Why Desktop Publishing Software?

A number of different opportunities are available at your fingertips when you choose desktop publishing software. You can turn your home into your own personal version of the nearby printing store in your town. No longer do you have to pay ridiculous prices to get a printed creation completed and in your hands. You can do it yourself for a fraction of what you would spend at one of those stores. All you have to do is pick up one of those programs and a printer. Once you have both of those things, you’re set.

Desktop publishing software can help you do a number of things that were unheard of years ago for those of us who didn’t own a printing press. You will be amazed at the wonderful things you can create with these programs. Don’t settle for subpar creations produced from lackluster programs. Get a high-functioning, multifaceted program to meet all of your needs and make you look like a printing master.

On this site, you'll find articles on how to design business cards and professional printing projects and comprehensive desktop publishing software reviews to help you make an informed decision on which desktop publishing program is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™

What to Look for in Desktop Publishing Software

Choose desktop publishing software that allows you to create a number of different projects and has several photo, graphic and text tools.  Your program of choice must also be easy to use and give you many choices it when it comes to printing and sharing your projects.  If you have any questions, the program manufacturer must provide you with enough help and support features to get them answered. The perfect program must meet your needs and get you closer to creating fantastic complex printed creations.

Here are the criteria we at TopTenREVIEWS used to rank these programs:

Projects
Program must give the user the option to create one of many different kinds of projects. This will keep them coming back for more as their projects become more diverse. Limited capabilities in this area could result in a program having little or no staying power.

Ease of Use
Program must be self-explanatory for computer experts and beginners alike. The user must be able to create a complex project without having to consult with customer service or a manual constantly.

Photo/Graphic Tools
Program must come with several tools to assist in the editing and placement of photos and graphics.

Text Tools
Program must come with several tools to assist in the editing and placement of text.

Printing/Sharing
Program must give users numerous options for printing and sharing their projects. The main goal of a lot of these projects is to share them and the effort is lost if they can’t be printed.

Help/Support
Program must come with thorough help options in the program and on the Internet. Users are going to have questions. If the program is going to succeed, the manufacturer will need to answer them quickly.

Impress them with your creativity and pick up desktop publishing software today!  And be sure to check out our top three products: PagePlus, Print Artist, The Print Shop Professional.

Take a look at these review sites: Greeting Card Software, Print Creativity Software, Mac Publishing Software

 
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Desktop Publishing Software Review 

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Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
PagePlus Print Artist The Print Shop Professional Microsoft Publisher PrintMaster Platinum The Print Shop Deluxe Print Workshop Design & Print
PagePlus Print Artist The Print Shop Professional Microsoft Publisher PrintMaster Platinum The Print Shop Deluxe Print Workshop Design & Print
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Lowest Price Buy PagePlus X4
$99.99
Buy Print Artist Platinum 23
$49.95
Buy The Print Shop Professional 3.0
$79.99
Buy Microsoft Publisher
$139.99
Buy PrintMaster Platinum 2012
$34.99
Buy The Print Shop Deluxe 3.0
$49.99
Buy Print Workshop 2010
$19.99
Buy Design & Print Business Edition
$39.95
 
Overall Rating Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Good Good
Ratings
Projects Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Good Good
Ease of Use Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Excellent Very Good Good Very Good
Photo & Graphic Tools Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Excellent Very Good Good
Text Tools Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Fair Good
Printing & Sharing Excellent Good Very Good Very Good Good Very Good Good Fair
Help & Support Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Excellent Good Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots View PagePlus screenshots View Print Artist screenshots View The Print Shop Professional screenshots View Microsoft Publisher screenshots View PrintMaster Platinum screenshots View The Print Shop Deluxe screenshots View Print Workshop screenshots View Design & Print screenshots
Projects
Templates 1,400 25,000+ 18,000 600+ 19,000 16,000 26,400+ 8,400
Banners Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Business Cards Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Business Forms Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Calendars Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Certificates Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Greeting Cards Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Invitations Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Letterhead Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Newsletters Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Postcards Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Posters Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Styles Check Mark    Check Mark     
Tables Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark
Master Pages Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Web Pages Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Resumes   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
Stationary Sets   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Report Covers    Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Menus   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Iron-ons   Check Mark       
Direct Mail   Check Mark   Check Mark     
Catalogs   Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark    
CD Slide Shows   Check Mark       
Brochures   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   
Photo/Graphic Tools
Art Gallery 833 375,000+ 335,000 150,000 330,000 310,000 7 Million+ 6 Million
Color Correction Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Crop Image Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
3-D Effects Check Mark        
Transparency Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Photo Effects Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Drawing Tools Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
CMYK Editing Check Mark    Check Mark     
Pantone Color Matching Check Mark    Check Mark     
Frames Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Flaw Correction   Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark  
Text Effects
Fonts 400 1,000+ 700 200 600+ 300 560 10,000
Shadows Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
3-D Type Effects Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark    
Inner/Outer Glows Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark   
Bevel & Emboss Check Mark Check Mark       
Insert Picture into Text Check Mark    Check Mark     Check Mark
Text on Curves Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   
Wrap Text Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Gradient & Transparency Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Mail Merge Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Thesaurus Check Mark    Check Mark     
Spell Checker Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Proof Reader Check Mark    Check Mark     
Printing/Sharing
Color Separations Check Mark    Check Mark     
eMail/Messenger Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Print Alignment Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Custom Paper Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
PDF/PostScript Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Help/Support
User Forum Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Knowledgebase/FAQ Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Support Ticket System Check Mark        
Live Chat Support   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Telephone Support   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
Email Support   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Supported Configurations
7 Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Vista Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
XP Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
 
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Lowest Price PagePlus X4
$99.99
Print Artist Platinum 23
$49.95
The Print Shop Professional 3.0
$79.99
Microsoft Publisher
$139.99
PrintMaster Platinum 2012
$34.99
The Print Shop Deluxe 3.0
$49.99
Print Workshop 2010
$19.99
Design & Print Business Edition
$39.95