Brochures for dummies
January 4, 2006 11:32 AM Subscribe
Recommendations for brochure-making software needed.
I have two small businesses and want to advertise them with bi-fold and tri-fold brochures. I'm frustrated with Word, so now I'm looking for something simple and cheap to create the brochures. I really don't need templates, just something to easily format pages and add art. What works for you?
I have two small businesses and want to advertise them with bi-fold and tri-fold brochures. I'm frustrated with Word, so now I'm looking for something simple and cheap to create the brochures. I really don't need templates, just something to easily format pages and add art. What works for you?
I've also used PowerPoint, believe it or not. Create a blank slide and you can insert text boxes and art galore.
posted by orangemiles at 11:43 AM on January 4, 2006
posted by orangemiles at 11:43 AM on January 4, 2006
luriete has it. Save your time for something more important.
posted by i_cola at 1:00 PM on January 4, 2006
posted by i_cola at 1:00 PM on January 4, 2006
In line with luriete's excellent suggestion, check if any community college graphic arts programs are looking for a project. You get free or low-cost work, they get experience in the real world. Win-win.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 1:06 PM on January 4, 2006
posted by SuperSquirrel at 1:06 PM on January 4, 2006
Response by poster: Not to off-topic my own question, but I've got to tell you I'm tired of going to other people to do work for me. I am a strong believer that if you want it done right, do it yourself. I mean, isn't that what computers were supposed to be for?
Also, dammit, I want it done NOW. I've hired other people to do work for me. So far, I've found, they just won't get work done on my deadlines.
It's true, I'm wasting time trying to learn yet another software application. That's why I'm looking for something EZ. I'm a writer, I have a good eye for design, I shouldn't need to hire somebody else.
posted by sixpack at 1:10 PM on January 4, 2006
Also, dammit, I want it done NOW. I've hired other people to do work for me. So far, I've found, they just won't get work done on my deadlines.
It's true, I'm wasting time trying to learn yet another software application. That's why I'm looking for something EZ. I'm a writer, I have a good eye for design, I shouldn't need to hire somebody else.
posted by sixpack at 1:10 PM on January 4, 2006
Scribus? It doesn't run on Windows, though.
There's Pages for the Mac. I have no direct experience with it but it purports to be a friendly layout program.
On Windows I think you're hosed unless you'd care to shell out hundreds of dollars for Quark xPress or Adobe InDesign. If you do want to pay for one of these apps, I can tell you that they're not all that hard to learn on your own, really.
posted by killdevil at 2:06 PM on January 4, 2006
There's Pages for the Mac. I have no direct experience with it but it purports to be a friendly layout program.
On Windows I think you're hosed unless you'd care to shell out hundreds of dollars for Quark xPress or Adobe InDesign. If you do want to pay for one of these apps, I can tell you that they're not all that hard to learn on your own, really.
posted by killdevil at 2:06 PM on January 4, 2006
Also sixpack, there's something to be said for owning the means of production, so I agree with your point of view above. It might not be a terrible idea to buy a professional software tool -- it's a one-time fixed cost, and then you're set to do your own layout work.
posted by killdevil at 2:09 PM on January 4, 2006
posted by killdevil at 2:09 PM on January 4, 2006
sixpack,
Then buy InDesign and do it yourself. If you are so adamant that no-one but you can do it right, stop being such a cheapskate. If you want it done right, you need the right tools.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:46 PM on January 4, 2006
Then buy InDesign and do it yourself. If you are so adamant that no-one but you can do it right, stop being such a cheapskate. If you want it done right, you need the right tools.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:46 PM on January 4, 2006
Depending on what technology will be printing the leaflets, I also wouldn't rule out an image editing program like one of the cut-down versions of Photoshop or a solid consumer-level or shareware photoshop wannabee. You'll be able to do anything graphical, but you'll have to take some care you know what you're doing with regard to handling text and how the printer works - you don't want to end up trying to print raster textfrom a mediocre-definition image, or via a printer that requires font handling to achieve the definition sufficient for text. (Unless it's for photocopied leaflets, in which case anything will do :-)
Doing it the image-editor way obviously gives very powerful tools for the design layout and image/pretty elements of the brochure, but very weak tools for typographic layout - you'd want your copy already written in word, and to already know where it has to go when you paste it in, since you'll likely have to manually tweak stuff that programs like Quark Xpress automate.
posted by -harlequin- at 3:28 PM on January 4, 2006
Doing it the image-editor way obviously gives very powerful tools for the design layout and image/pretty elements of the brochure, but very weak tools for typographic layout - you'd want your copy already written in word, and to already know where it has to go when you paste it in, since you'll likely have to manually tweak stuff that programs like Quark Xpress automate.
posted by -harlequin- at 3:28 PM on January 4, 2006
Hire a professional. Having graphics or page layout software doesn't automatically make someone a good designer. And there's nothing worse for your business (or image) than handing out a crappy-looking brochure. It can make your whole business look less professional.
Think about it. Does having Word on your computer make you such a good writer that you're qualified to write for the New Yorker? If you buy a $5,000 digital SLR camera, will your photos suddenly be good enough for National Geographic? Doubtful.
I generally advise my clients to focus on what they do best, and leave the specialized stuff to the pros.
posted by wordwhiz at 7:49 AM on January 28, 2006
Think about it. Does having Word on your computer make you such a good writer that you're qualified to write for the New Yorker? If you buy a $5,000 digital SLR camera, will your photos suddenly be good enough for National Geographic? Doubtful.
I generally advise my clients to focus on what they do best, and leave the specialized stuff to the pros.
posted by wordwhiz at 7:49 AM on January 28, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Jairus at 11:34 AM on January 4, 2006