Even before the invention of softwares and state-of-the-art equipment, desktop publishing was done manually by several people that combine graphic design and prepress tasks to create the ultimate marketing material like the ubiquitous poster printing, the ever popular postcard, and the multi-purpose business cards. However, with the combination of tasks, desktop publishing is often confused with the creation of graphic design, as well as the tasks needed to print advertising materials.

Here are some of the perceptions formed over the years about desktop publishing:

"Desktop Publishing = Graphic Design" True. Both are software tools that can be used to put ideas and concepts in a format that can be accepted for printing. They differ in that, graphic design is older in terms of years in the industry. In addition, it used to be that only graphic designers apply desktop publishing on their projects. But now, anybody can handle the software tool with current developments making it more user-friendly even to first timers.

"Desktop Publishing = Amateur Design" Actually, desktop publishing is not design itself. Rather, it's the application of specific software to create marketing materials such as a poster, for printing purposes. In addition, there's no such thing as "amateur design". It depends on the person using the software for publishing that determines the quality of the end result. Desktop publishing therefore, is a means to create designs, whether good or bad, depending on the target audience response.

"Desktop Publishing = Professional Designs" It is true that user-friendly desktop publishing software makes it easy for non-professional graphic designers to create designs and layouts. With a wider range of choices for anyone from templates, fonts and clip arts, to page layout and graphic images, it is easier even for beginners to develop really great designs. However, the software does not guarantee professional quality, despite several promises from the company that created the software. It still is best to get professionals who are versed with the current trends to create really professional graphic designs and layout. You need professionals to do a professional job.

"Desktop Publishing = Real Graphic Designers... Not!" They say that real graphic designers don't need the help of software to create their designs and images. In fact, desktop publishing takes out the "creativity" in graphic design. However, with the flexibility of desktop publishing nowadays, most of the graphic designers are now applying desktop publishing to their projects.

These are just a few of the perceptions, sometimes considered as misconceptions, in designing graphics for your marketing materials. As always, you just need to figure out the truth from the false so you would be able to come up with a judgment that will suit you and your needs, especially when it comes to graphic design and publishing.

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About the Author

Lynne Saarte is a writer that hails from Texas. She has been in the Internet business for some years now, specializing in Internet marketing and other online business strategies.