Avoiding Desk-Top Disasters - Why Technical Communication Students Should Learn About Mechanical Paste Up Techniques

    Authors

    M. Flammia

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Teach. Writ. Commun.

    Keywords

    Communication

    Abstract

    Today many students learn how to use desktop programs such as PageMaker and Ventura in technical communication courses; however, few of those students are also learning the principles of graphic design underlying the production of mechanicals. The ability to use a desktop publishing program does not necessarily guarantee the ability to produce well-designed and effective documents. In fact, the growing use of desktop publishing software has led to a proliferation of documents that violate all the rules of good design. This article describes a technical publications course in which students gain a better understanding of the principles of design and layout by using mechanical paste up techniques. When required to use mechanical paste up in addition to desktop publishing software, students acquired a more thorough understanding of grids and white space as well as a greater confidence in their abilities to do page design.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

    Volume

    23

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-1993

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    287

    Last Page

    295

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1993MP97800006

    ISSN

    0047-2816

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