Avoiding Desktop Disasters: Why Technical Communication Students should Learn about Mechanical Paste...

<jats:p> 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. </jats:p>