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Once upon a time (yes, this is a bedtime story) the job of the writer was to write. That has not been the case for most of us for over twenty years. The last time I was only a technical writer was back in 1982 when employed at Hewlett-Packard which had lots of money to throw at documentation, I had an artist, a photographer, a layout person and a print shop which took care of eveything while I wrote the user's guide. I was the person in charge of all those activities for my book, I coordinated the activities and I had the final say on the whole process but I did NOT do the whole process as is the case today. I did not do screen captures; I did not do the art or the photographics.
Where in the world do tech writers work where they only write?
Candis L Condo
________________________________
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccondo=c-cor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com on behalf of Joanne Wittenbrook
Sent: Sun 4/8/2007 8:48 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Graphic design
>I am more interested in the production process and what I
>might need to do as input to, say, the four-color foldout that will be
>packed with our product. The manufacturer is doing some of the work, but
>I need to know about the production steps so I can estimate times and
>so I can help my manager decide what to insist that the manufacturer
>handle.
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As the writer, you should not need to worry about color separation and plate making or even specifying type styles. The graphic designer/production artist should deal with getting the brochure print-ready.
The production cycle is usually that the designer does a layout complete with type specification (type style, size etc.) Pictures/photos/color specification etc. The writer receives a copy of the layout with word counts for the areas of the brochure. Sometimes for headlines a character count.
I was an art director for many years and it was never the realm of the technical writer to even think about the layout, pictures or print process. The job of the writer is to write. If the manufacturer is providing the layout/art it is their job to worry about making it print ready.
Joanne
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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
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