Desktop Publishing

Yes, in place of a proper desktop-publishing package, you can design the pages of your book with a word-processing package, and run off the camera-ready copy from your laser printer. But you'll have limited control over complicated layouts, and even small changes can be time-consuming.

That doesn't mean you have to use Adobe PageMaker or the more sophisticated desktop publishing programs — i.e. versatile, expensive and difficult to learn — Adobe InDesign and Quark Express. But you should choose carefully, perhaps with the following in mind:

DTP: Word Processors

Packages like Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect include formatting facilities (fonts, line spacing, paragraphing, etc.), spell- and grammar-checkers-checkers but the page layout is fairly basic. They will serve for simple booklets but not book-length documents with more than text. Problems arise when you need to flow text around complicated arrangements, add appendices and make changes quickly. Not all commercial printers accept their file formats.

DTP: Page Layout Programs

This is desktop publishing proper, and the programs allow for the integration of text and images on the page, easy manipulation of page elements, creation of artistic layouts and multi-page publications such as newsletters and books. High-end features include separations, imposition, and fine typographic controls. Not all are expensive and difficult to learn. Some suggestions:

Home Publishing: The Print Shop, Sierra Print Artist

Small Business Publishing: Microsoft Office Publisher, Adobe PageMaker, Serif PagePlus

Professional Page Layout: Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress Long Document

Long Documents: Adobe FrameMaker, Corel Ventura

Business Publishing: Adobe FrameMaker, Corel Ventura, QuarkXPress

Database Publishing: Adobe FrameMaker, Corel Ventura, QuarkXPress

Desktop Publishing: Graphics Programs

Poetry books are mostly text, but there's no reason why they shouldn't be made more appealing with illustrations and well chosen photos.

Illustration programs work with vector graphics formats, which allow more flexibility when creating drawings that have to be resized or go through multiple edits. Well known programs include Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and Macromedia Freehand.

Image editing programs, also called paint programs or photo editors, work with bitmap images, which are needed for work with photos, scans, or other "realistic" images. They are also best for web graphics. Well known programs include Adobe Photoshop, Corel Photo-Paint and Jasc Paint Shop Pro.

DTP: Adobe Acrobat

Though not the equal of more sophisticated page layout programs, Adobe Acrobat is becoming a standard for web use. The files are rather large, but illustration and layout is easier than with simple HTML, and the pdf pages can placed inside webpages for Internet viewing. Adobe Acrobat, increasingly used for company brochures and white papers, will also make attractive poetry documents.

You'll find more information, and Internet references on poetrymagic.co.uk.

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