IT & MCIS

DEFINITION OF STANDARD: Desktop publishing software offers sophisticated features and functions to produce high-quality documents or informational materials, such as booklets, brochures, and newsletters, for print and/or electronic presentation. Desktop publishing software provides layout templates, typefaces and type-fitting tools, and the ability to embed illustrations and graphs directly. The most powerful desktop publishing software also enables users to create illustrations with integrated add-on programs. Many features required in the desktop publishing environment are available in the selected standard for word processing software.

PUBLICATION DATE: May 10, 1999
REVIEW DATE: May 28, 2003
REVIEW CYCLE: 6 months
RESPONSIBLE CONTACT:
Becky Simmermacher

TIMELINE:
Revision date: May 28, 2003
Effective date: July 1, 2000

Recommended Product(s):
Adobe products: PageMaker, PhotoShop, Illustrator, and CorelDraw! MacroMedia Freehand. MacroMedia Director InDesign

QuarkExpress

Microsoft Office Suite, Word, Excel
http://www.adobe.com/products/pagemaker/main.html
http://www.microsoft.com/office/publisher/default.htm

Justification:
The recommended products are compatible with the University-approved office suite for the desktop and laptop/notebook computers, and provide a full set of publishing tools to support the most advanced requirements for design and output. PageMaker is the preferred electronic format and is accepted by UK Publishing Services for pre-press production and publication of printed materials.

Technical Considerations:
Seamless software integration is vital to link to existing word-processing and graphics applications. Sharing a common interface and command structure decreases training requirements and improves end-user productivity. Departments should consider the range of internally created content and review the available filters, converters and other tools that enable users to import text, graphics, and charts from the office suite and other applications. Departments should also assess the need to prepare and/or translate print documents for distribution via the webnoting that the University-approved products provide automatic reformatting functions, HTML-exporting capabilities, and conversion of graphics to JPEG/GIF files.

For more information:
Contact Becky Simmermacher, Assistant Director of Publishing and Postal Services at 257-3492.