Desktop Publishing

the use of personal computers to design and print professional-quality typeset documents. (See typeface.) A desktop publishing program such as PageMaker or QuarkXpress is much more versatile than a word processing program; in addition to typing documents, the user can specify the layout in great detail, use multiple input files, have comprehensive typographic control, insert pictures, and preview the appearance of the printed document on the screen.

Since 1990, the distinction between word processing and desktop publishing has become blurred. Most word processing programs can produce elegantly typeset documents. The difference is that desktop publishing programs put more emphasis on graphic design and facilities for handling more complex works.

A new facet of desktop publishing is electronic publishing; producing documents that are meant to be viewed on screen, not printed out. These electronic documents are distributed by computer networks (see World Wide Web) or CD-ROMs). An electronic document may have sound, music, illustrations, animations, video clips, or hypertext links (special buttons or keywords that jump the reader to a new text or picture). So, soon it will not be enough to be a master of typography, grammar, illustration, graphic design, and computer technology, but we will all need a course in film editing and musical scoring.