desktop publishing (DTP)

Use of a personal computer to perform publishing tasks. DTP allows an individual to combine text, numerical data, and graphic elements in a document that can be output on a printer or a phototypesetter. A typical DTP system includes a personal computer, a high-resolution printer, and input devices such as an optical scanner. Text and graphic elements are commonly created or manipulated with several separate software programs and then combined with a page-makeup program. Powerful DTP programs offer full-featured graphics capabilities.

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The information technology term desktop may refer to:

• The area behind the windows in the desktop metaphor of computer user interfaces
• Desktop environment or software that provides a comprehensive computer user interface
• Desktop computer - An independent personal computer, as opposed to other forms of PCs, such as a mobile laptop or notebook
• A client piece of software is sometimes referred to as desktop to distinguish it from server