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