CompuServe Messages

Occassionally, I have to remind myself that DTP is a very new technology and the people using it are also new to producing typeset pages. I know when I first started setting type, I certainly did a crummy job of it. The same holds true for DTP. It is my hope that as people become more experienced with the various DTP products that they will start producing better looking pages. Already, some of our clients (unfortunately a minority) have made the transition from schlock to quality stuff. Eventually, our corporate clients will come to realize that "Yes, Virginia, we *DO* need proof readers…" If I had to choose just *one* thing that corporate DTP users could do to improve their work it would be to hire a proof reader! Eventually, I expect the DTP market to sort itself out the same way traditional typesetting did: there will be those who produce quality work at a premium price, and those who do "good enough" work for a lesser price. It is also my sincere hope that most DTP users will eventually discover what an em dash is and forsake the use of double hyphens…