Publishing

Ratings and Reviews of CD Drives

 

Publishing Software

Desktop publishing and printing. There are a number of options with a wide variety of features and functions and PRICES.  As always, before you decide on the "right" package for your business and business environment, think about not only what you need or want to do with the package right now (It's an emergency job!  Help!  I need software!) but what you might want to do with it later.  Remember haste often makes waste, especially when you're purchasing software.  So remember, what looks like a good price now, might turn into wasted money if you don't have functions that you need later and end up purchasing the more "full featured" software later (and pitching that initial purchase!)

 

Things to remember before you buy?

  • Your System:  Many of these programs can eat up significant system resources, especially if you begin adding graphics to the documents.  More complex documents will put a strain on your CPU, memory, and even your graphics card.  Make sure your system MORE than meets the minimum requirements of the application.  We also recommend that you invest in a good monitor.  A good sized flat panel is best (17" or bigger) or a large tube (which will take up more space - but if you have it...).  We at Home Office Reports are no longer "spring chicken" and enjoy the size and definition of 21" monitors.
  • You:  Know how much time you are willing to dedicate to learning and using the capabilities the software provides.  If you aren't willing to spend the time, don't buy the most powerful, complex package!
  • Compatibility:   Trust us!  You're going to move lots of files around - to your customers and partners as well as, presentation and web design software.  Make sure the output of the publishing application you purchase can import (as objects, files or art) the images and files you need as well as export the document in a variety of formats (and is compatible with Acrobat! See our Document Interchange Software review for more information).
  • Ease of Use/Training:  Is the software easy to use?  If the software requires time to understand and use professionally, does the manufacturer provide training (included on the software CD, Web based or partner-based)?
  • Support:  The more complex the software, the more important it is for the vendor to stand behind it and help you if you run into trouble.  Make sure that the software manufacturer has a robust customer support site and process before you buy!
  • Features and Functions:  If you need it now, make sure it's there.  If you think you might need it later, make sure it will BE there if it already isn't! (Remember the old refrain - you get what you pay for!)
     
    Google
     
    Web Home Office Reports
  • Upgrade Costs:  Once you've invested in software, you'll have to keep investing in the upgrades.  Make sure you look into the costs of upgrades (historically) for your software, or if it's brand new product, the track record of the company producing the software.

  $15 Off $200 Coupon! Click Here!

Ready to make YOUR investment in printing and publishing software?  Let's get going! 

Some vendors offer more than one package in this category.  We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.

  6 months Same as CASH!*

Publishing Software Review

Publishing and Printing Software*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

Company Best For** Simple Start-Up Cost Time Savings Ease of Use Works With Support Features Overall Rating

Adobe

RP

นนน

$$$1/2

นนนน

@@@1/2

YYYY

pppp

iiii1/2

%%%%

Avanquest

AR

นนนน

$$$

นนนน

@@@@

YYY

pp

iii

%%%

Broderbund

AR

นนนน

$$$

นนนน

@@@@

YYY+

pp1/2

iii

%%1/2

Corel

RP

นนน1/2

$$$1/2

นนนน

@@@1/2

YY1/2

pppp

iiii1/2

%%%1/2+

Greenstreet Software

AR

นนนน

$$$$

นนนน

@@@@

YYY

ppp

ii1/2

%%%

Microsoft

ARP

นนนน

$$$1/2

นนน

@@@@

YYY

pppp1/2

iii1/2

%%%%

Quark

RP

นนน

$$$1/2

นนน

@@@

YYY1/2

pppp

iiii1/2

%%%1/2

Serif

ARP

นนนน

$$$1/2+

นนน

@@@@

YYY

ppp+

iii1/2+

%%%1/2+

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

 

Adobe

Simple Start-Up - นนน

Much as we love and use PageMaker, it is NOT the easiest software to learn how to use effectively.  If you don't take a class or spend time with the tutorial, you'll spend some "interesting" and "frustrating" hours making this applications your "friend".  We've been there, and done that!  And, FrameMaker adds even more power - and complexity!  These tools are for the serious desktop publisher only!

