Desktop Publisher - free

[BarbaraC Profile Private messageWebsite]

I had a need for a basic desktop publisher, and so I ran a search and ended up tripping across Serif's PagePlus SE, which is an older version of the new PagePlus. Serif offers a free download in hopes that you'll like what you can do with it and that you'll end up wanting all the newer bells and whistles of the newer version, which they're selling for a whopping $9.99. I've been testing it, and it certainly fills my needs currently, though I'm likely to upgrade for that mere amount they want.

I'm telling you about it because it occurred to me that it might be good for those of you in business who want to design letterhead, cards, and brochures. Find it here: http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PagePlus/

Barbara

[nwenban Profile Private message]

Hi Barbara,

I'll 2nd your reccomendation for Page Plus, been using it for years, have just upgraded to version X3.

Neville

[wilddove Profile Private messageWebsiteICQ]

Me too also!!

We are on the Latest and Greatest and have loved and used it for a long time.

One great thing about it, you can "Publish as PDF" and send that PDF to clients for their review. It will also open PDF's.

Wonderful Program! Can't say enough great things about it!

Deb

[BarbaraC Profile Private messageWebsite]

Deb and Neville, I'll definitely have to shell out for at least the lesser model because I need its ability to create PDF's. I wonder how tempted I'll be to get the whole enchilada?

Barbara

[nwenban Profile Private message]

Hi Barbara/Deb,

Although the option of creating to a PDF is great, PagePlus seems to have problem with the size of the PDF file it creates.

I created a quick 4 sale flyer recently, created a PDF with Acrobat (117kb) also created a PDF from PP (13.7mb!!!)

The flyer only had some text & 2 x 750kb images in it.

Neville

[BarbaraC Profile Private messageWebsite]

Whoa! What the devil did PagePlus pack into the PDF? That's really odd.

Barbara

[nwenban Profile Private message]

Hi Barbara,

Just an update on the file size issue, contacted Serif regarding my concern:

This may be down to the options selected during the output.
When outputting a pdf, the first page has a number of drop down selections.
Under the heading Publish Profile, select Web Normal or Web Compact to reduce the output file size.

Changed a few settings & produced a PDF via PPX3, file size is now down to a more respectable 280kb.

Neville

[BarbaraC Profile Private messageWebsite]

Neville, thanks for posting the solution. I was feeling a bit indecisive about upgrading from the free version because of that PDF size issue. Now that I know it doesn't have to be tolerated, I'll likely upgrade soon.

Barbara