Screen vs. Print document design

Throughout the decade, publication has made a big changes or we can say that a tremendous changes that cause by the technology towards the publication. The purpose of screen documents and print documents are almost the same, sending information to the readers, yet in many way, they have their differences.

The differences between Screen and Print Document Design

DIMENSIONALITY

Print design- 2 dimensional, which much focused on the layout. Whereas, screen document is simultaneously 1 demensional and N-dimensional (Nielsen, 1999). Between 2 different type of document, print document and screen document have different type of outcome.

NAVIGATION

According to Nielsen(1999), the N-dimensional aspect of web design follows from the hypertext navigation that is the essence of the web. Whereas, in print document, navigation mainly consists of page turning: an ultra-simple user interface which is one of the printed medium's great benefits. In my opinion, this is one of the reason why screen document are mostly used in this century; and its more interesting for reader to read compare to print document.

RESPONSE TIME, RESOLUTION, AND CANVAS SIZE

According to Nielsen (1999), he stated that the speed of print is much faster, type and image quality, and the size of visible space than the Web. Nevertheless, technologies advancement has changed the speed of bandwidth as fast as to download a webpage as one can turn the page into newspaper. The screen document also allows reader to have sharper resolution's graphic.

Both web and print document design have their pros and cons. Everything has their pros and cons, and same to web and document design. In my personal opinion, i would like to say that web document is more attractive and interesting in visual wise; whereas, print document is easier for reader to read and it doesn't need internet to access, yet web document can always get the latest information.

1. Bear, J, H, 2011, Print Design vs. Web Design, viewed 24th August 2011, <http://desktoppub.about.com/od/transitionprintweb/tp/Print_Design_vs_Web_Design.htm>

2. Neilsen, J, 1999, Differences between Print Design and Web Design, viewed 24th August 2011, <http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>