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NEWSFLASH:
We’re officially in recession. Isn’t that a shocking revelation? Unless a bailout is coming your way, maybe now’s a good time to save some green on your company’s publishing software needs. People often ask me “what’s the best software choice for my newsletter?” (or brochure, business card, mailer, etc.) Of course, no single software package fits everyone’s needs. This is my list of top picks for professional grade tools, available on the cheap.
Word Processor
Go-Go Clinton/Bush years: Microsoft Office: $420
Obama’s change: Open Office: FREE at http://openoffice.org.
It’s hard to believe that more people aren’t using this amazing, fully functional office suite, which is available for a free download. Once a bit rough around the edges, the last few years of open source development have added a lot of polish to the program. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database, powerpoint alternative, and even a draw program.
Page Layout
Real Estate Boom: Adobe InDesign CS4: $694
The Bubble Bursts: Scribus: FREE at http://www.scribus.net
Sure, I’d love all your projects to come in from clients using QuarkXpress, or Adobe’s flagship Creative Suite. Then again, Scribus represents a rock solid contender in the page layout category, once you get used to the quirky looking user interface.
Photo Editor
Dow at 11,000: Adobe Photoshop $630
Retire on tomato soup for dinner: GIMP : FREE at http://www.gimp.org
Let’s face it; you probably don’t need more than a few of Photoshop’s tools, commands and functions. All of its most important functions can be found in yet another open source project: GIMP. It’s nothing like the program you may have seen a few years back, while poking around in Linux. There’s even a hack to give it the look and feel you’ve grown to love (or hate) in Photoshop.
Open source software has come a long way in recent years, thanks to the generosity of the programming community. All of these programs are available in Windows and Mac versions, and the resulting output files are fully supported at Copies&Ink.
In upcoming posts: We’ll talk about some of the key features in these programs, and how they might apply to your work. Keep posted!
