GATF Printing Production Process Prediction (3)

Speaking of the invention of a typewriter
(The Invention of the Typewriter)
Someone once said: "The typewriter was not invented for a good poet." By implication, as long as you like, anyone can use a typewriter. Today's software market is filled with a variety of convenient desktop publishing application software. With these software users can easily create high-quality design solutions, without having to invest a lot of thought, time or professional designers. Designers and related practitioners will face great challenges and impacts in the future. In the past, there was a big difference between word processing functions on standard PCs and some special functions within high-end page layout software. However, the difference between the two may become smaller and smaller in the future. Microsoft Publisher, Print Artist Gold, Picture It, Graphics Suite, and a host of other applications with operation wizards all demonstrate professionalism by simply using their built-in templates and easy-to-use tools. We have found that many large software companies have successively rolled out an abbreviated version of their powerful software to help those with limited experience use the most basic tools of these mature software. Adobe Photoshop Elements is designed for amateur photographers and those who want to use convenient, powerful digital imaging solutions. Quark's QuarkCopyDesk meets the needs of authors, editors, and other designers for the "quick editing process." It is not professional software but it has many features and incredible similarities of professional software.

Although these low-end applications have been able to handle a sufficient number of pages, it must be realized that these softwares are only an inexpensive solution for small-scale publishing projects and for short-cycle job requirements. The differences between these softwares and QuarkXPress and Adobe GoLives are very different, just as the difference between those who rely solely on templates and those who understand the true design is not limited to no typographical errors. Do not misunderstand what I mean, these software can also meet the complex design needs, but this is not their real purpose. The software is aimed at individuals who have no or only a little bit of graphic design experience, giving them a tool to create a page and print it out. But how many of them have intelligent color management, editable kerning, tracking tools, coded interpretation, and even the pre-checking tools used by most printers and service organizations?

It must be recognized that these low-end desktop publishing software, which claims to provide a model solution, will affect the entire professional production process. Designers should be more of a part of material creation and should not be merely implementers of templates. Excellent graphic image design can not only integrate design concepts and production considerations, but also reflect the designer's human characteristics. Although low-cost simplified software allows inexperienced users to create simple pages, it is impossible to use this modeled software to obtain works with complex design concepts.

The development of Internet and multimedia design does not conflict with the development of this modelling program. There are various programs for automating the design of websites. The importance of web visual clarity is not as important as in print. Web design is mainly for the convenience of readers to quickly browse information, so information selection is also a consideration of interaction and user activities. This is different from the design of prints. Print design is mainly to guide the reader's visual movement. The information for each project is different from the specific readers, so it is not possible to have a design template that suits all requirements. The templates provided by these software may be a good "starting point," but it will never be an "end point." For image propagation experts, this transition from web pages to print will continue to be a special challenge. It is difficult to imagine a professional-level application that not only overcomes all cross-media challenges, but also makes full use of each media's strengths or weaknesses.

There will always be a lot of excellent designs around us. It will continue to influence our way of life, ways of thinking, attitudes to dealing with problems, and the perspective of observing the world. Understanding the importance of the role of the designer means that we must carefully select the method of delivering the information. The form depends on the function. What will happen in the future? I believe that the low-end software market will continue to expand and that these software will be bundled with discounted hardware, giving the impression to those who have no experience - I am creating an "expert level" design. Large-scale software companies will continue to customize their various application software for face-to-face special and non-professional users. From this point of view, I don't think that low-end software will threaten excellent graphic design. Excellent works still have their own position in our industry. Unfortunately, those works that are lacking are also the same. The only thing worth worrying about is that customers do not choose to choose inferior works in order to save money. With all the wonderful high-end software, this will be a golden era for designers. The key to the problem is how to use them in an effective, innovative and economical way. The software has a great influence on the quality of the final product, so we must understand the software itself and carefully select it. Encourage users to review their workflow and selected software. It is our responsibility to guide users as experts.
If the final artwork is not very demanding, then boldly use low-end software and export it to the printer. If you want to have a truly influential professional design, then carefully review the qualifications of the people who are assigned to complete the task and the software they use.