Hardware and software for desktop publishing

Desktop publishing (DTP) is a comparatively recent concept which captured the imagination of a large number of microcomputer users. For a time, the enthusiasm for DTP could be described as being over-optimistic, or even worse. Fortunately, this phase in the development of systems for DTP has passed and a more realistic approach is now being taken. DTP, with the appropriate hardware and software, enables documents to be produced at a quality approaching those produced professionally. Microcomputers can be used, but so can other classes of computer. DTP is only coincidentally connected with publishing. Presumably though, if you produce the document yourself in a form suitable for publishing, it is also possible to do this as well. It has become clear that microcomputer DTP can be regarded as ‘just’ another application for microcomputers, albeit with some special requirements. In the past, special machines were available for word processing. Now, a general-purpose microcomputer is used and similar equipment can be used for DTP. Thus, it is not normally necessary to purchase completely new equipment for DTP. Rather, individual items such as a screen with higher resolution might be needed. Organisations are generally now acquiring more powerful personal computer (PC) equipment for other purposes. Another factor with DTP is that it is necessary to consider the computer software packages which will be used to manage or create the data to be printed. It is not sufficient to consider only the packages which are used to make up the page. Word processors, spreadsheets and database packages are, therefore, an essential part of DTP, depending on what needs to be printed. It is impossible