Desktop Publishing Software Review:
Desktop Publishing Software Review |
Desktop Publishing Software Reviews - Adobe InDesign CS4
The benefits of Adobe InDesign which is part of Adobe CS4 (Creative Suite) is that it is sophisticated software that includes an integrated set of products, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Dreamweaver and more. You simply can't go wrong with products that make all the facets of design into a seamless process, particularly if you're an independent publisher, small press, design house or independent graphic artist.
Of course, sophisticated features always come at a price which means that Adobe InDesign can be difficult to learn. This is mostly what new users complain about, but this has given rise to a cottage industry that will teach you exactly how to use InDesign.
Note: Since there are many new features in Adobe CS4 that were not in CS3, if you choose to go with InDesign, it is recommended that you get the latest version of the software.
Desktop Publishing Software Review - QuarkXpress
Of course, the same can be said of QuarkXpress which has excellent features for creating electronic documents and also has the ability to create documents in many different languages as well as transform glyphs in to text boxes, along with many other features, most of which are listed in the comparison chart below.
The best way to use the chart below is to look for the features that are most important to you and make your choice that way. Keep in mind that both of these software packages offer more features than you will have the time to learn.
Want to learn how to start your own desktop publishing business? With a high end desktop publishing software package and this course, you can start a business that allows you to work from home and make good money, especially since with the internet, your client base is no longer limited to your local area.
Desktop Publishing Software Review & Feature Comparison Chart:
| Feature | InDesign | QuarkXpress |
| Hardware zoom | Yes | |
| Imports Files Directly | Yes, but you have to draw the text boxes. | Yes, Quark automatically creates the container boxes for text and images, also supports drag and drop |
| Links Panel | Yes, shows all embedded and linked graphics, stacks and repeats with linked page numbers, so you can quickly jump around in a document. | Yes, QuarkXpress has great support for electronic document publishing. |
| Ability to size, position & rotate items (and spreads) interactively | Yes, has workspace switcher, self-adjusting panels, tabbed documents, and tiled windows. | Yes, with multiple grids and baseline grid feature. Excellent hanging drop characters. |
| Preflighting is available | Yes, allows you to check large documents before printing | Need preflighting software. |
| Conditional text | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced features for handling long documents | Yes, you can create dynamic links to text anchors or paragraphs based on styles | Yes, but not as well as InDesign |
| Handles multiple versions of a document | Yes, allows you to create multiple catalogs with varied regional pricing and content | Yes |
| Easily create text links and rollovers | Yes, plus page curl support for pdfs | Yes, plus support for animation and video |
| Flash video support & SWF Authoring | No | Yes, supports video playback and scripting. This is a big benefit for digital publishers. Also supports interactivity. Can load and play video plus animations |
| Works with other programs | Works with other programs in CS4 suite like Photoshop, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, etc | No |
| Supports multiple designers | Yes | Yes |
Now that you have checked out the desktop publishing software review comparison chart, here are the best prices on this high end software:
Indesign full software product for the Mac
Indesign full software for PC
InDesign upgrade software for Mac
inDesign upgrade for PC software
QuarkXpress PC or Mac full version:
QuarkXpress 8 for Win/Mac Upgrade
Desktop Publishing Software Review - Self Publishing Software
Self Publishing Ebooks
