Tag Archives: graphic design

FontExplorer X Pro updated to 3.1

Posted on by
Linotype FontExplorer Pro 3.1

Click for larger image

Linotype GmbH has released a comprehensive update to FontExplorer X Pro – the iTunes-esque font management utility.

In addition to improved Mac OS X 10.7 Lion compatibility, Version 3.1 adds a host of new features, updates plug-ins, and resolves a number of prior issues, including:

  • Font information for all fonts in a set or folder can now be set by selecting the set or folder in the source list and opening the Font Information dialog.
  • Ratings, labels and/or comments can be applied to all fonts in a set or folder.
  • “Check for Updates” now has added options for skipping a version and reminders at a later timepoint.
  • Added PlugIns for Adobe CS5.5 suite (Illustrator CS 5.1, InDesign CS5.5, Photoshop CS5.1)
  • Preview Toolbar: Rare ligatures are now shown together with common ligatures.

The update is free for owners of FontExplorer Pro 3.0. Owners of previous versions can upgrade for $29.00. New versions can be purchased for $79.00. A free 30-day trial available.

QuarkXPress 9.0 Announced

Posted on by

Quark today announced a major upgrade to its print/digital publishing application. Slated to ship in April, QuarkXPress 9.0 provides a number of new features and updates, particularly in the area of creating and publishing digital media for e-readers, smartphones, the Apple iPad, plus other tablet devices.

For print producers, version 9 finally adds long-missing features, including a Story Editor and Bulleted/Numbered Lists.

Click thumb for larger image

The new App Studio feature enables designers to create customized apps for the iPad, distribute their apps through the Apple App Store, and then publish richly designed, interactive content to the app. Designers can repurpose existing content or create the digital media from scratch.

Two new modules allow producers to create eBooks in both ePub – the open ebook standard developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum and compatible with Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble NOOK, and Amazon Kindle formats – as well as the proprietary Blio format.

Other new features include:

  • Conditional Styles: Allows designers to automatically style content based on a series of styling rules.
  • Callouts: Boxes and groups move automatically with text as determined by the designer. Callouts can be positioned relative to the page, spread, text box, paragraph, or character.
  • ShapeMaker: A wizard for creating complex shapes such as waves, polygons, stars,  spirals, and unique corner effects.
  • ImageGrid: Allows designers to create contact sheets and similar content y importing and automatically building grids of images with a variety of layout options. Also supports image captioning.
  • Linkster: Unlink and relink text boxes that already contain text, to unlink stories spanning multiple pages, and to link or unlink boxes without disrupting existing text.
  • Cloner: Allows designers to copy items or pages to other pages or layouts and can be used to combine layouts or split them apart.

QuarkXPress 9 will ship in April at the list price of $799.00. Owners of  QuarkXPress 8 and QuarkXPress 7 are eligible to purchase an upgrade for $299.00. Also, any purchase of QuarkXpress 8 (current version 8.5) from today through April 30 will receive version QuarkXPress 9 at no additional charge via download. Retail box copies will incur a shipping/handling charge. (Good way for owners of version 6 to catch up).

Mac installations of QuarkXPress 9 will require units with an Intel processor running Mac OS X 10.5.8 or above.

Adobe updates InDesign CS5

Posted on by

Adobe has released InDesign CS5 7.0.2 – an update to its page composition/layout program. The 17 Mb patch addresses a number of issues, including:

  • Corrects issue whereby files could not be opened or saved from/to certain server environments.
  • Corrects not finding legacy Type 1 Postscript fonts located in the Document Fonts folder.
  • Corrects several SWF display and creation issues.
  • Corrects Helvetica Neue TTF and Postscript conflicts.

Owners of InDesign CS5 can update via this link to the InDesign CS5 7.0.2 Update page or via the Adobe Updater application.

Adobe bumps up Illustrator CS5

Posted on by

Adobe has released a small update to Adobe Illustrator CS5. Version 15.0.1 (the actual running version number) reportedly corrects a number of issues, including:

  • Corrects several out of memory problems specific to Macs with over 4 GB of RAM, including failure of shortcut keys, rulers, and file open commands.
  • Corrects problems with the Glyph Panel.
  • Crashes occurring at launch or quit have been addressed.
  • Corrects an issue involving white lines appearing on rasterized gradient mesh objects.

Owners of Illustrator CS5 can update via this link to the Adobe Illustrator 15.0.1 Update page or via the Adobe Updater application.

Quark ships XPress 8

Posted on by

QuarkXPress 8 is scheduled for August release

Quark, Inc. is now shipping Quark XPress 8.

Although the new version does not boast many new features, Quark XPress 8 incorporates a vastly updated interface “to allow users to do more with fewer clicks” – including the use of more standardized keyboard shortcuts for better workflow between applications. Also new is drag-and-drop support for images stored on the Desktop, Adobe Bridge, iPhoto, and other applications. You can also drag and drop content from QuarkXPress to Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word and other applications for direct editing. Improved Flash tools are also included.

Full retail price for Quark XPress 8 is $799.00 (currently $779.98 from MacMall), upgrades are listed at $299.00 ($292.99 from MacMall). In addition, anyone who purchased a full copy or upgrade of Quark XPress 7 from May 1 – August 1, 2008 is qualified to upgrade to XPress 8 for just a shipping and handling charge.