Cost - $$$1/2

You get what you pay for.  Adobe's software is feature and function rich, and though you'll pay for those features and functions, you can be assured that the software has all the capabilities you'll ever need (until the next upgrade of course!). Adobe PageMaker was considered one of the "benchmark" desktop publishing applications.  Many other vendors work hard to ensure that their software is "compatible" with PageMaker. (We at Home Office Reports use PageMaker for our more elaborate document development needs).  Adobe has recently launched its PageMaker replacement - InDesign that delivers even more functionality and supports a graceful transition for PageMaker users (like us).

Software Price O/S Supported Overview Features Compatibility

PageMaker 7.0

$499.00

$79.00 upgrade

Windows NT 4.0 (service pack  6), 2000, XP

Macintosh OS  9.1 or OS X

Desktop Publishing

  • Placeholder frames for text and graphics

  • Non-printing guides

  • Master pages

  • Layers (annotations, experiment with layouts), master pages, text and graphics frames Adobe PDF creation

  • Automatically reposition, resize and reflow text blocks, frames and graphics

  • Advanced word-processing - can work on document like a newspaper or book

  • Professional quality type - set typography with point-size-dependent tracking, kerning in 0.001-em increments, expanded and condensed type

  • Import images or use embedded drawing tools

  • Datamerge feature merges text and graphics stored in spreadsheets or databases

  • ICC color management support

  • Enhanced PDF export

  • Templates for many publications including stationary, newsletters, brochures, reports

  • 4,700 stock illustrations, 300 high-resolution stock photographs, 150 Adobe Type 1 fonts, hundreds of templates for newsletters, brochures, flyers

  • Data merge for direct mail, form letters, business cards and catalogs

  • Tagged PDF support (eBooks)

Drag and drop import of Photoshop or Illustrator files

QuarkXPress, Microsoft Publisher converter

InDesign CS2 $699.00, $169.00 upgrade

Windows 2000, XP

Macintosh OS X 10.2 to 10.3

Desktop Publishing, Layout and Design

  • Adobe Photoshop and Adobe PDF Layer support
  • Anchored objects
  • Repeated transformation - skew, rotate, fit
  • Pathfinder commands
  • Shape-to-shape conversion
  • Import tables from Microsoft Word and Excel
  • Stroke style editor
  • Drawing tools
  • Multiple undo/redo
  • Text on path
  • Transparency - drop shadows, feathering
  • Adjust noise and spread options
  • Gradients
  • Mixed ink support
  • CMYK, RGB, LAB support
  • Color picker
  • Paragraph composer
  • OpenType font support
  • Glyphs palette
  • Optical kerning
  • Optical margin alignment
  • Graphics preview with multiple preview modes
  • Object styles
  • Paragraph and character styles
  • Nested styles
  • Quick-apply styles
  • XMP metadata support
  • Info palette
  • Links palette
  • Library palette
  • Page sizes from 1 pica square to 1,296 picas square, spreads up to ten pages
  • Master pages
  • Document presets with bleeds and slugs
  • Frame-level baseline grids
  • Position tool
  • Layers
  • Long document support, footnote support
  • Eyedropper tool
  • Story editor
  • WYSIWYG font menus
  • Automated bullets and numbering
  • XML support
PDF, Photoshop (PSD), CMYK, RGB, LAB, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe GoLive, InCopy, QuarkXPress, Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Word and Excel
FrameMaker 7.2 $799.00 (Windows and Macintosh), $1,329.00 (Unix and Solaris), $1,989.00 shared Unix/Solaris, $199.00 (Windows upgrade), $349.00 (Macintosh upgrade), $279.00 (Unix, Solaris upgrade)

Windows 98SE, 2000, XP

Macintosh OS X

Unix Solaris 2.6, 2.7, 2.8 or 2.9

Desktop Publishing

  • Create and edit XML in structured authoring environment
  • Use document type definitions to define structure and validity of content
  • Edit content in WYSIWYG mode
  • Map between XML elements and document objects such as tables, graphics, footnotes, cross-references, index markers with read-write rules
  • Starter templates, starter applications for xHTML and xDocBook, XML tutorial
  • Manage page layouts, headers, footers and backgrounds via master pages
  • Automatically number chapters, pages, sections, paragraphs and list items
  • Templates include page layouts and styles for paragraphs, characters, cross-references, tables
Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator, AI, SVG, PDF, Photoshop, TIFF, EPS, JPEG 2000, JPEG, GIF, QuarkXPress, PageMaker, HTML

Time Savings - นนนน

Once you have figured out how to effectively use thes powerful software packages, you'll see huge gain in your ability to deliver professional looking and professional quality documents for printing or web publication.

