Getting started in DTP
Getting started in DTP
The news is getting better all the time for entry level DTP software. The best ones are Ventura Publisher 4.2 ($160) and Pagemaker Classic ($195).
Both are value for money and capable packages. For complex work and reliable seps try VP. It has 600 fonts & heaps of clipart.
If you want ease of use and don't need to separate imported graphics, PM is recommended.
If you don't use CorelDraw yet, you should be. At around $150 on CD-ROM it's a trojan and a great companion to a DTP package. It has 250 fonts, a book full of clipart and a video to get you started.
Another big advantage with all these packages is that you don't need the latest hardware to run them. All three of these packages are workable on a 386 machine, although 8mb of RAM and a good size hard drive are recommended. A CD-ROM drive is good too so you get fast software installation and access to all the fonts and clipart that come with the software.
Spending a lot of money on hardware and software doesn't make you a better desktop publisher. Practice does. So if you're keen, go for it!
P.S. The hardcopy version of this newsletter is typeset with VP 4.2, Corel 3 and MS Works all running on an ancient 20Mhz 386 with 10Mb of RAM and 380Mb hard drive.
