like StockLayouts to smaller sites that offer free templates like Mirkwood Designs. You'll find templates for almost any need, as well as a few designers who will custom-create templates for your special projects for a fee.