Ease of Use - @@@1/2

With any Adobe package, you'll get back exactly what you put into it - in time and effort.  Although their software is not "simple", Adobe strives to balance capability and usability.  With that said, expect to spend some serious time with the software before you are comfortable and the software is highly "usable" - especially packages like InDesign CS, PageMaker and FrameMaker!

Works With - YYYY

All of the Adobe software is designed for both Windows and Macintosh environments - an Adobe tradition.  FrameMaker is also compatible with the Sun Solaris environment.

Support - pppp

The Adobe support site is comprehensive and well designed.  Adobe offers a multitude of training classes to help you get started and improve your utilization of their software.  Additionally, Adobe provides a forum for users and experts to discuss problems, solutions and even interesting new ways to use the software to solve business problems.  If you need more help, Adobe offers phone support plans - $39.00 per incident or $159.00 for unlimited support for one year.

Features - iiii1/2

PageMaker and FrameMaker are the "gold standards" for desktop publishing software in the industry.  Now InDesign takes that leadership forward.  Everyone tries to "beat" or be "compatible with" InDesign, PageMaker and FrameMaker or their major competitor - QuarkXPress.  Adobe has also surrounded InDesign, PageMaker and FrameMaker with other application tools to enhance workflows, graphics and image conversions.

Overall Rating - %%%%

Adobe has a continuing strong reputation for delivering software solutions that are designed with the desktop publishing professional in mind.  If you are planning on developing professional print or online documents, Adobe's software is always a sound, reliable choice.  And, when combined with their strong technical support and training programs, make Adobe a leading contender for all professional publication and printing software requirements.

 

Avanquest

Simple Start-Up - นนนน

The "My" software line from Avanquest is designed to offer an easy way for home based and small business owners to produce business basics - newsletters, letterhead, brochures, envelopes, post cards, business cards, etc.  The "My" line is successful in that endeavor - their software is easy-to-use and doesn't take a lot of time or effort to become acquainted with.

Cost - $$$$

Avanquest product pricing is detailed in the table below.

Software Price O/S Supported Overview Features Compatibility

Design and Print - Business Edition

$39.95

Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP

Basic Publishing Software
  • Create brochures, newsletters, flyers, letterhead, envelopes, post cards, business cards, labels

  • 1,800 designs

  • Coordinated stationery sets

  • Text-art feature

  • Easy to use design tools

  • Built-in address book

  • Works with Avery, Paper Direct

  • Free paper included

  • 2.6 million images and photos

  • 1,000 fonts

 
Smart Business Pack $29.95 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP 15 Software Applications
  • Organize information and sales leads
  • Generate invoices, estimates, checks and legal forms
  • Create marketing material
 
Smart Office Pack $49.95 Macintosh OS 9.0, OS X 4 Software Applications
  • Business cards -includes background designs and text styles, add text and company logo, 2.6 million images, design tools
  • Contact management - formatted address templates, add or edit field names, enter data directly or import, search, output information to address labels, envelopes, postcards, rolodex cards, address books, reports
  • Label designer - select by size or part number, add addresses, text and graphics, align and rotate text
  • Manage billing and cash collection - invoice templates, enter company information, sales tax rate and products and services, customer details, add personalized customer memo
 

Time Savings - นนนน

Need a fast set of stationary or business cards for that big meeting with your first customer?  Have you had to change your email address, telephone or fax number or your physical address and don't want to scratch out bad information on your current business card?  The Avanquest solutions will get you through these and other "business publishing" emergencies.  Talk about productivity?  It's better than paying for the "rush" job at Kinkos!

Ease of Use - @@@@

The Avanquest software is made to be two things - cheap and usable!

Avanquest SoftwareWorks With - YYY1/2+

Avanquest offers both Windows and Macintosh versions of most software.

