Well I use Xara Designer for all my maps, as well as all page layout for publications - it's much, much cheaper than Adobe InDesign, though more expensive than Scribus and programs like that. In the $200 ball park in cost.
And as long as you're only talking about 2 column page layout with art and borders in the background, even in sepia tones, it's not emulating D&D specific layout, so no expectations of C&D to occur.
Me, as a graphic designer, I hate the concept of placing graphics behind text (since I am 49 years old, it's actually difficult to read). My designs for my Kaidan books are two column with borders and extensive art, but not as a background - I want my books to be read, not guessed at because the background hides the readability of my text. Getting read is more important than being pretty...
Plus Xara lets me create PDF/X files that are required by commercial printers like Lightening Source and Cubicle 7's printers - all files sent by me created in Xara for printing, gets approved - so I know it will do the job, well.
