Desktop Publishing Alternatives to Adobe Creative Suite and QuarkXPress
Markzware, developer of FlightCheck preflighting software, came across a Tweet on a detailed report that reviewed desktop publishing alternatives (DTP alternatives), including those for Adobe Creative Suite applications for Mac. Adobe Creative Suite is one of many formats preflighted by FlightCheck. Markzware FlightCheck can find errors, so that they can be corrected prior to output, saving money, time and re-prints. The interesting tweet starts with:
“You probably recognize this class of software I’m reviewing now as Desktop Publishing (DTP). Page layout tools allow a designer to arrange artwork, photography and type into a meaningful and attractive composition. Usually the features allow a designer to flow text across multiple pages and around artwork, exercise special control over type and other details, and make accurate and easy adjustments to anything in the publication. Better programs offer ways to make templates and master pages that can be used over and over, and for serious professional level work, they support different colour spaces (RGB for screen production and CMYK and spot colours for designing press ready materials).
In my professional life I use InDesign CS4 daily, and really like its features and tools. I have a very high regard for Adobe’s typesetting engine which has automatic optical kerning and a fantastic paragraph composer that sets text with real grace. I will be using this as my professional measure to compare and contrast the contenders in the review.”
Source: http://jonwhipple.com/blog/2009/08/08/laying-it-all-out/
FlightCheck preflighting solution can check Adobe Creative Suite files for quality control, and these desktop publishing alternatives may suffice for arranging color graphics for an InDesign booklet or a simple poster for print. FlightCheck can collect and package elements for desktop publishing, as well. The FlightCheck Manual lists numerous capabilities. Many desktop publishing alternatives were mentioned in the report.
FlightCheck by Markzware is patented preflight technology for Adobe Creative Suite and many more file formats. FlightCheck can preflight Adobe Creative Suite documents with thorough preflighting capabilities not provided by desktop publishing alternatives.
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I’m surprised you didn’t mention http://www.scribus.net, professional open-source DTP, I’ve used it quite a bit and it’s got quite a rich feature set. The interface isn’t quite as polished as InDesign, but it’s got some good features that InDesign doesn’t have. Contact me at email at eliot dot com dot au if you’d like a copy of my full report on Scribut and I’ll send it on.