chuq (Chuq Von Rospach) (04/13/88)
>What is the interest in this group in discussing the merits and demerits >of various graphic design and illustrating programs? Speaking as the moderator, this is an area I'd really like to see the group explore more, and one of the reasons I created this in the first place. >2. What is the use among users of the net of illustrator programs, such >as Adobe Illustrator and the new Aldus FreeHand? Compare, contrast. Any other >such programs out there, such as Cricket Draw, that give them a run for the >money. My money is currently on Freehand. It looks nice. Adobe Illustrator tends to be aimed more at formal drawings, I'm more interested in freehand/iterative work than doing the drafts on paper and translating them to the computer when I know what I want. Freehand seems to have the best of both Illustrator and Cricket Draw, while avoiding some of the more unpleasant bugs that CD has (it's pictures aren't always transportable to other programs, for instance) One thing to keep an eye on is SuperPaint II. It looks to be a competitor with the serious draw programs, although it's still a little while off. Especially for owners of SuperPaint, they may want to wait for it because the upgrade price is going to be very reasonable (SP II is targeted at about $199 retail, last i heard). >3. What is the interest in typography and the ability to control it in >desktop graphic design programs? It should be pretty strong. The technical issues of DTP are nothing compared to the design issues. This group has, to date, spent most of it's time on the technical (is PageMaker better than Ready, Set, Go!?, etc) when, really, the hard questions are the design issues. It's not how many features a program has, but how well the page looks when you're done with it that counts. chuq (moderator) ---------------------------------------- Submissions to: desktop@plaid.sun.com Administrivia to: desktop-request@plaid.sun.com UUCP: {amdahl,decwrl,hplabs,ihnp4}!sun!plaid!desktop{-request} Archives can be gotten from the archive-server. To get information on the archive-server, send mail to: archive-server@plaid.sun.com -or- sun!plaid!archive-server with a subject line of help
fleishman-glenn@cs.yale.edu (Glenn Fleishman) (04/13/88)
What is the interest in this group in discussing the merits and demerits
of various graphic design and illustrating programs? With the new releases
of PageMaker by Aldus for the IBM and Mac, and the new illustration program
from the same folks (Aldus FreeHand), a new version of Adobe Illustrator coming
out, and extensive use of Quark Express, etc., it seems there is enough
material to discuss for some time.
Ideas to begin this discussion:
1. Has anyone used or seen PageMaker 3.0 for either Mac or IBM? The Mac
version, according to this week's PC WEEK mag is shipping; the IBM will
be ready by the beginning of May. Any info on this subject, its ease
of use, the usability of new features -- especially photo related -- would
be welcome. Also, any information on its interfacing with HP printers, a sore
point for the IBM versions in the past.
2. What is the use among users of the net of illustrator programs, such
as Adobe Illustrator and the new Aldus FreeHand? Compare, contrast. Any other
such programs out there, such as Cricket Draw, that give them a run for the
money. Any programs for less than the 1/2 grand that is charged for the
Aldus and Adobe ones?
3. What is the interest in typography and the ability to control it in
desktop graphic design programs?
If there is no interest in any of this area, please contact me as well. I'd
rather not bore the readers of this group. Thanks.
Glenn I. Fleishman, graphic designer & Mac apologist
FLEGLEI@YALEVM.BITNET or to above address
"What? Why did you say that? What do you know about my IMAGE DUPLICATOR?"
