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Desktop Publisher
Publisher (Desktop) )



Duties and Tasks
Specialisations
Quick Facts
Work Conditions
Personal Requirements
Related Industries
Labour Market
Related Jobs
Earnings
Related Courses
Further Information
State Specific Information

Checking printed proofs for any corrections required
Checking printed proofs for any corrections required


Desktop publishers produce professionally designed and presented documents, according to specified design and presentation requirements, using desktop publishing software. 

Fact Sheet

Duties and Tasks

Desktop publishers may perform the following tasks:

  • talk to clients to obtain a clear understanding of their requirements. Clients' requirements may include preparing booklets, brochures, advertisements, in-house magazines, newsletters, training and technical manuals, stationery, and books ready for printing or publishing
  • prepare quotations for work contracts
  • prepare sketches and discuss design concepts with clients
  • design and arrange layouts to meet clients' requirements by studying drawings, photographs, texts and artwork to be reproduced
  • amend layout, select fonts and integrate text with graphics (such as logos, graphs and charts) to create a balanced and readable document
  • talk to clients about problems arising during the production phase and advise on possible solutions
  • produce graphics from an original concept, either free-hand or by computer
  • merge photographs with computer images, scan and adjust colours for the publication
  • save 'print-ready' copy, and forward it to the printing or publishing house for mass production.

Specialisations

Desktop publishers may specialise in simple office documents or in graphically complex, multi-coloured publications.

Info Icon Quick Facts

Learning Area Art  
Computing Studies  
English  
Work Demand Including good vision for detail  
Including mainly indoor work  
Including reading or writing  
Including sitting for long periods  
Work Field Computing and Information Services  
Literature and Social Sciences  
Work Interest Creative or Artistic  
Skill Level Para Professional Jobs  
Quick Facts

Work Conditions

Desktop publishers may work long hours when a particular deadline must be met (e.g. when working on a major advertising campaign or the launch of a new business venture).

Personal Requirements

  • enjoy working with computers
  • artistic ability for drawing, design and layout
  • patience for fine, detailed work
  • creativity, imagination and versatility
  • good visual, oral and written communication skills
  • able to work under pressure to meet deadlines.

Related Industries

Administrative Services

Labour Market

Information

Australian JobOutlook for IT Desktop Publishing

Vacancies

Australian JobSearch for IT Desktop Publishing (ALL AUSTRALIA)
Australian VolunteerSearch - Computing and IT for ALL AUSTRALIA
Work Opportunities websites

Related Jobs

Set Designer

Earnings


Income of persons working full-time, 2006
Desktop Publishing Operators

Income per Week Number Share (%)
$1000 or more 152 24.7
$400 - $599 66 10.7
$600 - $799 189 30.7
$800 - $999 182 29.5
Less than $400 27 4.4


Copyright 2007 education.au

This information is based on the 2006 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

There is currently no mean weekly earnings data available for this occupation.

How Much?

Related Courses

New South Wales / ACT
Queensland
Victoria
Western Australia

See State Specific Information below for further education and training options.

Further Information

Design Institute of Australia (National Office)
Innovation and Business Skills Australia
Printing Industries Association of Australia (National Office)

State Specific Information

New South Wales / ACT
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Finalising the layout of an advertisement before producing rough proofs
Finalising the layout of an advertisement before producing rough proofs

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