Differences between Print and Screen Designs

Document design is the ‘physical appearance’ presented to the audiences in a document (Reep, 2006: p. 134). The wise use of words and images are the current trend of document design. ( Kress and van Leeuwen 1998: p. 187). Nielsen (1999) has differed print and screen design into four aspects: dimensionality; navigation; response time, resolution and canvas size; and multimedia, interactivity and overlays. I will be applying these factors into examples below:

Group Presentation Slide: Print Document (Newspaper)

Dimensionality: 2-dimensional, focusing on physical appearance.

Navigation in print document of the readers is only to turn the pages.

Response Time: No waiting time needed for the content to appear.

Resolution of the images placed on the document is often sharp and clear as it is controlled by the editor.

Canvas Size: The space for the contents is fixed and the entire content is shown.  

Multimedia: Only graphic aids could be used in print document.

Interactivity and Overlays: No interactions between the readers and images however image overlays could be used.

Screen Documents (taken from 'Chapter 6: The meaning of Composition', Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design by Kress and van Leeuwen

Dimensionality: Usually 1-dimensional or N-dimensional, users are able to scroll the webpage.

Navigation: Readers are able to scroll the pages.

Response Time: Waiting time for the content is different for all users, based on their internet speed, computer processor, size of the content.

Resolution of the images could not be controlled as the readers’ computer specifications are unexpected.

Canvas Size: Unlimited.

Multimedia: Different medium such as audio and video are presentable.

Interactivity and Overlays: Image overlays could be used and the interaction with users can be created due to the flexibility of screen documents.

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References: 
Kress, Gunther and van Leeuwen, Theo 1998, ‘Front pages: (the critical) analysis of newspaper layout’, Approaches to media discourse, Blackwell, Oxford, p. 186-219.

Nielsen, J 1999, ‘Differences Between Print Design and Web Design’, last viewed 15 September 2012, < http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html>

Reep, Diana C. 2006, ‘Chp 4: Principles of Document Design,’ Technical Writing, 6th ed., Pearson Edu, Inc., New York, p.173-190.