Desktop Publishing Career and Business FAQs

If you're planning a career in desktop publishing, where will you use your skills?

• Who Does Desktop Publishing?
  Just about anyone... However, there are specific groups with shared objectives.
• Where is Desktop Publishing Used?
  You can find desktop publishing in use in all kinds of businesses and organizations, large and small.
• What is the Difference Between Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing?
  They are very, very similar but there are differences in usage and perception.
• What Does a Keyliner Do?
  Your next desktop publishing job may be hiding behind this title because what they do is essentially desktop publishing.

Beyond the who and where...

• What is desktop publishing?
• When was desktop publishing invented?
• Why is desktop publishing important?
• How do you do desktop publishing?

For a long time after it was invented on-the-job training has been the way that most people learn desktop publishing, but today it's becoming an essential skill to have before you get the job.

• Do I Need a Degree or Special Training to Do Desktop Publishing?
  Not necessarily, but there are sometimes advantages in specific [desktop publishing training.
• Do I Need to Know Desktop Publishing to Do Graphic Design?
  The short answer: "Yes" and here's why designers need to know desktop publishing.
• Do I Need to Know Graphic Design to Do Desktop Publishing?
  The short answer: "No, but it helps" and here's why some design knowledge can enhance your desktop publishing.

Yes, contracts are necessary. Explore some of these situations to find out why they are important (and what your options are if you don't have one).

• Can I Skip Using a Contract With Friends and Family?
  Do you plan to treat them with less professionalism? Do you want them to treat you as less of a professional? The short answer: "Always use a contract" and here's how to do family and friends contracts right.
• Do I Need a Contract for Small Jobs?
  Do you need to get paid for small jobs? The short answer: "Always use a contract" and here's why contracts are important for all jobs.
• What Can I do if the Final Bill Exceeds the Original Estimate?
  A lot depends on what your contract says, if you have one and if you don't (or it's inadequate), here's how to increase your chances of getting paid.
• Do I Have to Give a Client My Original Data Files?
  File ownership, like most other aspects of a design job, can be negotiated. What's in your contract about who owns the files?