Cheap app for expensive layout formats?

February 26, 2006 12:57 PM

Is there an affordable/free design application for OS X that will save in one of the following file formats?: .indd, .qxd, .ai, .eps, .psd

I need to submit some layout for a CD sleeve pronto, but the print shop templates are in the above file formats. I can open an .eps file with Preview, save it as a .pdf, and do my layout in OmniGraffle Pro, but I can only save to .pdf. I've been searching far and wide for something that will do this. I tried using Expression 3, but haven't had any luck with it. Any suggestions?

posted by al_fresco to computers & internet (8 answers total)

Download the QXP7 free beta from their site. It's slow, and a bit painful, but it'll be better than any other kludge

(Or, y'know, get with the torrents)
posted by bonaldi at 1:15 PM on February 26, 2006

Are you sure they won't accept a PDF file? If they accept Adobe Illustrator files (.ai) files they must have Adobe Illustrator, and not only does it open PDF files just fine, PDF is a native file format for Illustrator.
posted by RichardP at 1:17 PM on February 26, 2006

Look to EPS. It's an open standard (Encapsulated PostScript), and there are GPL packages that right to it.

For OS X, check out the combination of Ghostscript and the GIMP.
posted by NortonDC at 1:25 PM on February 26, 2006

Er, "write" to it.
posted by NortonDC at 1:25 PM on February 26, 2006

I would suggest using one of the following:

Inkscape - a free, open source vector drawing program, similar to Illustrator or Freehand

GIMP - A free, open source bitmap drawing program, similar to Adobe Photoshop

Both programs have OS X installers and are very full featured.
posted by fatbobsmith at 1:27 PM on February 26, 2006

If you don't mind big downloads, Adobe will let you download trial versions of most of their software here, so you can get versions of InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. that are good for 30 days.
posted by camcgee at 1:37 PM on February 26, 2006

Preview can save to PSD.

also, any program with standard printing capabilities can save to standard PostScript (.ps) in OS X. just print, and then in the dialog that appears, select the PDF dropdown button and do "Save PDF as PostScript..."
posted by tumult at 2:03 PM on February 26, 2006

Check out GraphicConverter. It'll import 190 file formats and export 79 formats (including .psd). You get a free trial, it has been around + supported forever, and is $35 to own.
posted by john m at 4:25 PM on February 26, 2006