Desktop publishing involves laying out pages with graphics and text using a computer.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desktop%20publishing The material can be published electronically or in print. People use desktop publishing to create books, brochures, reports, newsletters, fliers and posters.

In the 1980s, new computer technology changed the world of printing.http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/desktoppublishing.php Beginning with hardware, Apple Computer brought the first mass produced personal computers to the market.http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/desktoppublishing.php Then, the graphic software company Adobe invented the PostScript typesetting language.http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/desktoppublishing.php These combined with Aldus PageMaker (the first desktop publishing software) and the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet printer to spark the beginning of modern publishing.http://www.designtalkboard.com/design-articles/desktoppublishing.php

InDesign is a page layout program produced by Adobe Systems Incorporated.http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/whatisindesign/ The current version is Adobe InDesign CS5.http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/whatisindesign/ It costs $699.http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/whatisindesign/ However, it can be purchased with the CS5 Design Premium suite for $1,899.http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/whatisindesign/ InDesign works on Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.5.7 and Mac OS X 10.6.https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/systemreqs/ Some of the features are PDF export, interactive presentations, eBook creation for handheld devices and direct integration with other Adobe products.http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/whatisindesign/

While InDesign is targeted towards large-scale companies, Pagemaker is marketed to hobbyists and small businesses.http://www.adobe.com/products/pagemaker/overview.html It works with the same systems as Adobe InDesign and costs $499.00.http://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/html/index.cfm?store=OLS-US&event=displayProduct&categoryPath=/Applications/PageMaker&distributionMethod=FULL The latest version is Adobe PageMaker 7.0.http://www.adobe.com/products/pagemaker/overview.html It has numerous templates, color separations for printing, clip-art, PDF export and typesetting tools.http://www.adobe.com/products/pagemaker/overview.html

Quark, Inc. makes the desktop publishing software QuarkXpress 8.http://8.quark.com/ The $799 program is for professional designers and works with Mac OS 10.4.6 - 10.6.x, Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.http://8.quark.com/techinfo/system_requirements.html QuarkXpress has PDF export with layers, Adobe Creative Suite integration, customized typography and built-in Flash tools.http://8.quark.com/

Produced by the Microsoft Corporation, Publisher is sold with the Microsoft Office Professional 2010 suite, which costs $499.99.http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/try/?CTT=3 It runs on Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server.http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/microsoft-office-2010-system-requirements-HA101810407.aspx Publisher has the following features: reusable page snippets, image editing tools, professional typography tool set and alignment guides.http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/publisher-2010-features-and-benefits-HA101808856.aspx

Scribus is a free and open source desktop publishing solution that was founded by Franz Schmid.http://www.scribus.net/?q=faq The software works with the following operating systems: Red Hat/Fedora, Mandriva, CentOS, OpenSUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise, Debian, Ubuntu, Mac OS X, OS/2, eComStation, Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7.http://www.scribus.net/?q=downloads Scribus uses spot colors, CMYK color separations and PDF export.http://www.scribus.net/