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Job Description: Desktop publishers are responsible for creating and formatting graphic design projects and getting them ready for publication. While graphic designers may be responsible for creating the overall aesthetic, desktop publishers must integrate the text, graphics, and photos, and consider all aspects associated with typesetting, color matching, and accurate printing. Desktop publishers are required to use efficient methods to ensure that the final product meets with the client’s specifications.
Salary Range: The median salary for desktop publishers is $32,700 annually, depending on the region and type of firm they are employed by. Most desktop publishers work for newspapers, publishing houses, advertising agencies, or charge for their freelance design and output services.
Education: Degrees in graphic design, visual communications, print production, or media design will expose desktop publishers to design techniques and visual principles. Students will learn industry-approved software, as well as learning the importance of the technical and production aspects of design.
Outlook: The emergence of the internet has created many new opportunities for desktop publishers. Most consumers interact differently with online media than printed media, and as such desktop publishers with an understanding of web technology are highly sought after. The US Department of Labor predicts 22% growth between 2002 and 2012, as more page layout and design work is done via computers and the internet.
Personality Traits: Desktop publishers must have an affinity for computers, as well as being extremely detail-oriented. The essence of the desktop publisher’s role is to create high-quality output, and ensure that the designs as created suit the purpose they were intended for.
Career Path: Production Assistant >
Graphic Designer > Desktop Publisher
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