Screen Vs. Print Design

Nielsen (1997) has mentioned the few point below:

• users do not read on the Web; instead they scan the pages, trying to pick out a few sentences or even parts of sentences to get the information they want.
• users do not like long, scrolling pages: they prefer the text to be short and to the point.
• users detest anything that seems like marketing fluff or overly hyped language ("marketese") and prefer factual information.

So, designing a layout is important in attracting the viewers and readers’ attention in order to increase the interest of them. A good design of the presentation, weblog or print materials is not only can increase the interest of the readers and also allow the readers to remember the important point easily.

According to Nielsen (1999), he stated few differences between print and web design.

-Dimensional

-Navigation

-Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas Size

Nielsen (1999) explained that print design is 2-dimensionals where attention is paid to the layout more compare with the 1-dismensional design, web design. For navigation, he said that ‘Moving around is what the Web is all about’. However, print design is consist of page turning. Print is superior to the Web in terms of Response Time, Resolution, and Canvas Size. (Nielsen, 1999)

• bandwidth fast enough to download a Web page as fast as one can turn the page in a newspaper
• screen resolution sharp enough to render type so crisply that reading speed from screens reaches that of paper
• huge screens the size of a newspaper spread - in fact, I think that newspaper-sized screens are about the limit where it may not make sense to make screens any larger

*************************************************************************************

Referencing:

1. Nielsen, J 1997, Concise, SCANNABLE, and Objective: How to Write for the Web, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/writing.html

2. Nielsen, J 1999, Difference between Print Design and Web Design, viewed on 22 August 2011, http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html