Support - pp

You get what you pay for.  Cheap software - expensive technical support.  In fact, technical support, if you need to speak to a "live" body, will cost more than the software itself!  $24.95 for the first 10 minutes (and how many tech support calls have you had resolve in 10 minutes or less?) and $2.95 per minute after that.  And by the way, this is not an "800" number, you'll be paying long distance charges as well (unless you have one of those new "bundled" local and long distance packages from MCI, SBC or Verizon!).  Finally, tech support is only available 7 AM to 4 PM Pacific Monday through Friday (with the exception of Wednesday when they close at 2 PM!).  Basically, if you need help - throw out the software and kiss your $40 or $30 good-bye!

Features - iii

Just the basics.  The good news is that this software will serve well in an emergency for the more "experienced" user and as a nice, simple tool for those of you who don't WANT more than just the minimum to print basic business publications.

Overall Rating - %%%+

In an emergency, we would use this software.  However, if you are a sophisticated user, you probably will purchase something a bit more powerful (like Microsoft Publisher) anyway so....  You get what you pay for - basic functionality with a dearth of technical support.

 

Broderbund       

 $15 OFF Purchase of $49 or more! Save on all items at Broderbund.com, plus FREE shipping!

Simple Start-Up - นนนน

Quick!  You need to create cards, labels, stationary, business cards, banners for a meeting - these software packages will allow you to create any or all of them quickly and easily.

Cost - $$$$1/2

Broderbund offers a wide and diverse set of publishing software.  Pricing and features/functions are outlined in the table below.  As with all Broderbund software collections - make sure you understand how many images come on the CD and how many are available online only.  Broderbund also warns that online services may be changed or discontinued at any time for any reason!

Software Price O/S Supported Overview Features Compatibility

The Print Shop Pro Photo

$49.99

Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP

Publishing Software
  • Import photos from cameras, scanners, mobile phone folders, screen captures

  • View and organize photos, side-by-side viewing for comparison

  • Search options - keyword, data, caption, rating

  • Fix and improve photos, enhance photos with red eye removal, flip, clone, dodge/burn, special effects include ripple, scattered tiles, oil painting, swirl, panoramic stitching tool

  • Project templates for greeting cards, calendars, CDs, DVDs, T-shirt transfers

  • Add audio and video

  • Create slideshows including transition effects, text and audio captions, macromedia Flash

  • Upload photos to online albums, website, email message, save to CD or DVD, as PDF, publish to TiVo or mobile phone

 

PrintMaster Platinum 17 $39.99 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 20,000 pre-designed project templates
  • 295,000 images and graphics
  • 600 fonts
  • 4,500 sentiments
  • Borderless printing
  • CD burning
  • 100 animated greeting designs for birthdays, holidays, invitations
  • Photo editing
  • Hot Shots Viewer
  • Million Image Club Access for one year
  • Create skis for iPod players
  • Publish to web
  • Save as PDF
  • ArcSoft FunHouse
  • ArcSoft PhotoBase - organize and archive photos and video
  • ArcSoft Collage Creator
 
PrintMaster Gold 17 $19.99 Windows 98, 2000, ME or XP Publishing Software
  • 17,500 pre-designed project templates
  • 225,000 images and graphics
  • 550 fonts
  • 3,500 sentiments
  • Borderless printing
  • CD burning
  • 75 animated greeting designs for birthdays, holidays, invitations
  • Photo editing
  • Hot Shots Viewer
  • 6 months access to Million Image Club
  • Create skis for iPod Players
  • Publish to web
  • Save as PDF
  • ArcSoft FunHouse
  • ArcSoft Collage Creator
 

PrintMaster Silver CD or DVD

$9.99

Windows 98, 2000, ME or XP

Publishing Software

  • 10,000 pre-designed project templates

  • 115,000 images and graphics

  • 300 fonts

  • Avery templates

  • 3,000 sentiments

  • CD burning

  • Borderless printing

  • 25 animated greeting designs for birthdays ,holidays, invitations

  • Photo editing

  • 3 month access to Million Image Club

  • Publish to web

  • Save as PDF

 

The Print Shop for Macintosh $49.99 Macintosh OS 8.1 to 9.2.2, OS X Publishing Software
  • Import iTunes playlists for creating CD labels, covers and spines with complete artist, title, track sequence, duration information
  • Create custom calendars by importing iCal schedules
  • Incorporate iPhoto pictures into greeting cards, banners, calendars
  • Integrated with OS X Address Book
  • Save files as PDFs
 
