Desktop publishing glossary. (Compute's Getting Started With: Desktop Publishing) (Glossary)
by David English

bitmap. A method of coding and storing a graphic image as a pattern of dots. Also known as raster. See also vector.

dpi. Short for dots per inch. A standard for printer resolution that measures the number of dots a printer can place along a linear inch. Laser printers are typically rated 300 or 600 dpi.

DTP. Short for desktop publishing. The process of using a personal computer to create, edit, and lay out a publication.

font. Traditionally, font has meant a single member of a typeface family, such as Times roman or Palatino italic. But in the realm of desktop publishing, font is often used to refer to the typeface family as well as an individual family member. See soft font and typeface.

halftone. The reproduction of a black-and-white photograph using a series of dots.

leading. The vertical spacing between lines of type.

point. A measurement of space usually associated with typefaces. An inch equals 72 points.

soft font. A typeface that's stored on a computer disk and downloaded to a laser printer when needed. See font and typeface.

scanner. A device that cna read or scan an image and translate that information into digital form.

typeface. A particular type design extended throughout a full set of characters, including letters, numbers, and symbols. A typeface family is a group of fonts that share a common design but differ somewhat in style, such as character weight or width. Most typeface families include roman, bold, italic, and bold-italic fonts. See font and soft font.

vector. A method of coding and storing a graphic image as straight lines. See bitmap.

WYSIWYG. Short for What You See Is What You Get. The ability to see text and graphics on the screen the same way they'll appear when printed. Pronounced wizzywig.