Desktop Publishing and Design 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.

1. Software Categories
2. Software Buying Advice
3. Windows Software Recommendations
4. Mac Software Recommendations
5. Major Publishers

6. How the Software Works
7. Software Tutorials
8. Hardware for Your Software
9. Beyond the Software and Hardware

Software Categories

There is one absolute requirement for desktop publishing and that is a page layout application, also known as "desktop publishing software."

1. 4 Types of Software for Desktop Publishing
2. 6 Types of Design Software
3. Professional Page Layout
4. Long Document Composition
5. Business or Enterprise

6. Home / Print Creativity
7. SOHO (Small Business)
8. Database Assisted
9. Graphics Software

Software Buying Advice

Desktop publishing software can be a major investment. Whether you choose it because it's cheap or because it's the one with the familiar name, make sure that you are buying the software that will best meet your needs.

1. Ways to Save Money on Software
2. Advice on Choosing Best Software
3. Advice on Choosing Logo Software
4. Mix and Match Desktop Publishing Software to Meet Your Needs

Windows Software Recommendations

If you're running Windows on a PC, you've got a lot of choices in desktop publishing and creative printing software. Some of the best programs are only available for the PC.

1. Top Windows Professional Software for Desktop Publishing
2. Best Free Windows Software for Desktop Publishing
3. Best Windows Business Card Software
4. Best Windows Calendar Design Software

5. Best Windows Greeting Card Software
6. Best Windows Newsletter Design Software
7. Best Windows T-Shirt Design Software
8. Best Specialized Print Creativity Software

Mac Software Recommendations

For Mac users, sometimes there are fewer choices in desktop publishing software but it's getting better. Find the perfect Mac program for your desktop publishing needs. You'll find some software makes the list in multiple categories.

1. Top Mac Professional Software for Desktop Publishing
2. Best Free Mac Software for Desktop Publishing
3. Best Mac Business Card Software
4. Best Mac Calendar Design Software

5. Best Mac Greeting Card Software
6. Best Mac Newsletter Design Software
7. Best Mac Scrapbooking Software
8. Best Mac T-Shirt Design Software

Major Publishers

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.

1. Adobe Software
2. Adobe: Creative Suite or the PageMaker Alternative
3. Corel Software
4. Corel: CorelDRAW Plus Page Layout
5. Microsoft Software
6. Microsoft: Publisher Plus Office
7. Quark Software

8. Quark: QuarkXPress Plus Graphics
9. Serif Software
10. Serif: PagePlus Plus Graphics
11. Academic Software Publishers
12. Nova Development and Broderbund
13. Open Source Desktop Publishing Options

How the Software Works

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.

1. How to Choose a Software Book
2. How to Learn the Software
3. Setting Default Preferences
4. Learn About Text Frames

5. Learn About Common Toolbox Items
6. Learn to Use Style Sheets
7. Import and Place Text
8. Import and Place Graphics

Software Tutorials

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.

1. InDesign
2. QuarkXPress
3. PagePlus
4. PageMaker

5. Publisher
6. Framemaker
7. Ventura
8. More Software Tutorials

Hardware for Your Software

Mac or PC? Make sure your hardware and your software work nice together.

1. Do You Need a PostScript Printer?
2. Calibrate Your Desktop Printer
3. Ways to Use Multiple Monitors in Desktop Publishing
4. Portrait Monitor Advantages in Desktop Publishing

5. Calibrate Your Monitor
6. Calibrate Your Digital Camera
7. Calibrate Your Scanner

Beyond the Software and Hardware

There's more to doing desktop publishing than having a computer with some cool software. Don't forget to explore all the basic definitions and requirements as well as all the tasks involved in doing desktop publishing for home, school, or career.

1. Basic Guidelines and Requirements
2. How to Do Desktop Publishing
3. Careers in Desktop Publishing

4. Back to School With Desktop Publishing
5. Things to Make for the Holidays
6. Jacci's Desktop Publishing Blog