Broderbund Premier Project Collection I $39.99 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 700 professionally designed projects
  • Collection includes:  Premium Holiday Collection, Birthday Project Collection, Bridal Project Collection, Mother's Day Project Collection, Graduation Project Collection, Hop Into Spring Collection, American Pride Project Collection
  • Projects include:  greeting cards, invitations, banners, stickers, posters, photo albums, newsletters, gift bags, t-shirts, book reports, homework helpers, CD labels, photo frames
 
Broderbund Premier Project Collection II $39.99 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 700 professionally designed projects
  • Collection includes:  Anniversary Project Collection, Patriotic Project Collection, Father's Day Project Collection, Holiday Project Collection II, Special Moments Project Collection, Spooky Greetings & Crafts Collection
  • Projects include:  Greeting cards, invitations, banners, stickers, posters, photo albums, newsletters, gift bags, recipe cards, masks, centerpieces, CD labels, photo frames
 
The Print Shop Design Suite Professional Edition DVD $199.99 Windows 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • Desktop Publishing and Art Gallery - 400,000 images and graphics, 22,000 templates, 850 fonts, oversize pages, address and mail merge functions, form creator
  • Design and Publish Web Pages - create mouse-over effects, add shapes, backgrounds, shading and transparency, spell check, publish to FTP
  • Graphic Tools - brush effects - vector and bitmap, 3D shape creation, ANSI/ISO standard technical drawing templates, texture effects, pressure sensitive brush support
  • Image Editing - web optimization, auto fix, red-eye removal, history toolbox
  • Workflow - image browsing, file compression, group batching, file tagging, timeline toolbar
  • PDF and Print Tools - create PDF files, borderless printing, prints directly on inkjet printable CDs/DVDs, photo quality printing
 
The Print Shop Brochures, Newsletters and More! $19.99 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 1,000 projects
  • 280 fonts
  • Import photos and logos
  • 1,500 images
  • 280 fonts
 
The Print Shop Pro Publisher Deluxe 22 DVD Software $99.99

Windows 2000, XP

Business Publication Suite

  • Create:  banners, booklets, brochures, business forms, business cards, calendars, CD and media labels, certificates, greeting cards, flyers, invitations, letterhead, mailing labels, newsletters, photo greeting cards, postcards, signs
  • 400,000 images - Getty Images, Christie's, Dave Eliasberg, Clint Graves, Photos and Illustrations, web art, backgrounds and textures, seasonal images
  • Text and Layout Options - 850 fonts, text effects, text-stretching, master pages, window and orphan controls, watermarks, text and paragraph alignment, text in columns, drawing tools, rulers and guides, text wrapping, spell check, kerning and spacing
  • Photo Editor - retouch or correct photo flawing including red-eye removal, object flip sharpen focus, improve contrast, color correction, web optimization, drawing tools add text to images, selection tools
  • Artistic Effects - bulge, colorize, furry edges, negative feathering, sepia, solarize, ripple, antique, opacity, swirl, mirror
  • Drawing and Selection Tools - lasso, freehand, rectangular, airbrush, elliptical, magic wand, burn, pencil, dodge, flood fill, line, polygon
  • Instant message sharing
  • Burn to CD or DVD
  • Click-N-View sharing
  • Multimedia presentations
  • Print directly on inkjet printable CDs/DVDs
  • Print standard or custom size photos
  • Logo Creator
  • Small Business Center - starting your business, writing a business plan, raising money, assessing your business and the market place

Export:  PDF, JPEG, TIFF, GIF

200 Avery Templates

The Print Shop 22 Deluxe $49.99 Windows 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • Create:  booklets, business cards, calendars, CD/DVD labels, certificates, family trees, greeting cards, hand-crafted cards, invitations, letter head, mailing labels, newsletters, photo greeting cards, photo book pages, postcards, signs, skins for iPod players
  • Templates include 4x6 notecard, postcard, 11x17 pages, legal pages, square pages - 6x6, 8x8 and 12x12
  • 350,000 images - Getty Images, photos and illustrations, web art, backgrounds and textures, seasonal images
  • Text and Layout Options - 700 fonts, text effects, text-stretching, master pages, window and orphan controls, watermarks, text and paragraph alignment, text in columns, drawing tools, rulers & guides, text wrapping spell check, kerning and spacing
  • Photo Editor - red-eye removal, object flip, sharpen focus, improve contrast, color correction, painting tools, web optimization, add text to images, selection tools
  • Artistic Effects - bulge, colorize, furry edges, negative, sepia, solarize, ripple, antique, swirl, mirror
  • Printing and Sharing - burn projects to CD or VCD, borderless printing, print directly on inkjet printable CDs/DVDs, oversize printing and custom paper wizard, print standard or custom size photos

