Desktop Publishing Software Review

Desktop publishing software falls into three types

Desktop publishing software lets you design printing projects that can be as simple as a greeting card or as complex as a full-length book. You can accomplish these tasks in most word-processing programs, such as Microsoft Word or Apple Pages, but desktop publishing software makes it much easier and more professional looking. Also, the best desktop publishing software can prepare PDF files with embedded color profiles and color separations so that commercial printers can print exactly what you designed.

With prices ranging from free to around $700, desktop publishing software falls roughly into three types:

• Professional desktop publishing software provides the ultimate in precise placement and page and text design. This is what designers use for magazines, professional newsletters and sophisticated marketing materials. Many tasks can be streamlined, important in saving professionals time. Adobe InDesign Creative Suite (CS) 4 (*Est. $700 or $200 to upgrade) dominates this category, having overtaken QuarkXpress 8 (*Est. $800 or upgrade $300). Scribus, a free open-source program, isn't quite as sophisticated but runs on Linux as well as on Windows and Mac operating systems.

• Small-business desktop publishing software is less complicated, with lots of templates to make designing faster and easier. Often photo editing is built right into the software. At this level, it's still possible to produce PDF files to send to a professional printer, but with less precise color control. This software works well for a range of printing projects for home and small-business use -- stationery, brochures, newsletters, labels, cards etc. -- but isn't designed for producing full-length books or magazines.

• Home creativity printing software is designed for family use, with lots of templates and clip art for scrapbooking, greeting cards and fun projects. You can use it to make business cards and stationery by starting with blank pages instead of using the informal templates. However, for regular business use, this level of software is less efficient to use.

Professional-grade software gets the most attention in reviews, partly because it's so complex that there's simply more to discuss. Since both Adobe InDesign and QuarkXpress have evolved through quite a few versions over the years, users need reviews to help them decide whether or not to spring for another upgrade. For new users, reviews of a $700 item are more important than reviews for much less expensive software. Both programs are available for both Windows and Mac operating systems, so they get reviewed in both PC and Mac publications.

Most reviewers say Adobe InDesign CS4 is worth the upgrade (*Est. $700 or $200 to upgrade) from InDesign CS3. One of the improvements in CS4 that earns the most praise is called Live Preflight, a feature that alerts the user to errors and problems throughout a project. There's also a broad consensus among reviews that for professional use, Adobe InDesign CS4 (*Est. $700 or $200 to upgrade) is the software of choice. Reviewers agree that it's both more advanced and easier to use than QuarkXpress 8 (*Est. $800 or upgrade $300).

Adobe InDesign CS4 integrates well with other Adobe design software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Fireworks and Dreamweaver. You can buy all of these software titles together as Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium (*Est. $1,800). Reviews say the initial purchase price is a big investment, but note that upgrades cost much less. If you'll use the software just about every day, the initial learning curve -- also quite an investment -- pays off in timesaving efficiency.

If you'll use desktop publishing software only occasionally, however, reviewers agree that Adobe InDesign is overkill. Even the free Scribus software -- discussed later in the section on free software -- is complicated. Reviews recommend picking the software type that matches your needs and skill level. Again, it comes down to time. It's easier, for occasional use, to customize a template, while power users can afford steeper learning curve.

Not surprisingly, we found the best reviews of desktop publishing software at computing sites such as Computer Shopper and PC World. Consumer Reports doesn't cover desktop publishing software. TopTenReviews.com publishes a useful comparison review of home creativity printing software, but its review of desktop publishing software for small-business use is outdated. The About.com guide to desktop publishing discusses quite a few software titles, but with varying degrees of testing and detail.