Introduction to Desktop Introduction to Desktop PublishingPublishing
Using Adobe InDesignUsing Adobe InDesign®®
Desktop Publishing (DTP)Desktop Publishing (DTP)
The world of publishing The world of publishing was radically was radically transformed in the transformed in the 1980's by the 1980's by the introduction of desktop introduction of desktop publishingpublishing
Producing a publication involves Producing a publication involves many stepsmany steps
Writing textWriting text Editing textEditing text Producing art Producing art
(drawings, photos, (drawings, photos, etc.)etc.)
Designing the basic Designing the basic formatformat
The steps of production (cont.)The steps of production (cont.)
Typesetting textTypesetting text Paste-up, arranging Paste-up, arranging
text and graphics on a text and graphics on a pagepage
Going to press, Going to press, typesetting, shooting typesetting, shooting plates, printing the plates, printing the pagespages
Binding the pages into Binding the pages into a finished publicationa finished publication
With traditional publishingWith traditional publishing
This process was very labor intensiveThis process was very labor intensive It required a lot of equipment, trained people It required a lot of equipment, trained people
and time and time It was difficult and expensiveIt was difficult and expensive
DTP, going beyond DTP, going beyond word processing!word processing!
Very preciseVery precise layout layout and designand design
Software focus is on Software focus is on the pagethe page
Done with tools that Done with tools that are small, economical are small, economical and easy to useand easy to use
Desktop Publishing HistoryDesktop Publishing History
Invented in 1978Invented in 1978– TeX program showed publishing could be done TeX program showed publishing could be done
on a desktop computeron a desktop computer
1985, DTP came to the masses1985, DTP came to the masses– Aldus PageMaker softwareAldus PageMaker software– Apple Macintosh computerApple Macintosh computer– Adobe PostScript page description languageAdobe PostScript page description language
Today virtually all publishing is DTPToday virtually all publishing is DTP
Typical DTP equipmentTypical DTP equipment
CComputer(s)omputer(s) DTP software (also DTP software (also
called page layout called page layout software)software)
Laser or other high Laser or other high resolution printer(s)resolution printer(s)
Other peripherals Other peripherals (digital camera, (digital camera, scanner, drawing scanner, drawing tablets)tablets)
DTP AdvantagesDTP Advantages
Saves money and timeSaves money and time Able to keep in-house and maintain quality Able to keep in-house and maintain quality
controlcontrol Provides affordable publishing alternative for Provides affordable publishing alternative for
small batch jobs and non-mainstream small batch jobs and non-mainstream periodicalsperiodicals
DTP Software TodayDTP Software Today
DTP software is preciseDTP software is precise DTP software aggregates!DTP software aggregates!
– QuarkXpressQuarkXpress® ® was the market leaderwas the market leader– Adobe InDesign is now the predominate Adobe InDesign is now the predominate
software platform for DTPsoftware platform for DTP
Apple MacintoshApple Macintosh®® is predominate hardware is predominate hardware platoformplatoform
Precision and AggregationPrecision and Aggregation
Content from other programs:Content from other programs:– Text produced with word processors or text editorsText produced with word processors or text editors
Careful control of font usageCareful control of font usage
– Charts and spreadsheets from spreadsheet and/or Charts and spreadsheets from spreadsheet and/or statistical analysis programs statistical analysis programs
– Photos either produced digitally or scanned, often Photos either produced digitally or scanned, often manipulated with programs like Adobe PhotoShopmanipulated with programs like Adobe PhotoShop®®
Half-toning and resolution issuesHalf-toning and resolution issues Color space considerationsColor space considerations
– Control that what appears in printed page is as close as possible Control that what appears in printed page is as close as possible to what appeared on the screento what appeared on the screen
Precision and Aggregation Precision and Aggregation (Continued)(Continued)
Content from other Content from other programs (Cont.): programs (Cont.): – Maps, charts and other Maps, charts and other
illustrations either produced illustrations either produced in, or manipulated with, in, or manipulated with, graphics or illustration graphics or illustration programs like Adobe programs like Adobe IllustratorIllustrator®®
Items need to be Items need to be converted into formats the converted into formats the DTP software will importDTP software will import
Precision and Aggregation Precision and Aggregation (Continued)(Continued)
The page-layout process combines the various The page-layout process combines the various source documents together into a coherent, source documents together into a coherent, visually appealing publicationvisually appealing publication
Uses own measurement system and printing Uses own measurement system and printing trades languagetrades language– Sample terms: serifs, leading, points, picasSample terms: serifs, leading, points, picas
In the printing trades DTP was once called In the printing trades DTP was once called “electronic pagination”“electronic pagination”
The “Zen” of desktop publishing:The “Zen” of desktop publishing:Digital preparation of pages for press qualityDigital preparation of pages for press quality
Portable Document Format (PDF)Portable Document Format (PDF)
PDFPDF– InDesign & PDF like peas and carrotsInDesign & PDF like peas and carrots– For representing documents in a manner that is For representing documents in a manner that is
independent of the original application software, independent of the original application software, hardware, and operating system used to create hardware, and operating system used to create those documentsthose documents
– Open standard, royalty freeOpen standard, royalty free– Simple or complex, rich graphics & layers!Simple or complex, rich graphics & layers!
Output methodsOutput methods
Print:Print:– Laser printingLaser printing
600+ dpi, (mostly for small batch, in-house, flyers, newsletters, 600+ dpi, (mostly for small batch, in-house, flyers, newsletters, forms, black and white jobs)forms, black and white jobs)
– Electronic pre-pressElectronic pre-press Professional service bureaus, 1200+ dpi, and large press runs Professional service bureaus, 1200+ dpi, and large press runs
for bigger jobs for bigger jobs Prepare “camera ready” outputPrepare “camera ready” output Produce “color separations” (for color)Produce “color separations” (for color) Version management and other work flow considerationsVersion management and other work flow considerations
Output methods (Continued)Output methods (Continued)
Electronic OutputElectronic Output– PDFPDF®® is the standard is the standard
Cross platformCross platform PrintablePrintable EditableEditable Deployable on-lineDeployable on-line Importable into DTP Importable into DTP
softwaresoftware
XMLXML eeBooksBooks
This is an InDesign CS4 pageThis is an InDesign CS4 page
InDesign is Palette BasedInDesign is Palette Based
Tools PaletteTools PaletteIntroduces own termsIntroduces own termsOne of many palettesOne of many palettes““Tiny arrows” indicate hidden toolsTiny arrows” indicate hidden tools““Flyout” menusFlyout” menusPalettes dock and can be disconnectedPalettes dock and can be disconnectedPalettes are a strongly followed Adobe UI conceptPalettes are a strongly followed Adobe UI concept
More about InDesignMore about InDesign
Palettes can be torn off, Palettes can be torn off, grouped and joinedgrouped and joined– Uses flyout menusUses flyout menus
Other great tools not Other great tools not mentionedmentioned– Layers, styles and tablesLayers, styles and tables– A lot of what you know about A lot of what you know about
Pagemaker carries over to Pagemaker carries over to InDesignInDesign
Right clicking (ctrl-clicking) Right clicking (ctrl-clicking) brings up important brings up important optionsoptions
