Publications

for our purposes here, refers primarily to books and other non-periodical publications such as booklets, workbooks, manuals.

Whether in-house or as a freelancer, typesetting for a long document such as a book generally requires professional level tools. Adobe FrameMaker, Corel Ventura, and QuarkXPress are considered the leaders in this field. Because freelance desktop publishers sometimes wear many hats (including self-publishers), technical writing and indexing are sometimes included in this category although normally these are jobs for professional writers and indexers.

While major publishers may handle all book design and layout including indexing in-house, freelancers may be able to make a niche providing these services to self-publishers or small independent book publishers.

Most books will have at least a front and back cover, title page, and body text but usually there will be many more parts of a book design. Explore the physical components of hardcover and softcover books as well as the design elements that make of the text portion of most books: Parts of a Book

Annual Reports, Proposals
Business Forms
Catalogs, Menus, Product Lists
Collaterals
Crafts, Creative Printing
Identity Systems
Marketing Materials
Packaging
Periodicals
Presentation Graphics
Publication Art
Publications
Self-Publishing
Signage
Web Design, Electronic Publishing
Word Processing, Resumes

Finding Your Niche in Desktop Publishing