Technical communicators use a broad range of design tools that range from desktop publishing to web development to multimedia design software. 

Desktop publishing or page design software

Desktop publishing technologies enable technical communicators to lay out documents in a certain design and format them on a PC. Using page design software, people can publish a wide variety of printed matter. It allows the user far more control over their design, layout and typography than a typical word processor. The end-result is either an electronic page or a virtual page to be printed out on physical paper for magazines or newspapers.

Adobe InDesign is the best such tool available for Technical Writers.

Multimedia software

Multimedia software enables the editing of audio and visual elements in documents. Although there are some basic media editing features attached to Word Processing Tools, technical writers often require specialized media software to edit edit audio, visual, and screen-captures.  

How multimedia based software training is provided in corporations:

• If new graduate students are required to get trained in a particular media based software then they are given training during their internships, co-op programs, or when they are hired full-time. 
• Training materials are provided in the form of self-learning videos and user guides. 
• Face-to-face training is given for tools that are used on a daily basis or that are exclusive for the documentation team. 
• Corporations also send their employees to workshops outside the organization on a quarterly/half-yearly basis. 

In this section you will get information about design and multimedia tools including desktop publishing, audio, visual editing, and screen capturing tools used in the industry and taught in the MSTC Program.