I. Read the text and answer the questions below.

Desktop publishing (DTP) refers to the use of computers to design and publish books, brochures, newsletters, magazines and other printed pieces. DTP is really a combination of several different processes including word processing, graphic design, information design, output and pre-press technologies, and sometimes image manipulation.

DTP centres around a page layout program. Typically, a layout program is used to import texts created in word processing programs; charts and graphs from spreadsheet programs; drawings and illustrations created in CAD, drawing or paint programs; and photographs. The program is then used to combine and arrange them all on a page. It is this ability to manipulate so many different items and control how they are used that makes layout software so popular and useful. However, modern word processors also have publishing capabilities, meaning the line separating such programs from DTP software is becoming less clear. In general, though, powerful new publishing systems use high-quality scalable fonts and give you control over typographic features such as kerning (adjusting the spaces between letters to achieve even, consistent spacing). Another key feature of DTP software is text flow – the ability to put text around graphic object in a variety of ways.

Once composed, DTP documents are printed on a laser printer or on a high-resolution imagesetter. For transfer to a commercial printer, the documents are generally saved in their native page layout format or as PDF files. PDF stands for Portable Document Format and allows people to view, search and print documents exactly as the publisher intended – you don’t need to have the software and fonts used to create it. PDF files can be published and distributed anywhere: in print, attached to email, posted on websites, or on DVD. To open a PDF file, only the Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free download) is required.

In modern commercial printing, DTP files are output directly to the printing plates without using film as an intermediate step.

1. What type of software is used for the creation of PDF documents?

2. What are three differences between DTP software and word processors?

3. What is a PDF and what can it do?

4. Which program do you need to view a PDF document?

II. Find words in the text with the following meanings:

1. shape, style, size of a typeface, for example Courier at 10pt;

2. the process of adjusting the space between characters;

3. feature that enables you to wrap text around images on the page;

4. metal surfaces that carry the image to be printed.