Just because you can doesn't mean you should
The ability to change fonts, add graphics, and print pretty colors does not preclude the need for following basic design principles and guidelines. If you want to create professional desktop published documents (including electronic documents like web pages), learn the basics of design, explore the full capabilities of your software and hardware, experiment, never stop learning.
Explore all the faces of desktop publishing
You might predominantly use a word processor to occasionally incorporate graphics into your desktop documents. Or, you may do desktop publishing of posters, web pages, or corporate identity packages. Or, you may be a “one-person graphic arts department, typesetter, editor, and self-publisher.” Whatever type of desktop publishing you do, you'll find support and resources here. This is one spot where we encourage you to cross the line from word processing to desktop publishing.
Through feature articles including tutorials, news, and top picks for desktop publishing tools, a comprehensive directory of desktop publishing and word processing articles and products on the Web, and discussion forums this site explores all the facets of desktop publishing including running a word processing or desktop publishing business. While we will take a close look at specific topics of design and business, from time to time we'll go back to the beginning — because we're never so knowledgeable that we can start ignoring the basics.
Word Processing for Desktop Publishers
This is the first article I ever wrote for this site. Each year as word processing programs get more powerful and more products appear every year for desktop publishing this topic becomes even more appropriate.
