<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desktop publishing</span>

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Desktop publishing

<p><b>Desktop publishing</b> (<b>DTP</b>) is the creation of documents using <a href="/en/Page_layout" title="Page layout" class="wl">page layout</a> <a href="/en/Software" title="Software" class="wl">software</a> on a personal ("desktop") <a href="/en/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer" class="wl">computer</a>. It was first used almost exclusively for print publications, but now it also assists in the creation of various forms of online content.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="#cite_note-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a></span> Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic-quality text and images comparable to traditional <a href="/en/Typography" title="Typography" class="wl">typography</a> and <a href="/en/Printing" title="Printing" class="wl">printing</a>. Desktop publishing is also the main reference for <b>digital typography</b>. This technology allows individuals, businesses, and other organizations to self-publish a wide variety of content, from <a href="/en/Menu" title="Menu" class="wl">menus</a> to magazines to books, without the expense of commercial printing.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-2"><a href="#cite_note-2" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 2;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[2]</span></a></span></p>

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">Page layout using a personal computer</div>
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<p>Desktop publishing often requires the use of a <a href="/en/Personal_computer" title="Personal computer" class="wl">personal computer</a> and <a href="/en/WYSIWYG" title="WYSIWYG" class="wl">WYSIWYG</a> page layout <a href="/en/Software" title="Software" class="wl">software</a> to create <a href="/en/Document" title="Document" class="wl">documents</a> for either <a href="/en/Publishing" title="Publishing" class="wl">large-scale publishing</a> or small-scale local <a href="/en/Multifunction_printer" title="Multifunction printer" class="mw-redirect wl">multifunction peripheral</a> output and distribution - although non-WYSIWYG systems such as <a href="/en/TeX" title="TeX" class="wl">TeX</a> and <a href="/en/LaTeX" title="LaTeX" class="wl">LaTeX</a> are also used, especially in <a href="/en/Scientific_publishing" title="Scientific publishing" class="mw-redirect wl">scientific publishing</a>. Desktop publishing methods provide more control over design, layout, and typography than <a href="/en/Word_processing" title="Word processing" class="mw-redirect wl">word processing</a>. However, word processing software has evolved to include most, if not all, capabilities previously available only with professional printing or desktop publishing.<span class="mw-ref reference" id="cite_ref-3"><a href="#cite_note-3" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[3]</span></a></span></p>

<p>The same DTP skills and software used for common paper and book publishing are sometimes used to create graphics for <a href="/en/Point_of_sale_display" title="Point of sale display" class="wl">point of sale displays</a>, <a href="/en/Presentation_slide" title="Presentation slide" class="wl">presentations</a>, <a href="/en/Infographic" title="Infographic" class="wl">infographics</a>, <a href="/en/Brochure" title="Brochure" class="wl">brochures</a>, <a href="/en/Business_card" title="Business card" class="wl">business cards</a>, <a href="/en/Promotional_item" title="Promotional item" class="mw-redirect wl">promotional items</a>, <a href="/en/Trade_fair" title="Trade fair" class="wl">trade show exhibits</a>, <a href="/en/Packaging" title="Packaging" class="mw-redirect wl">retail package designs</a> and <a href="/en/Out-of-home_advertising" title="Out-of-home advertising" class="wl">outdoor signs</a>.</p>



Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer. It was first used almost exclusively for print publications, but now it also assists in the creation of various forms of online content. Desktop publishing often requires the use of a personal computer and WYSIWYG page layout software to create documents for either large-scale publishing or small-scale local multifunction peripheral output and distribution - although non-WYSIWYG systems such as TeX and LaTeX are also used, especially in scientific publishing. Desktop publishing methods provide more control over design, layout, and typography than word processing. However, word processing software has evolved to include most, if not all, capabilities previously available only with professional printing or desktop publishing. The same DTP skills and software used for common paper and book publishing are sometimes used to create graphics for point of sale displays, presentations, infographics, brochures, business cards, promotional items, trade show exhibits, retail package designs and outdoor signs. 