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Re: I need guidence on starting out in dtp

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Posted by Dave Beemon on December 19, 1997 at 21:34:18:

In Reply to: Re: I need guidence on starting out in dtp posted by Priscilla Gwilt on November 26, 1996 at 09:45:08:

: : >>Has anyone made any bad decisions or the right decision in purchasing dtp equipment?

: : Of course! At least, I know I have. :)

: : Most of the time, the bad decisions can be minimized by careful research way ahead of time, then when you're ready to go out and
: : spend the bucks, make one final check of all the ads in your area and in the catalogs, then just bite the bullet and do it. It's
: : almost as if it's the law to find a "really great deal" the day after you've made your purchases. It happens all the time and that's
: : what will be your greatest teacher to help you in your next go-round of buying.

: : IMHO, you need RAM, RAM, and even more RAM. Get a machine (Mac or PC) with as much hardrive space as you can afford (at least 2 gigs or more),
: : then think about some type of removable hardrive like ZIP, Syquest, etc. Hmmmm.... get a monitor that is at least 15", but know that
: : 17" - 21" would be even nicer. More important than the size of the monitor is how fast the graphics card is and make sure you get 24 bit
: : color with video capabilities. For printing, if I had my druthers, I'd have both a really great quality laser printer with PostScript
: : capabilities AND a really good ink jet. If you can only do one of them now, I'd say to get the laser. If you can't afford to get the PS yet,
: : then at least make sure you can upgrade to it later, so you can do proofs before you output to an imagesetter. PostScript output will save you
: : many, many dollars down the road. I really regret that I don't have that now.

: : On the software side of things you're most likely going to need a layout program like PageMaker or Quark, a drawing program like
: : Illustrator or Freehand, and a Photo Imaging program like PhotoShop. Prices on these programs vary quite a bit, so really check around.

: : Of course, this is a very simplified overview of all the "bits and pieces" that you're going to need, but it would be a good start.

: : Good luck!

: : Nancy

: I agree with everything Nancy has said... but the first decision would be "platform". If you are very computer savy as you said, you can consider PC (I use both and perfer PCs). But if your aren't, then go for a Mac.
: You might consider CorelDraw for a drawing program, but PhotoShop is the only way to go on a imaging program. And a postscript laser printer is a must! Couldn't do with out my HP4 postscript. And if you do go PC, be sure you go Win95.
: Good luck!
: Priscilla
Question, if I've been using Windows 95 for two years and am about to take a course in quark on a mac, do you think the mac will give me a problem? I've used them before and it's no big deal but should I take a mac course first, or do you feel that windows is close enough and that the only differences are so slight that it won't make a difference?
Thanks, hope I didn't butt in at the wrong time.
Dave

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Re: I need guidence on starting out in dtp venky naidu 05:21:15 11/24/99 (0)

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: : : >>Has anyone made any bad decisions or the right decision in purchasing dtp equipment? : : : Of course! At least, I know I have. :) : : : Most of the time, the bad decisions can be minimized by careful research way ahead of time, then when you're ready to go out and : : : spend the bucks, make one final check of all the ads in your area and in the catalogs, then just bite the bullet and do it. It's : : : almost as if it's the law to find a "really great deal" the day after you've made your purchases. It happens all the time and that's : : : what will be your greatest teacher to help you in your next go-round of buying. : : : IMHO, you need RAM, RAM, and even more RAM. Get a machine (Mac or PC) with as much hardrive space as you can afford (at least 2 gigs or more), : : : then think about some type of removable hardrive like ZIP, Syquest, etc. Hmmmm.... get a monitor that is at least 15", but know that : : : 17" - 21" would be even nicer. More important than the size of the monitor is how fast the graphics card is and make sure you get 24 bit : : : color with video capabilities. For printing, if I had my druthers, I'd have both a really great quality laser printer with PostScript : : : capabilities AND a really good ink jet. If you can only do one of them now, I'd say to get the laser. If you can't afford to get the PS yet, : : : then at least make sure you can upgrade to it later, so you can do proofs before you output to an imagesetter. PostScript output will save you : : : many, many dollars down the road. I really regret that I don't have that now. : : : On the software side of things you're most likely going to need a layout program like PageMaker or Quark, a drawing program like : : : Illustrator or Freehand, and a Photo Imaging program like PhotoShop. Prices on these programs vary quite a bit, so really check around. : : : Of course, this is a very simplified overview of all the "bits and pieces" that you're going to need, but it would be a good start. : : : Good luck! : : : Nancy : : I agree with everything Nancy has said... but the first decision would be "platform". If you are very computer savy as you said, you can consider PC (I use both and perfer PCs). But if your aren't, then go for a Mac. : : You might consider CorelDraw for a drawing program, but PhotoShop is the only way to go on a imaging program. And a postscript laser printer is a must! Couldn't do with out my HP4 postscript. And if you do go PC, be sure you go Win95. : : Good luck! : : Priscilla : Question, if I've been using Windows 95 for two years and am about to take a course in quark on a mac, do you think the mac will give me a problem? I've used them before and it's no big deal but should I take a mac course first, or do you feel that windows is close enough and that the only differences are so slight that it won't make a difference? : Thanks, hope I didn't butt in at the wrong time. : Dave

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