Profession desktop publisher

Desktop publishers are responsible for the layout of publications. They use computer software to arrange texts, photographs and other materials in a pleasing and readable finished product.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

  • Artistic / Investigative

Knowledge

  • Printing techniques

    The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.

  • Typography

    The art and techniques of arranging type to make written language readable and beautiful. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point size, line length, line spacing, letter spacing, and adjusting the space within letter pairs.

  • Multimedia systems

    The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.

  • Prepress processes

    The processes that occur between the creation of a print layout and the final printing, such as copyediting, proofing, proofreading and others.

  • Desktop publishing

    The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.

  • ICT software specifications

    The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.

  • Copyright legislation

    Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

  • Graphic design

    The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.

Skills

  • Search databases

    Search for information or people using databases.

  • Adapt to artists' creative demands

    Work with artists, striving to understand the creative vision and adapting to it. Make full use of your talents and skills to reach the best possible result.

  • Follow a brief

    Interpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.

  • Finish project within budget

    Make sure to stay within budget. Adapt work and materials to budget.

  • Translate requirement concepts into visual design

    Develop visual design from given specifications and requirements, based on the analysis of the scope and target audience. Create a visual representation of ideas such as logos, website graphics, digital games and layouts.

  • Apply desktop publishing techniques

    Apply desktop publishing techniques and software to create page layouts and typographic quality text.

  • Align content with form

    Align form and content to make sure they fit together.

  • Follow work schedule

    Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.

  • Adapt to type of media

    Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.

Optional knowledge and skills

apply grammar and spelling rules post-processing of photographs scan photos develop creative ideas proofread text grammar reprography identify customer's needs perform backups consult with editor work closely with news teams spelling perform image editing edit photographs digitise documents edit negatives assist customers

Common job titles

  • It support technician
  • Senior desktop publisher (royal caribbean cruises ltd.)
  • Desktop publisher specialist
  • Desktop publisher w/ ts clearance
  • Senior graphic designer
  • Editor - desktop production/sr
  • Desktop publisher (royal caribbean cruises ltd.)
  • Desktop publisher
  • Information technology technician ii
  • Desktop pub specialist