Basic desktop publishing terminology

BACKUP: To make a second copy of your files , a very important thing to do frequently

BASELINE: The invisible line on which type characters sit

BITMAP: A grid of dots, or pixels, that make up characters or graphics on a computer screen or printout - jagged edges, not smooth

BODY COPY: Text, generally set at 9 to 12 points, used for long passages of reading material

COPY/PASTE: Sometimes allows transferring items or blocks of text between programs, also useful for moving items around a page

COLUMNS: Copy set side by side

DPI: Dots Per Inch, indicates printer resolution, the bigger the number the better your printout looks, ie. 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 3600 dpi

DINGBATS: Ornamental typographic elements such as stars, arrows and so on

EXPORT: To transfer text or images from one program or format to another, usually "Save As" for options

GRAYSCALE IMAGES: Scanned images that contain shades of grays

GUTTER: The space between columns

HARDWARE: Computer equipment (scanners, monitors, keyboards, memory chips,CD's etc.)

HEADINGS: Larger than body copy, usually indicates where a new item begins

HYPHENATION: Be sure "hyphenation" is turned on when you want words to break between syllables, check reference manuals for "how to"

IMPORT: To transfer text or images into the current document or application, "Get Text or Get Picture"

INK JET PRINTER: A type of printing technology that uses ink jets, one disadvantage is smearing, advantage is lower cost than Laser printers

JUSTIFICATION: Horizontal alignment of type (centered, left, right, justified), some programs allow Vertical Justification, too

LANDSCAPE: To print sideways on a piece of paper

LASER PRINTER: Type of printing technology that uses a laser beam to print, sometimes Postscript, advantage is crisp printing, disadvantage is higher prices

LINE ART: Image that is a solid color (continuous tone), no shades of gray

LINE SPACING (Leading): The vertical distance between lines of type, from baseline to baseline

MARGINS: The amount of space inset from the edges of the paper

MENUS: Most applications have pull-down lists of different commands to simplify use

PICAS/POINTS: There are 12 points to a pica, 6 picas to an inch, 72 points to an inch - a 72 point letter should be 1" from the top of the characters to the bottom of descending letters

POSTSCRIPT: Adobe's Printer Page Description language. To print smooth Postscript images (EPS) you must have a Postscript printer or a special cartridge/board or a software interpreter (like Freedom of the Press)

RESOLUTION: See DPI

REVERSE: White characters on a dark background

SANS SERIF: Typeface with no serifs at the ends of stroke

SERIF: Typeface with small counterstrokes at the end of each main stroke

SERVICE BUREAU: A commercial service that specializes in printing desktop publishing files

SOFTWARE: Computer programs that have been designed for a specific use

STYLE SHEETS: Very useful for creating consistent "styles and sizes" for your BODY COPY & HEADINGS

TEMPLATES: A standard file that can be used when you want pages to use the same style and setup

TEXT FILE: Contains just letters, numbers and basic ASCII characters, no text formatting

TILING: Allows printing larger pages by printing several that overlap

TRANSLATE: To convert from one format or program to another

TYPEFACE: A complete set of characters, punctuation and symbols that share a common design

TYPE STYLE: Choice of Bold, Italic, Underlined, etc.

UPPERCASE: The capital letters of a typeface