Publishing Software - What Do You Use?

[Esteban]

I’ve been working on a D20 book for the last year or so and have been using MS Word 2000 as my word processor/publisher application. It has been perfectly fine for what I need; I’ve even been able to add graphics without much trouble. However, as I get closer to finishing up, I believe I’m starting to run into Word’s limitations. My question: What software do publishers on these boards use to get their D20 documents in a proper, publishable format? Does anyone here use Word? Also, are most of the publishers here Mac users? (For the record, I’m not using a Mac. Nothing against the Mac, I just don’t have access to one.)

Thanks,

-Steve

[Reveille]

I am not a publisher but I am more than willing to bet that the more successful companies use Adobe Acrobat 7/8 Standard or Professional.

[rogue_richard]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I’ve been working on a D20 book for the last year or so and have been using MS Word 2000 as my word processor/publisher application. It has been perfectly fine for what I need; I’ve even been able to add graphics without much trouble. However, as I get closer to finishing up, I believe I’m starting to run into Word’s limitations. My question: What software do publishers on these boards use to get their D20 documents in a proper, publishable format? Does anyone here use Word? Also, are most of the publishers here Mac users? (For the record, I’m not using a Mac. Nothing against the Mac, I just don’t have access to one.)

Thanks,

-Steve

We use Adobe InDesign for everything we do at Rogue Games. I have also heard of some using OpenOffice.org, Scribus, and MSWord.

Richard

[Esteban]

Well, I have Adobe Professional 7.0, but i just plan on using that to save (and publish) my document as a PDF. I believe Adobe Professional word processing/document design capabilities are pretty limited.

In looking back at my original post I do use the word 'publish' but I'm really asking for help in determining what software to use to make a professional looking document that will be fit to publish.

Thanks,

-Steve

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by rogue_richard

We use Adobe InDesign for everything we do at Rogue Games. I have also heard of some using OpenOffice.org, Scribus, and MSWord.

Richard

Just checked out 'Scribus'. Based on the info and screenshots on the 'Scribus' website, this app might be exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks Richard!

-Steve

[rogue_richard]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Just checked out 'Scribus'. Based on the info and screenshots on the 'Scribus' website, this app might be exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks Richard!

-Steve

No problem. I've used it, and though it has a learning curve, once you get to know it, it is pretty intuitive. They also have a very active user community, and the help they provide is very good.

Glad I could help.

Richard

[HellHound]

Quark XPress until three years ago, when I switched to Adobe InDesign.

[Urizen]

I use MS word for word processing, and Adobe creative Suite, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, INdesign, Acrobat 7 and Adobe golive.

[Bacris]

I initially used MS Publisher for layout until I could get Adobe InDesign - I didn't personally like using Adobe Illustrator. InDesign is pretty nice, but is also expensive. Publisher is limited in what it can do, but cheaper than InDesign.

I took a look at OpenOffice, but didn't really dig it - guess I'm just too used to MS Office.

[TheLe]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I’ve been working on a D20 book for the last year or so and have been using MS Word 2000 as my word processor/publisher application. It has been perfectly fine for what I need; I’ve even been able to add graphics without much trouble. However, as I get closer to finishing up, I believe I’m starting to run into Word’s limitations. My question: What software do publishers on these boards use to get their D20 documents in a proper, publishable format? Does anyone here use Word?

Sweeeeetttttttt. I also use MSWord, which I have used it for every single one of my 50+ books. Check out any of my book previews/demos: http://www.rpgnow.com/default.php?manufacturers_id=507

I even took Unorthodox Paladins to print through POD.

The results are fantastic as far as I am concerned. Can I do more with Quark/Indesign? Sure. Do I need to? Nope. I think things look great in MS Word, and it allows me publish very quickly and still provide a very high quality product.

~Le

[Prest0]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I’ve been working on a D20 book for the last year or so and have been using MS Word 2000 as my word processor/publisher application. It has been perfectly fine for what I need; I’ve even been able to add graphics without much trouble. However, as I get closer to finishing up, I believe I’m starting to run into Word’s limitations. My question: What software do publishers on these boards use to get their D20 documents in a proper, publishable format? Does anyone here use Word? Also, are most of the publishers here Mac users? (For the record, I’m not using a Mac. Nothing against the Mac, I just don’t have access to one.)

You haven't said what you plan on doing with it when you're done. Do you plan on creating a PDF and selling it online, or do you plan on getting print books made? That could affect what tools you use. Assuming you want to sell it online as a PDF, maybe you should be talking to publishers who have established customers. (Actually, that goes double if you have any intentions of going into print distribution.) Then you could turn over the manuscript to someone else for layout.

[rogue_richard]

If you use MS Word for your layout, you might want to check this out. It is a pretty good primer on how to use Word for layout.

Richard

[jgbrowning]

I use Word to write, InDesign to lay-out, Illustrator and Photoshop for graphics.

joe b.

[JVisgaitis]

Just updated to Adobe Creative Suite 3. Any of the creative design bundles would be fine.

[Marius Delphus]

Word for word processing and "prepping" textual content.

InDesign for layout; Photoshop and Illustrator for graphics.

[TheLe]

My "$100 MS-Word + $50 PhotoImpact" shows that you can indeed make a very professional looking book without having to spend a lot of money or using fancy programs. Here's PDF Proof



~Le

[TheAuldGrump]

I have been using Page Plus by Serif for my own purposes, unconnected to publishing gaming material. Not bad at all. It now has the ability to edit PDFs as well as create them. Not an expensive package - $130 list, but sometimes available at a discount from that. (I paid $60 for mine.)

TheFool1972 here at ENWorld introduced me to the program in a review a few years ago. (And many thanks for that!) It may not be as powerful as InDesign (though I am not certain of that), but it is more powerful that the version of QuarkXpress I used many years ago. Gods I hated that program, any time I saw 'See Page XX' errors in a gaming product I knew they had used Quark. It also had the World's Worst (tm) global search and replace. My experience with InDesign is nearly as ancient, but I really liked it - the little I got to use the program. (Best of all - it wasn't Quark!)

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* PagePlus 10 - the one I started with is available for $30 here. There is also a non-PDF capable version available for free at the front page of the site. I am not familiar with the free version, but it is free, so might be worth a try to see if you like the interface.

[dungeondweller]

MS Publisher 2007 (far less limited than previous versions) and Adobe PhotoShop 7.

[JustinA]

Originally Posted by Esteban

I’ve been working on a D20 book for the last year or so and have been using MS Word 2000 as my word processor/publisher application. It has been perfectly fine for what I need; I’ve even been able to add graphics without much trouble. However, as I get closer to finishing up, I believe I’m starting to run into Word’s limitations. My question: What software do publishers on these boards use to get their D20 documents in a proper, publishable format? Does anyone here use Word? Also, are most of the publishers here Mac users? (For the record, I’m not using a Mac. Nothing against the Mac, I just don’t have access to one.)

I use:

- Word (for composing)
- Dunjinni (for raw mapping)
- Adobe Photoshop 7 (for finishing maps and other graphic work)
- Quark 5 (layout)
- Adobe Acrobat 5 (to create the PDF)

Why the older versions of Quark and Acrobat? I got them years ago when I worked in a print shop. I've never seen any reason to pay to upgrade them.

Justin Alexander
http://www.thealexandrian.net

[TheLe]

sas