Page 221 - Encyclopedia of Business and Finance

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Desktop Publishing

Market risk encompasses legal risk, control risk, and word-processing or desktop-publishing software (or
accounting risk. both).

SEE ALSO Investments As a result, desktop publishing is taking on a new
meaning. Rather than referring to the process that was
such a revolution in 1985 or even to the type of software
BIBLIOGRAPHY used to produce a project, the term is now generally used
Hull, John (1998). Introduction to Futures and Options Markets to refer to the type of document produced. Generally
(3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
speaking, desktop publishing refers to a “designed” docu-
Kolb, Robert (2003). Futures, Options and Swaps (4th ed.).
ment that effectively integrates type and visual elements
Malden, MA: Blackwell.
for printing either on desktop-printing equipment or on
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133,
Accounting for Derivatives Instruments and Hedging Activities. traditional or digital professional-printing equipment.
(1998). Norwalk, CT: Financial Accounting Standards Board Thus, desktop publishing could be summarized simply as
(FASB). the combination of design principles, type, and visual ele-
ments into a professional-looking document. By contrast,
word processing refers to such basic text-intensive docu-
Patrick Casabona
ments as business letters, memos, and reports created with
word-processing software that facilitates efficient entry,
editing, and layout of the text.

DESKTOP PUBLISHING The term desktop-publishing software refers to PC pro-
grams designed to facilitate professional document design
Before 1985 the process of creating and publishing a pro-
and creation. Also referred to as page-layout programs,
fessional-looking document was quite different from what
Adobe InDesign, Adobe FrameMaker, QuarkXPress, and
it has evolved into since that time. Before the invention of Corel Ventura were the leading professional-level desktop-
the laser printer and then in 1985 desktop-publishing soft-
publishing programs in the early twenty-first century. In
ware, the publishing process involved numerous profes-
addition, Adobe PageMaker—producing basic documents
sionals performing various tasks—typically in a variety of such as brochures and newsletters—was targeted to busi-
locations. Writers and editors created the text for a project; ness, education, and small- and home-office users.
designers and artists created the layout and necessary pho-
Desktop-publishing software targeted to small- and
tographs and other artwork; typesetters created galleys of
home-office users included such programs as Microsoft
finished type that then had to be cut and pasted into place
Office Publisher and Serif PagePlus. Another category of
on an art board; camera operators, “strippers,” and other
printing professionals produced negatives, flats, and print- desktop-publishing software is home-publishing and spe-
ing plates; press operators printed the finished project. cialty programs—programs not considered to be serious
desktop-publishing programs—designed for home users
All that changed significantly with the advent of laser
to create such projects as calendars, greeting cards, busi-
printing and desktop-publishing software. Aldus Corpo- ness cards, and fliers. Such programs included Print Shop,
ration founder Paul Brainerd coined the phrase desktop PrintMaster, Calendar Creator, and Greeting Card Fac-
publishing to refer to a new publishing process—a combi- tory.
nation of technology that now allowed the functions of
writing, editing, designing, typesetting, illustrating, for-
matting, and printing a document to be accomplished by HOW WORD-PROCESSING AND
one person (if desired) working at one location—his or DESKTOP-PUBLISHING PROGRAMS
her own desktop! DIFFER
The process of desktop publishing can be accom- Understanding the essential differences between the func-
plished with word-processing software or with sophisti- tionality of word-processing software and that of desktop-
cated desktop-publishing software. Desktop publishing publishing software can help an organization or individual
includes projects printed on desktop printing equipment make a good choice between the two types of software for
(black-and-white laser printers, ink-jet printers, and color use in creating desktop-publishing projects.
laser printers) as well as those prepared in electronic form Both word-processing and desktop-publishing pro-
for final printing on high-end commercial printing grams include basic word-processing capabilities such as
presses. The use of personal computers (PCs) has become these:
so widespread that the traditional publishing process
• Copy, cut, move, and paste functions
described earlier is obsolete—and rarely seen. Essentially,
all professional printing projects are created on PCs with • Spell-checking

198 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION