While some Web and electronic publishers come from a print design or desktop publishing background, many enter the field without any prior training in desktop publishing, graphic design, or traditional publishing. Either way, the design principles and software used are often the same.
Web publishing can involve designing web pages or entire sites, providing original content, or placing existing print documents online as well as designing for more and more mobile devices. Electronic publishing includes Web as well as other non-print publishing such as email newsletters, CD-ROM publications, eBooks, and PDF documents. Multimedia can combine any number of visual as well as audio publishing options including PowerPoint presentations.
Designing For The Web
While there are similarities between print and Web design, there are major differences as well. If you're coming from a print background you'll need to become familiar with how it's done when print isn't the final product. If you're a Web designer first, you should also become familiar with the print differences because you may be called upon to translate your Web designs or electronic publications into print versions.- Print Design vs. Web Design looks at typography, graphics, color, navigation, and page composition and how it differs between print and Web.
- Web Publishing Tutorials cover some of the basics of transitioning from print to Web.
- Electronic Publishing encompasses email, eBooks, ezines, and publishing to mobile devices.
- Cloud Computing can be used in connection with print or Web/Mobile publishing. It's all intertwined.
"Many of the first Web designers were originally and primarily print designers who migrated from print publishing to electronic publishing. Less than a decade after desktop publishing software revolutionalized graphic design, print designers began struggling with how to take what they knew about traditional design and layout and translate it to the less precise and ever-evolving world of Web publishing." -- Desktop Publishing and the InternetSoftware for Web & Mobile Publishing
Much of today's desktop publishing software can handle basic Web publishing as well. But for more control and more elaborate publishing options you'll want to consider dedicated software designed just for that purpose. The following options are compiled by our About.com Web Design/HTML Guide:- Choosing an HTML Editor for Putting Together a Web Page helps you choose between WYSIWYG design software and text editors. Then continue on to find the graphics tools you'll need (such as Photoshop).
- Web Software Reviews can help you find the right HTML Editor as well as related tools such as FTP Clients and even iPhone Apps.
- What HTML Editor is Right For You Questionnaire is another way to find the tools you need based on your level of expertise and what you want to do.
If you'd like a list of everything you'll need, hardware, peripherals, and software, use these lists. Each one is a Beginning Web Designer's Setup: Windows | Macintosh. Of course your own set up can vary greatly but this provides a good starting point. You'll notice that a graphics tablet and a camera are on the list. If you need to brush up on your tablet skills or your digital photography start here:
- Learning to Use a Graphics Tablet and Pen
- Photography for Desktop Publishing (and Web Design too)
16 Categories of Design Specialization
Although Web design doesn't usually involve printing, you may need to brush up on your printing and print design skills because clients may want you to be involved in creating print materials to go with their Web site such as brochure, logo, and catalog.- Annual Reports & Proposals
- Business Forms
- Catalogs, Menus, & Product Lists
- Collaterals (brochures, etc.)
- Crafts & Creative Printing
- Identity Systems (logo, letterhead)
- Marketing Materials (ads, direct mail)
- Packaging
- Periodicals (newsletters, magazines)
- Presentation Graphics
- Publication Art
- Publications (books, manuals, booklets, etc.)
- Self-publishing
- Signage
- Web, Mobile, and Multimedia Publishing
- Word Processing
| Pick Your Path to Desktop Publishing | |
| Get Started: | Basic Guidelines and Requirements for Desktop Publishing |
| Choose Software: | Desktop Publishing and Design Software |
| Tips & Tutorials: | How to Do Desktop Publishing |
| Training, Education, Jobs: | Careers in Desktop Publishing |
| In the Classroom: | Back to School With Desktop Publishing |
| Make Something: | Things to Make Using Desktop Publishing |
| Use Templates: | Templates for Print and Web Publishing |
