CERTIFICATE IN DESKTOP PUBLISHING

Desktop publishing certificate programs are ideal for aspiring graphic designers or creative professionals, like writers and editors, who want to enhance their skills as they learn to use cutting-edge software, such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Quark Xpress, to design and layout text and graphics for use in print and multimedia. Coursework covers the basics of design and page layout, photo manipulation, typographical elements, color, the production process, Macintosh, and Windows. Many students are able to build a portfolio over the duration of the program, which they can show to prospective employers. Most programs can be completed in under a year and require a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalent for admission. Applicants may have to pass a computer proficiency exam or a basic computing class prior to enrollment.