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Desktop Publishing Software

By Jacci Howard Bear, About.com Guide to Desktop Publishing

Desktop publishing software is a tool for graphic designers and non-designers to create visual communications for professional or desktop printing, online display, and other distribution methods. Discover the many types of desktop publishing software, major publishers of desktop publishing software, and how to use desktop publishing software.

  1. Types of Desktop Publishing Software
  2. Major Desktop Publishing Software Publishers
  3. Using Desktop Publishing Software
  4. Page Layout Software Tutorials

Types of Desktop Publishing Software

Page Layout in PageMaker

There is one absolute requirement for desktop publishing and that is a page layout application, also known as "desktop publishing software." There is no single best desktop publishing software program. There are, however, specific programs that are better suited for certain tasks than others.

Major Desktop Publishing Software Publishers

QuarkXPress Box Shot

The term desktop publishing was originally coined to describe Aldus (now Adobe) PageMaker and among professional designers refers primarily to high-end page layout software applications including Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress. Explore the desktop publishing software options from the major players in the field for professional, business, and personal publishing.

Using Desktop Publishing Software

InDesign Button Tool

Desktop publishing software doesn't work in the same way as word processing software. It's different from graphics software. From setting up a basic document to complicated arrangements of text and graphics, learn how to use desktop publishing software by following this step-by-step plan.

Page Layout Software Tutorials

Screenshot of CeledyDraw 2 by J. Bear

Get software tutorials for Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, QuarkXPress, and other popular desktop publishing software programs. Learn how to set up your working environment, work with text and graphics, use templates and wizards, save, export, import, and print documents from some of the most widely used desktop publishing software programs.

Jacci Howard Bear
Guide since 1997

Jacci Howard Bear
Desktop Publishing Guide

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