Once, Serif was the maker of applications that were leagues behind the market leaders. Affinity Publisher: Best value desktop publisher There are pros and cons to the idea of renting your software monthly rather than owning a license to use it outright, but putting these aside, InDesign is the best desktop publishing application you can get right now.Ģ.

Using professional software, however, means paying professional prices, and Adobe's introduction of the Creative Cloud subscription system in 2011 didn't go down well with many. If you have dreams of working in one of those fields, then a knowledge of InDesign or its sister program Photoshop will stand you in good stead.Īdobe's applications have been at the top of the market for a long time, and have had plenty of time to mature into software that's powerful but easy to use, with none of the rough edges that we've come to expect from new or free programs. Adobe InDesign: Best desktop publishing software overallĪdobe software is inescapable in the overlapping worlds of graphic design, photography, and journalism.

When you're shopping for publishing software, always make sure that it's compatible with any files you're trying to import too, as you'll find you're using a number of elements to make up a printed page.Īnd if you need help to prep your pictures before you publish, make sure you're using the best photo editing software tools too.ġ. Some are only available via subscription too, and you may not be able to download and keep them all. One thing to note about desktop publishers is that they can be expensive, especially if you want the professional software like inDesign. And while they're often a little more complicated to use than Microsoft Word or Google Docs, they produce far superior results and are designed to help you print off the result effectively too. They differ from graphic design software because they're focused on the creation of a coherent page of mixed media, which is just as likely to focus on words as much as images. The best desktop publishing software packages all provide you with the tools to make your text and images as clear, well-designed, and glossy as possible. While Adobe inDesign is the gold standard in desktop publishing, it may be far too complicated for some, and may have features that hobbyists simply don't want. We've picked a selection of full software packages and smaller apps to help you pick the right option for you. Whether you're involved in media, marketing, or you're just putting together the newsletter for your kids' school, the range of desktop publishing options are broad. With the best desktop publishing software and apps you can create any kind of printed media.

Free desktop publishing software