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Witha word processor, you directly type text onto a blank page and insertgraphics elements such as photos and graphs into the word flow.Wrapping text around the graphics and setting font and column sizesare done by adjusting settings that are usually a right click ordrop-down menu away.
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Using page design apps such as Scribus is not the same as using wordprocessors like Open Office Writer or AbiWord (See my review here. This is aprofessional-strength page layout application with a user-friendly interface.Scribus has essential publishing features such as CMYK color,separations, Spot Colors, ICC color management and versatile PDFcreation. Perhaps the most well-known page design app for Linux isopen source Scribus. Thesame DTP tasks are handily done with full-powered word-processingsuites such as OpenOffice Writer. Oftentimes, a specialty DTP app is just a luxury. For instance, Grasshopper’s Pagestream is a multi-platform DTP program thatsells for US$99. What you will find for Linux, though with much fewer choices, aresolid contenders for doing these same tasks, whether for business orpersonal use. These and numerous other programs are inpopular demand by consumers looking to make brochures, posters andgreeting cards. Some of the Windows-based DTP programs you won’t find inLinux are Adobe’s Quark Express or Pagemaker, Microsoft Publisher andBroderbund’s Print Shop. Let’s be clear here: Windows-based commercial-strength page design andillustration programs far outnumber what you will find for Linuxdistros.
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