Export:  PDF, JPEG, TIFF, GIF

200 Avery Templates

The Print Shop 22 $29.99 Windows 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 18,000 templates to create:  banners, business cards, calendars, CD/DVD labels, certificates, greeting cards, hand-crafted cards, invitations, letterhead, newsletters, photo greeting cards, postcards, signs
  • 250,000 images and graphics - 1,000 Getty Images, photos and illustrations, import your own photos
  • Photo Editing - apply special effects and filters, resize images, crop, correct red-eye, adjust color, brightness or contrast
  • Fonts and Text Effects - 500 fonts, variety of effects
  • Printing and Sharing - Instant Messaging, Click-N-View, Ultimate Mail Manager and Address Book, borderless printing, print directly on inkjet printable CDs/DVDs, print standard or custom size photos

Export:  PDF, JPEG, TIFF, GIF

200 Avery Templates

The Print Shop Letterhead, Envelopes & More! $19.99 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 1,000 professionally designed layouts
  • 280 fonts, 1,500 images
  • Photo editing
  • Upload project to Broderbund.com for printing (additional fee applies)
  • Create letterheads, envelopes, forms, invoices, faxes, memos
 
The Print Shop 21 & ClickArt 750,000 CD Bundle $39.00 Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • The Print Shop 21:  200,000 images, 15,000 project templates, 2,600 sentiments, photo-editing tools
  • ClickArt 750,000:  560,000 images, 100,000 web images, 90,000 photos and fine art images, 1,000 TrueType fonts, keyword search
 

Time Savings - นนนน

If you don't have time to go to Kinkos (or want to spend the money!), the Broderbund software is an alternative that will save you a trip and some money.

Ease of Use - @@@@

It won't take you long to produce letterhead, envelopes or other publications using this software.

$10 OFF at Broderbund.com plus FREE shipping!Works With - YYY+

The Broderbund packages are designed for the Windows environment only with the exception of one Print Shop package for Macintosh.

Support - pp1/2

When you purchase inexpensive software you shouldn't expect much in the way of technical support.  Broderbund's implementation is a great example of this methodology.  If you need help - the web is your only option.  And, when we went there and attempted to find help for a couple of the software packages, one of them wasn't even listed!  You'd better hope that the software works on your system, or you've just thrown your money away.

Features - iii1/2

Lots of projects (family oriented as well), templates, clip art - simple built-in contact manager.  Best feature is the PDF export capability.  You can post a project on the web in PDF format (in Print Master Platinum and Pro Publisher packages) or send a document to a printer (or even Broderbund.com) for printing large quantities of your letterhead, invoices, or a flyer.

Overall Rating - %%%+

If you need to get some letterhead, envelopes or other business forms "out the door" quickly - Broderbund's software is an inexpensive and effective solution.  However, when you need "more", you'll have to invest in more comprehensive and powerful software.

 

Corel

Simple Start-Up - นนน1/2

Ventura 10 is not a simple package.  Like it's competitors - PageMaker and QuarkXPress, Ventura 10 is designed for the professional desktop publisher.  Spending time and money on training is a good idea. 

Cost - $$$1/2

Corel's Ventura10 is priced at $599.00, upgrade is $199.00. 

Software Price O/S Supported Overview Features Compatibility

Ventura10

$599.00

$199.00 upgrade

Windows 2000 or XP

Publishing Software

  • Database publisher enables pulling large amounts of data from one or more databases, then organize, format and publish the data

  • Capture tool captures images or records on-screen actions as animation files

  • Barcode creator

  • XML mapping editor creates mapping files for importing XML documents

  • Service bureau profiler tool presents overview of service bureaus and their capabilities

  • 1,500 TrueType and Type 1 fonts

  • Preflight engine

Export - AI, PSD, DXF/DWG, CAL, GIF, CGM, CPT, CMX, EPS, PCT, MAC, DRW, BMP, PCX, PNG, SVG, SCT, TGA. EMF, KPX, FMV, IMG, GEM, PLT, JPG, TIF, WI, BMP, WMF, WPG, XPM

