How Graphic Designers Choose the Right Typesetting Software

There are only a few types of layout software in the graphic design: PageMaker, IdDesign, frameMaker, QuarkXPress. The latest versions are: 7.0, 2.0, 6.0, 4.11 (5.0 or beta). So far, PageMaker, frameMaker, QuarkXPress Technically matured, PageMaker and frameMaker are Adobe's software. Compatibility does not have to be said, but frameMaker is biased, but it contains tables, which is very convenient. QuarkXPress is the most stable software and PageMaker takes second place.

We have to pay attention to such a principle: stability first, convenient efficiency second, functional third, a software can't move problems or speed is too slow, I think you will not use it, right? And are you definitely in China? (Not nonsense) There must be Chinese typesetting in China? Then also the software support for Chinese, PageMaker7.0 does not support Chinese, a lot of 6.5 errors, can only be down one level, with 6.0, ask the brother to call everyone with 6.0, its care and thought is here, in the existing PageMaker In the highest version, 6.0 is the most stable. Now that stability is the first, then PageMaker will remain in 6.0. Let's take a look at frameMaker. The highest version is 6.0 (in English), but I only have 5.5 at this point (please ask my dear friend) 6.0, used to open his client's file, asked me to help find it, the results of the National Day spent a week did not find, or to find can not download, we can not help find it? After all, he used to help you, recently He is very busy, so he seldom comes up.) The Chinese support does not say that almost all fonts are very well supported. The self-contained table functions, unlike PageMaker's use of Table, are almost all advantages, but unfortunately So far, the output company has used it to output very little. You have to copy the software to the output company or convert it to PDF format and then export it to the output company. QuarkXPress Chinese version is currently at the highest 3.3. The English version does not support Chinese, but the disadvantage is that it can only be used on Macs, and IdDesign will not say it, although it is used to replace PageMaker, but there is no Chinese version so far, there will be a Chinese for some time Version, the English version of the Chinese language support is not very good, this is not counted, there are many other errors, so it is not included in this discussion, so there are only three options, namely: PageMaker 6.0 simplified Chinese version, frameMaker 5.5 English official version (6.0 not found, find even if the 6.0) QuarkXPress 3.3 Simplified Chinese version.

If you are using a PC, I recommend using the PageMaker 6.0 simplified Chinese version. The reason is PageMaker: 1. Stability is second only to QuarkXPress. 2. Convenience and efficiency are also very high. In general, only pointer and text tools are used. Use the F9 key or Ctrl+Spacebar to switch it (if you want to remove the left key of the input method in the control panel, just keep the right key, so that there will be no conflict, hold down the Ctrl+Spacebar is a magnifying glass tool, click Ctrl key and then press the space bar to open the switch tool, such as the above pointer tool and text tool switch) is not very convenient? 3, the error is also very little, only a few thousandth (This is thanks to Adobe's streamlining of the reason, in PM you can only do typesetting, if you do like CorelDRAW large and full, then the speed is not Slow death to blame it) you changed the picture information (except for the size of the picture), just press the button to update all the links on it, do not move the position, change the size to re-immediate it, or to be deformed, only with F9 Keys can switch tools, frameMaker I do not say more, anyway, if you have this software, then use it, but in the end it is best to convert to PDF format, or do not blame people can not open your files, QuarkXPress It is the best choice for the Mac. I don't need to say more.

Also why other software such as CorelDRAW, FreeHand, Illustrator did not participate in the finalists, mainly attributed to their drawing software, although the typesetting function, but their stability and efficiency needs to be improved, CorelDRAW speed is too slow, more than one picture, Open or save is too slow to die, in Illustrator, multiple pages can only use a layer or plug-in to represent multiple pages, more than one layer and more than one picture, open extremely odd, in the FreeHand in the handling of the text is not convenient PageMake, you Wouldn’t you use them to risk rework or being fired by your boss? In PageMaker you don't have to worry about misalignment, it's automatic hyphenation, and so on. It's absolutely superb to deal with typography. Take a look at their names: CorelDRAW. This DRAW is a drawing, Illustrator is also an illustration. The painter, FreeHand, is a free hand (whether it's translated or not). If you want to paint anything, they are the best tools for drawing, but what about PageMaker? Page is the meaning of a page or newspaper. Maker is the meaning of manufacturing. Manufacturing page or newspaper? So only it is the only choice for this particular thing.

Source: HC Network Printing Industry Channel