Publishing for Print and Online

TodayOnline

With the internet overtaking traditional media such as print, competition between the two has grown stiff. The gloves are off, and apparently the survival of the traditional media in the digital age would be to embrace the new media.

Many publications have been turning to create online versions. Magazines, newspapers and even our local TV guide have online variants.

Publishing for the web is very different from print publishing. The very same advantages you would assume from online publishing are also disadvantageous if used incorrectly.


In print media the colour model used would be CMYK, transfering pictures and images is not as simple, as a cut and paste. CMYK prints would appear different as online publishing has an RGB colour model. Besides colour modes, colour schemes are also very important. Colours chosen should provide substantial contrast to ensure legiblilty of the text. Strong colours should be used sparingly, and plenty of white space should be afforded unlike in print, white is a waste of space and paper!

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Considerations have to be made for feedback, in an online publication. Quick links must be readily available to the reader and easy to use navigation bar also make it an easier read.
A site search should be available for the reader to aid him in his search. The key here is to make it easy to navigate. Just like a newspaper is divided into sections, the online version of a newspaper should be divided into different sections or pages. Hyperlinks to the various sections should be available on the navigation bar at the top of the page.

The template of the webpages of the website should be the same throughout, any changes would add confusion to the reader, and make the website look disorganized. The same cannot be said for print publications, where every page looks different, a too uniformed look may bore the reader.

The amalgamation of both the new media and traditional media have led to hybrid solutions to convey messages and have effectively changed the way people communicate everyday.


Image Resource: Today Online,
References: Designing for the Web, Print International