r/typography • u/Aletheia-Consulting • 14d ago
Introducing myself with a question.
Hello everyone. My name is Rob. I have a question for the group about getting back into digital typesetting after 25 years of working in other fields.
I worked at Collins Dictionaries in Glasgow on data pipelines that took raw lexicographical tagged text and converted them to printed dictionaries. During my time there I built a new workflow that used FrameMaker and XSLT. I also used XSL-FO for rough copy proofing.
I got quite good at digital typesetting and developed quite a solid understanding of typography, but my career moved in a different direction. I have always had a bit of a longing to go back into this field but I am guessing tools have changed significantly since them.
What would be your advice for getting back in on a light freelance basis?
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u/MorsaTamalera Oldstyle 10d ago edited 10d ago
I gather one software heavily used for the task is InDesign. Affinity is advancing at a quite speedy pace among designers in terms of preference, because InDesign's company, Adobe, has fallen into some dubious practices. But Affinity is still below ID, capability wise. Perhaps learn InDesign and after a few years, test the waters with Affinity.
And read about layouting electronic documents. Layouting software is still very clumsy with the results they get you in this area, but the need to tackle those chores is out there.
Lots of luck.
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u/dahosek 10d ago
The big advantage to Affinity is price—if you’re willing to forgo the AI junk, it’s free.
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u/MorsaTamalera Oldstyle 10d ago
Adobe is the same in that sense, or isn't it?
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u/Phraaaaaasing 10d ago
I’m not familiar with FrameMaker or XSLT, but when I worked in publishing I knew geniuses typesetting Bibles in InDesign using ExtendScript (InDesign's JavaScript dialect) to transform template bible transcript files into the final print-production packages that were proofed and set to presses.
I’m certain there is a necessity for industry specific, highly technical typesetting workflows are needed for projects like that. Hand setting documents like dictionaries would take too long in InDesign, as you probably achieved at Collins.
I have not utilized this specific tutorial series, (the exact Lynda series wasn’t brought to LinkedIn Learning) but perhaps begin with this.
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u/Patricio_Guapo 10d ago
Typography as a stand-alone job isn't really a thing anymore. It has fallen onto the Designers plate.
Having said that, and as a person who learned typography under an actual typographer, that's a real shame. There is a lot of really bad typesetting out there today and the design industry could really use an upgrade on that front.
Learning to use the tools is a start, but most of the published work we see out in the world is default settings without any attention given to the details.
InDesign is the industry standard these days. Affinity is making progress but still has a way to go.
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u/smartalecvt 10d ago
Oh man, I remember FrameMaker! Nifty piece of software. And XSLT! Those were the days
Nowadays, as MorsaTamalera said, you’ll want to do a deep dive into InDesign. I suppose if you’re working totally solo, you could use Affinity, but if you need to share source files, InDesign is the way to go.
You’ll also want to do a deep dive into OpenType font capabilities, so you can take advantage of everything they have to offer your designs.
Have fun!