More Affordable Applications

[dboh]

I recently switched from my 10-year-old tower with Photoshop, Illustrator, and QuarkXPress to a laptop with nothing. I can't afford to upgrade those applications to my laptop. I know about Graphic Converter and Pages (not really liking it), but is there any sort of less expensive application that would serve as a low-end layout and drawing program? I mostly want to recreate my letterhead to use for cover letters for job postings, etc.

Also, I wanted to get one of those small USB drives to transfer between my tower (which is connected to my even older laser printer and scanner) and my laptop. Would I be able to use the USB port that's on my keyboard, or do I need to plug it into the back of the tower?

Thanks.

[eric j]

Hi,

You might wish to try iStudio Publisher.
The price is modest and you can try before you buy.

Good luck,

eric j

[Highmac]

You might also like to check out iCalamus DTP program. I understand the only limit with the trial version is that your document is limited to two pages.
I used Calamus, from the same creators, on an Atari ST, but I've done no more than play with this one, so can't vouch for its "serious" usefulness. However, nothing to be lost in downloading and having a look. A letterhead sounds like a good experiment

It also has a forum where the posts suggest users take it seriously.

QUOTE

iCalamus is the publisher for Mac OS X – light as a feather.
You can use iCalamus for free. The unregistered version offers a lot. If you want to get even more power, for 129.00 EUR (169 USD) you get a powerful modern DTP program which helps you publish your ideas fast and easily.
iCalamus requires Mac OS X v 10.4.5 or later.
NEW: Supporting Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion!

And, hopefully, Mountain Lion

[Xairbusdriver]

I swear by Pages! Always use a blank non-word processor template. You can put anything anywhere on the canvas. Including text. What is it that bugs you about it?

Of course, this comes from a guy who actually used FileMaker Pro as a Page Layout app! But it had similar click and grab/move/duplicate/delete/edit functionality. And they both allow dragging/arrow key/numeric input to position anything you put on the page/canvas. Drag 'n Drop an image, resize proportionally or in one direction or the other, total access to the whole Core Graphics engine, etc., etc. And I believe it's only $20? Maybe that's the iPad version.

Contact me via PM and I'll be glad to talk you through most anything you might want to do. For FREE!

[dboh]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 17 2013, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What is it that bugs you about it?

Oh, probably that it's not what I'm used to.

I didn't even know that there was a"blank non-word template"! I obviously need to poke around the program more. I appreciate your PM offer and will take you up on it. Thanks also to everyone for the other program suggestions. I will be looking into them also.

[Xairbusdriver]

You may find that most 'page layout' apps are somewhat 'different.' You really do start out with a basically blank page/canvas. That usually instills great fear and frustration from me!

[eric j]

Like Highmac, I used - and loved - Calamus on my Atari TT.
I also have iCalamus and recommend it, but for the sake of simplicity I did not mention it earlier.

eric j