You could spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on professional desktop publishing software. But many of the top programs are overkill for a lot of individuals. Whether you want it free or just want to pay less for the best programs, check out these ways to spend less and save money when you need to do desktop publishing.
1. Download Free Desktop Publishing Software
A lot of desktop publishing software is quite expensive -- hundreds of dollars for a single program. But there are a few free options worth exploring, including Scribus open source software. The truly free programs may not have quite all the same features or they may not be the industry standards, but they'll get the job done and save you money upfront.2. Buy Less Expensive Desktop Publishing Software
Serif PagePlus is a heavy-hitter with a lightweight price tag. If you want the features found in programs like Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress at a fraction of the cost, consider PagePlus for your print desktop publishing. It's on my list of top desktop publishing software programs for professional use.3. Get Education Discounts on Academic Software
One attractive alternative to paying full price is to purchase academically priced versions, often at one-half to one-third the price of the full retail version. Available to students, faculty, and educational institutions, there are advantages and disadvantages to taking this route for individuals building a desktop publishing arsenal so check them out before you buy. Eligibility requirements, discounts, and product availability varies by publisher for academic software for desktop publishing but if you're a student or a teacher it's worth considering.4. Buy Software Suites and Bundles
Adobe Creative Suite may cost a thousand dollars plus some but purchasing all the programs in the suite individually could cost hundreds more. Suites are a sweet deal if they contain all the page layout, image editing, illustration, and other types of software that you'll be using on a regular basis. In addition to Adobe Creative Suite, the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite gives you basic page layout capabilities (using CorelDRAW) and some powerful programs for working with all kinds of graphics. (Buy Direct: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3) Check out your favorite publisher for bundles and special deals.5. Buy Older Versions of Desktop Publishing Software
The most current version may not be all that much different from the previous version. Consider buying less expensive older versions. For example, PrintMaster Platinum 18 has a few more templates and graphics, a new Scrapbook creator, and is updated for Windows Vista, but if you're still on XP and mostly do greeting cards and fliers, then version 17 or earlier may be just fine for you. (Buy Direct: PrintMaster Platinum 17)Although Adobe InDesign CS3 has been out awhile, many designers are quite happy with the older CS2. Once you've established that you've got a program you really like, you can upgrade it. Time it right and you could end up spending less than those folks who buy the new version as soon as it hits the shelf.
