Title: | Avoiding Desktop Disasters: Why Technical Communication Students should Learn about Mechanical Paste up Techniques; |
---|---|
Authors and Corporations: | |
In: | Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, 23, 1993, 3, p. 287-295 |
published: |
SAGE Publications
|
Media Type: | Article, E-Article |
Physical Description: | 287-295 |
---|---|
ISSN: |
0047-2816
1541-3780 |
DOI: | 10.2190/bldx-08k6-34ae-xx1k |
published in: | Journal of Technical Writing and Communication |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Collection: | SAGE Publications (CrossRef) |
<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> |