# how did they do magazine layouts computers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-do-magazine-layouts-computers/280635>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 19, 2004, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-do-magazine-layouts-computers/280635 "2004-12-19T10:35:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-do-magazine-layouts-computers/280635/21 "2004-12-20T21:28:30Z")

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> [@Eats\_Crayons](#):
>
> We also had – though it was obsolete and never used – one of those big-ass cameras.

Is that one of those cameras that makes my ass look big? I hate to tell you, but they are still in constant use.

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**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-do-magazine-layouts-computers/280635/22 "2004-12-20T21:34:16Z")

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> [@SparrowHawk](#):
>
> I think I still have the tail-end of a roll of rubylith around here. Maybe I should donate it to the Smithsonian.

No really it’s still used a lot in screenprinting for spot color jobs. The company I used to work for still uses it and buys it in those monster big rolls for the plotter (which also cuts vinyl for signs).

Amberlith, however, I haven’t seen in _ages_.

We hated to use ruby for compex jobs. And Og help us if our manager said “Well, have Yub-Yub help you peel the ruby it’ll go faster.” You have to understand, “Yub-Yub” was the well-deserved nickname for our cow-orker. It’s an abbreviation: You useles bitch, you _useless_ bitch.

You’d have a 36" x 48" sheet of ruby from the plotter. Something really complicated like the green separation of a forest. You star peeling away at one end, working on your big film _postive_ (oh, yeah you see where this is heading). Yub-Yub would start at the other end. At the halfway point you’d find out that she did hers as a _negative_.

Then you’d have to stab her to death with your bodkin.

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**Author:** ![SparrowHawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-do-magazine-layouts-computers/280635/23 "2004-12-20T21:47:02Z")

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> [@Eats\_Crayons](#):
>
> At the halfway point you’d find out that she did hers as a _negative_.
> 
> Then you’d have to stab her to death with your bodkin.

I should be feeling your pain, but I have to admit I am laughing my ass off. I am okay with this, as that camera that will take up the slack.

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