Import - AI, PSD, PDF, DXF, DWG, CAL, GIF, CGM, CPX, CMX, RIF, CPT, CDR, CDX, EPS, EMF, FMV, PCT, MAC, MET, DRW, DSF, NAP, BMP, PCX, PP4, PP5, PNG, PS, PRN, SVG, SCT, TGA, KPX, FH, IMG, GEM, PLT, JPG, PCD, TIF, VSD, WI, BMP, WMF, WPG, XPM, MIF, SAM, TXT, GEN, WPD, WP5, WP4, WPM, DOC, RTF, SGML, WSD, WSW, XML, XY

Time Savings - นนนน

If you are a publishing professional, Corel's Ventura10 will help you more efficiently prepare professional documents for printing and publication. 

Ease of Use - @@@1/2

With any Corel package, you'll get back exactly what you put into it - in time and effort.  Although the software is not "simple", Corel strives to balance capability and usability.  With that said, expect to spend some serious time with the software before you are comfortable and the software is highly "usable".

Works With - YY1/2

Ventura10 is designed for Windows 2000 and XP only.

Support - pppp

The Corel support site is comprehensive and well designed.  Corel offers training programs online and through third parties as well.  They also sponsor newsgroups where users can trade information on using the software, problems and fixes.  Additionally, their online knowledge base is comprehensive and easy to navigate.  If you need to call Corel from the U.S. you'll pay long distance charges.  Canadian customer calls are toll free.

Features - iiii1/2

Ventura10 is loaded with features for the professional desktop publisher.  The most intriguing are XML and print pre-flighting integration. 

Overall Rating - %%%1/2+

Corel's Ventura10 is aimed at the professional desktop publisher - especially those working with major corporations or corporations that use XML technologies in their business-to-business documents, communications and applications.  If you are working with enterprises and need XML integration, Ventura10 is a very good choice. 

 

Greenstreet Software

Simple Start-Up - นนนน

Greenstreet Software's packages are easy to use and will help you produce documents, signs and business cards quickly.

Cost - $$$$

Greenstreet Software offers a number of publishing solutions.  Pricing is detailed in the table below.

Software Price O/S Supported Overview Features Compatibility
Print It 4 $1.99 (on eBay) Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP Publishing Software
  • 2,000 templates
  • Digital image library
  • Use your own photos and images
  • Design and editing tools
  • Create greeting cards, calendars, posters, journals, signs, stickers, newsletters, labels, invitations, certificates, t-shirts, envelopes, flyers, fax sheets, brochures, business cards, letterhead, presenters, compliment slips
 

Publishing Studio 4

$99.95, $49.95 upgrade

Windows 98, ME, NT,2000

Publishing Software
  • Includes Greenstreet Publisher, Draw, PhotoFX and PowrText 3D software applications

  • Publisher - page layout, draw, photo editing and 3D text (see complete description below)

  • Draw - create artwork to drop into Publisher page layout

  • PhotoFX - 100s of photo effects, save and import into Publisher

  • PowerText - create 3D letter effects

  • 125,000 images - 100,000 Alphabetart, 10,000 clipart, 10,000 photos, 5,000 sniparts

  • Snapshot screen capture utility

  • Font manager utility

  • KeyPad utility for locating special characters not available on a standard keyboard

Export in JPEG Bitmap, PCX Bitmap, PNG Bitmap, Tiff Bitmap, Targa Bitmap, Photoshop Bitmap, Windows Bitmap, Windows Metafile, Metafiles can also be exported as CGM & GEM formats

Publisher 3 $29.95 Windows 95, 98, NT Publishing Software
  • Templates for CD inlay cards, web sites, newsletters, advertisements, flyers, posters, corporate identity packages
  • Wizards to help create documents
  • Email integration
  • Prints color separations
  • 3D PowerText
  • Table templates
  • 100 fonts, 9 templates, 1,100 sample files, 25 fill styles, 10 arrow heads, 13 table styles, 16 importable graphics
  • Image browser
  • Snapshot screen capture utility
  • Font Manager Utility
  • KeyPad Utility for locating special characters not available on a standard keyboard