Desktop publishing

[Hawkmoon]

I'm getting more interested in desktop publishing -- after being away from it for a couple or three decades. The old software that I used and loved under Widows for Workgroups 3.11 is no longer available so I need to get caught up on what's currently available and good (beyond InDesign, which I can't afford), as well as what (if anything) is new in digital typography, etc.

I expected that there would be multiple forums dedicated to DTP but that apparently is not the case. My search has unearthed only one Internet forum for DTP -- and when I attempted to register I got a message that the administrators have disabled registration. I don't know if that means the forum is dead, or if they are running it as an insider clique where a few friends exchange ideas.

Does anyone know of any forums on desktop publishing that are open to new members?

[zxcvbob]

What software did you used to use?  It might be available on eBay for cheap and can be run in a dosbox window, or even natively in Windows 10 on a 32-bit install.  (it's easy to go back and forth between 32-bit and 64-bit if you're okay with wiping the machine when you switch)  Some of that stuff will also run in Linux using Wine.

[MillCreek]

I have used MS Publisher for many years, as part of the Office suite.

[lee n. field]

I'm getting more interested in desktop publishing -- after being away from it for a couple or three decades. The old software that I used and loved under Widows for Workgroups 3.11 is no longer available

I never messed with it, but way back when I used an Atari ST, Pagestream was the big DTP program.

It turns out, it's still out there: https://www.pagestream.org/.


 

[Hawkmoon]

What software did you used to use?  It might be available on eBay for cheap and can be run in a dosbox window, or even natively in Windows 10 on a 32-bit install.  (it's easy to go back and forth between 32-bit and 64-bit if you're okay with wiping the machine when you switch)  Some of that stuff will also run in Linux using Wine.

It was called Publish-It! Don't remember who put it out. There is a more recent program that calls itself Publish It (without the exclamation point). Not at all the same. I contacted them, and they responded that they are not the same company, it's not the same software, and their program is oriented toward greeting cards, not books.

[Hawkmoon]

I have used MS Publisher for many years, as part of the Office suite.

I have Publisher. Very definitely not oriented toward books. To be honest, IMHO Publisher doesn't belong in a professional office suite. It's totally lame. Microsoft should be embarrassed.

[zxcvbob]

It was called Publish-It! Don't remember who put it out. There is a more recent program that calls itself Publish It (without the exclamation point). Not at all the same. I contacted them, and they responded that they are not the same company, it's not the same software, and their program is oriented toward greeting cards, not books.

This might be useful for tracking it down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeworks_Publisher

[Hawkmoon]

This might be useful for tracking it down: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeworks_Publisher

Yes! That's the one.

Gads, I miss that program.

[zxcvbob]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124530947368  Let's see if this link still works after I trimmed off most of it

[TechMan]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124530947368  Let's see if this link still works after I trimmed off most of it

Works

[JTHunter]

The Dr. Who club I am in publishes a newsletter using Wordpress.  These newsletters are just emailed out to members and not actually printed, at least, not since all our meetings were cancelled last year.

[Nick1911]

What does desktop publishing software actually... do?

I assume it's not for hammering out text like you'd use a word processor for.  Is it for formatting text for publication?  Is the idea that you'll print said publication directly on your desktop printer?

[TechMan]

What does desktop publishing software actually... do?

I assume it's not for hammering out text like you'd use a word processor for.  Is it for formatting text for publication?  Is the idea that you'll print said publication directly on your desktop printer?

Desktop publishing software can turn copy and media files into publishable layouts, for things such as newspapers, magazines, brochures, flyers, and books. Completed layouts can be uploaded onto a website or exported and printed onto paper or similar materials. Users can use prepackaged templates or build pages from scratch, and edit individual pages to meet the needs of each projects. Desktop publishing tools may integrate with drawing or photo editing tools, and are commonly used by the editorial and layout staff within an organization. Completed layouts can be uploaded onto a website or exported and printed onto paper or similar materials.

To qualify for inclusion in the Desktop Publishing category, a product must:
Provide templates for constructing layouts of publishable materials (e.g. newspapers, flyers)
Offer tools for refining layouts, such as detailed rulers, text wrapping, and photo layering
Enable files to be uploaded online or printed using external printers onto ordered pages

[Nick1911]

Thanks.  I poked at the wiki page which also laid it out.  Seems the professional market is almost entirely using Adobe InDesign on Mac hardware.

[TechMan]

Thanks.  I poked at the wiki page which also laid it out.  Seems the professional market is almost entirely using Adobe InDesign on Mac hardware.

Yep.  I have all Windoze computers at my office, with the sole exception of my marketing person who has a Mac running the full Adobe Creative Suite and that is because that is all she has really ever used in her career and for what her job is it is the platform/software of choice.

[cordex]

Thanks.  I poked at the wiki page which also laid it out.  Seems the professional market is almost entirely using Adobe InDesign on Mac hardware.

I work with a commercial printer and can confirm.