| Desktop publishing (DTP) is alive and flourishing--but | | | | sells for about $499. |
| with some notable differences that reflect today's | | | | CNET readers were less than thrilled, however, rating |
| advanced technologies. While DTP software was | | | | PageMaker only 5.3 points out of a possible 10. |
| once in a class of its own, today we see a blurring of | | | | Complaints included a steep learning curve, the fact |
| the lines between word processing and desktop | | | | that it is four times as expensive as MS Publisher, its |
| publishing. For example, Microsoft Word allows you to | | | | main competitor, and the poor quality of the |
| create advanced layouts and linking between | | | | HTML-generated pages. CNET recommended |
| documents, and many DTP applications include word | | | | PageMaker for businesses that publish a lot of |
| processing features. | | | | documents and want to turn paper documents into |
| Dedicated desktop publishing software can be | | | | PDF files quickly, or assemble catalogues from |
| classified into three categories: high end, small business | | | | databases. Adobe is encouraging users to switch to |
| and budget conscious. The following list is not meant to | | | | InDesign, so perhaps PageMaker 7 is the last of the |
| be inclusive, but mentions better-known products in | | | | PageMaker releases. |
| each category. | | | | Intended for the small business, school or organization, |
| High End | | | | Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 allows you to create |
| When we think of high-end DTP software, Quark and | | | | the same types of business documents mentioned for |
| Adobe emerge as leaders. | | | | PageMaker 7. In this first release since 2003, Publisher |
| QuarkXPress 7 is said to be the industry standard, | | | | is designed to offer a fast start and short learning |
| holding the market share for high-end DTP software | | | | curve. Interchangeable templates allow you to start |
| applications. The award-winning QuarkXPress 7 (about | | | | with a business card, for example, and then click a |
| $749) is suited for large publishing tasks, such as | | | | button to create a return mailing label using the |
| layouts for magazines and newspapers. Its multi-user | | | | business card information--already applied. |
| capabilities permit more than one user to edit different | | | | Publisher's Task feature is another interesting |
| "zones" on the same page, and allow layout and | | | | concept--this feature offers tips on various subjects, |
| graphic elements to be edited outside the layout | | | | such as how to prepare a publication for a mailing list |
| application. Speed is one of this product's claims to | | | | or how to track the effects of marketing campaigns. |
| fame, as determined by a new independent report | | | | The application integrates with other Office |
| from Ron Roszkiewicz Consulting. According to | | | | components, including Office Outlook 2007, Office |
| Quark's Web site, the report concludes that | | | | Excel and Business Contact Manager. |
| QuarkXPress 7 offers the highest productivity in both | | | | Amazon's average customer review is 4.5 out of 5 |
| design-intensive and production-intensive workflows. | | | | stars. The software is approximately $150 if |
| Adobe's InDesign CS3 is a stiff competitor and, | | | | purchased separately, or comes with MS Office |
| according to Adobe, is the new standard in | | | | Budget-Conscious DTP |
| page-layout software. This high-end product, costing | | | | Quite a few offerings dominate this category, but I |
| about $699, is intended for fast-paced publishing | | | | couldn't determine the leading products. |
| environments in which two or more people work on | | | | The Print Shop 22 Deluxe |
| design and layout simultaneously. Like QuarkXPress, it | | | | It's hard to believe, but this software has sold more |
| is well suited to laying out large publications. The | | | | than 17 million copies since it appeared in the 1980s. |
| application incorporates features found in both Adobe | | | | The current version is 22 for PC and 2 for the Mac |
| Photoshop and Illustrator, and integrates with other | | | | OS. The PC version is available in both Print Shop |
| Adobe products, including Photoshop, Illustrator, | | | | Deluxe and Print Shop Pro Publisher Deluxe editions. |
| Dreamweaver, InCopy, and Acrobat. Individuals not | | | | This software includes graphics and layout tools that |
| familiar with these products will find a steep learning | | | | allow you to create booklets, business cards, |
| curve. InDesign CS3 is available for both the Mac and | | | | calendars, CD/DVD labels, certificates, family trees, |
| Windows OS. | | | | greeting cards, and handcrafted cards and invitations. |
| Scribus | | | | Costing around $50, Print Shop 22 Deluxe garnered 3.5 |
| I'm not sure where the Scribus DTP program fits. | | | | out of 5 stars at Amazon. Various companions are |
| According to the Web site, "Scribus is an open-source | | | | available, including Print Shop Pro Publisher Deluxe, |
| program that brings award-winning, professional page | | | | targeted at small businesses; the Print Shop Design |
| layout to Linux/UNIX, Mac OS X, OS/2 and Windows | | | | Suite Professional Edition; and a couple of applications |
| desktops with a combination of 'press-ready' output | | | | specific to creating family trees. |
| and new approaches to page layout." The site | | | | CeledyDraw 2 |
| promises that, underneath its user-friendly interface, the | | | | CeledyDraw is a graphic design and desktop publishing |
| product supports professional desktop publishing | | | | software application, suitable for homes, schools and |
| features, including CMYK color, separations, ICC color | | | | small businesses. Tailored to the non-professional, it |
| management and PDF creation. An enthusiastic user | | | | creates logos, artwork, flowcharts, diagrams, flyers, |
| community provides support to new users, and the | | | | brochures, business cards, greeting cards and more. |
| price (free) is hard to beat. | | | | Celedy Draw (about $65) can import text only in text |
| Small Business DTP | | | | format, which may be an inconvenience for small |
| Microsoft and Adobe are the ones to beat in this | | | | businesses that are accustomed to incorporating |
| category. | | | | Word documents in their publications. Consumer Guide |
| Adobe PageMaker 7 , InDesign's "kid brother," is | | | | Products says that this software is best suited to |
| suitable for small businesses, schools or organizations | | | | creating one- or two-page documents, and has a |
| that want to produce brochures, sales letters, | | | | rather steep learning curve. |
| newsletters, one-page fliers, complex reports and | | | | Canvastic3 |
| similar documents. The application provides templates, | | | | Canvastic is desktop publishing for K-8 kids. The |
| graphics and intuitive design tools that allow users to | | | | application offers a clear on-screen display that grows |
| work productively across other Adobe applications. It | | | | with the user. It has no toy features, and teachers |
| can be output to any printing device, including digital | | | | have expanded options to customize the application to |
| quick printers and high-end commercial printers. | | | | meet student needs. The product retails for $80, while |
| PageMaker is available for both the Mac and PC, and | | | | a $60 school license is available. |