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with a subject line of helpmichael@ddsw1.UUCP (Michael Duebner) (04/15/88)
>1. Has anyone used or seen PageMaker 3.0 for either Mac or IBM? The Mac >version, according to this week's PC WEEK mag is shipping; the IBM will >be ready by the beginning of May. Any info on this subject, I called Aldus shortly after seeing the ads for version 3.0 in one of the computer mags. We use Pagemaker 1.0A on our Compaq on a daily basis and are looking foward to using the enhancements the new version has promised. The person at Aldus said that the product would be available toward the end of the 1st quarter of 1988. I am a little concerned if our HP Series II is capable of producing all of the graphics PM 3.0 is capable of creating. Or will we need to upgrade to a Postscript printer? Michael Duebner UUCP : ihnp4!ddsw1!michael Technical Services, Buffalo Grove, IL 312/541-6550 ---------------------------------------- Submissions to: desktop@plaid.sun.com Administrivia to: desktop-request@plaid.sun.com UUCP: {amdahl,decwrl,hplabs,ihnp4}!sun!plaid!desktop{-request} Archives can be gotten from the archive-server. To get information on the archive-server, send mail to: archive-server@plaid.sun.com -or- sun!plaid!archive-server with a subject line of help
fleishman-glenn@cs.yale.edu (Glenn Fleishman) (04/16/88)
>person at Aldus said that the product would be available toward the end of >the 1st quarter of 1988. (I don't want to get sued for libel/slander so the following is couched:) Well, I did the same thing and called Aldus in late Feb., and they said the same thing: first quarter 1988. I probed: "What exactly does that mean?" I asked the hapless salesman. "By March 31?" "I suppose," he replied with that listlessness now expected of Aldus salespeople. So they told an inaccuracy when they said 1st quarter. I personally think PC WEEK's quote of May a little optimistic, but I'm hoping someone else out there has heard more from Aldus -- or even knows that May is not true. About HP printers: Aldus told me and others that the HP's will be fully supported in PC PM 3.0. Again, I take this with a grain of salt. The HP LaserJet+ I work with at one place I consult is on its last legs, its printing is jittery and, according to HP, cannot be fixed, and it's only two years of moderate to light use old. It also interfaces extremely poorly at this writing to the system and to PageWaster -- excuse me, PageMaker. If there's idealism in the world, however, PM 3.0 will be on the streets in less than a month, you'll be able to tile and use other functions on HP series printers, and joy will reign throughout the world. (I'll hope for two of the three.) Glenn I. Fleishman, graphic designer & Mac apologist FLEGLEI@YALEVM.BITNET or to above address "What? Why did you say that? What do you know about my IMAGE DUPLICATOR?" ---------------------------------------- Submissions to: desktop@plaid.sun.com Administrivia to: desktop-request@plaid.sun.com UUCP: {amdahl,decwrl,hplabs,ihnp4}!sun!plaid!desktop{-request} Archives can be gotten from the archive-server. To get information on the archive-server, send mail to: archive-server@plaid.sun.com -or- sun!plaid!archive-server with a subject line of help
chuq@plaid.sun.com (Glenn Fleishman) (04/16/88)
>If there's idealism in the world, however, PM 3.0 will be on the streets >in less than a month, you'll be able to tile and use other functions >on HP series printers, and joy will reign throughout the world. (I'll >hope for two of the three.) Speaking of idealism, users of Ready, Set, Go! 4.0 (the folks who are already doing what Aldus promises to do with PageMaker 3.0, nudge, nudge...) should keep an eye on their mailbox. Letraset has released RSG 4.0a. This is maintenance release cleaning up some problems with 4.0, specifically with hairlines, printing problems with Laserwriter 5.0, and wrapping around graphics. This release is being sent out automatically to all registered users, free of charge. If you haven't seen it by May 10, call Letraset and work with them on figuring out why it's missing. Letraset is also putting together a series of technical notes that will be mailed to all customers (free of charge) later this year. I looked at PageMaker and bought RSG. I've never been unhappy with that decision. Letraset has a strong support structure, a good (and shipping!) program. They've also got a strong comittment to not pre-announcing stuff and then holding folks hostage until they get around to shipping. RSG 4.0 shipped about 60 days after announcement. They're busily working on RSG 5.0 for shipment later this year, but they won't mention either features or dates until it's ready to go (but I can give you a hint. Think color and separation). Compare that to Aldus' history of upgrades, bug-fixes, announcement and shipping schedules, and features. Have fun with Pagemaker, when it ships. I'm happy with Ready, Set, Go, now. chuq ---------------------------------------- Submissions to: desktop@plaid.sun.com Administrivia to: desktop-request@plaid.sun.com UUCP: {amdahl,decwrl,hplabs,ihnp4}!sun!plaid!desktop{-request} Archives can be gotten from the archive-server. To get information on the archive-server, send mail to: archive-server@plaid.sun.com -or- sun!plaid!archive-server with a subject line of help