Microsoft Publisher is a Desktop Publishing Software for Windows created by Publisher Microsoft Corporation.
Microsoft Publisher Summary
Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing application created by Microsoft that allows users to create professional documents for publication. The program is packed with features for creating newsletters, catalogs, business cards, labels, calendars, planners, and many other printable or web-based papers. It is noted for being easy to use if you are well-versed with Microsoft Word, but unlike Word that centers on text composition, Publisher is more focused on layout and design. The program can be purchased from the Microsoft site for $139.99 by using the download link.
Microsoft Publisher Features
Project creation with Microsoft Publisher offers a wide space for creativity. There are more than 600 templates you can use, and more are available for download from the company’s website. It is easy to get used to the program even if you are a beginner, especially if you are familiar with the menu layout of Word. The template categories span several varieties, so creating any project is definitely possible, and you will not be starting with a blank sheet.
Microsoft Publisher retains the ribbon in Word 2007. You just have to be familiar with the location of the tools in order to make your job easier and faster. There are a lot of cliparts and images available, and the graphic tools allow you to crop, resize, sharpen, blur, and a few more tweaks, but they will not fantastically improve the appearance of your images. When it comes to texts, you can play around with different font styles and sizes, but text effects are somewhat limited, although you can import OpenType fonts from other companies. The Word Art section is good for making headlines, but it does not allow much aspect tweaking. However, Publisher does have a thesaurus, spellchecker, and proofreader.
Sharing your work with Publisher is also easy. An option in the Mailings tab allows you to save your contacts or customers for easier emailing or sharing. You can also save your work in various formats, including JPG, XPS, PDF, and others, and you can also protect your work with a password. You can use the backlight option to view the other side of a page, and you can reorder pages by drag and drop. The Backstage gives you a holistic view of your work, allowing you to spot mistakes right away and perform changes easier in the desktop, emailing, and commercial print aspects. Overall, Microsoft Publisher streamlines the layout and design work of publishing for all types of users.
Microsoft Publisher User Interface
Microsoft Publisher’s interface is one of the easiest to handle among desktop publishing applications. As said, you will have familiarity with how it operates and looks if you have been attached to using Microsoft Word. All the tools you need are available on the top ribbon, while the pages you create are located on the left side bar. It is easy to learn and you just have to use it often in order to speed up your operation or even get deeply familiar with the not-so-used tools or options.
Microsoft Publisher Review
Compared with other desktop publishing applications, Microsoft Publisher has an expensive price tag. Serif PagePlus, Print Artist Platinum, and The Print Shop Professional only cost $99.99, $49.95, and $79.99, respectively, and these three are even better than Publisher in some aspects. This might not be for you depending on why you want a desktop publishing software, since much of what you purchase is actually the label or the brand.
If you want to create professional publications and you are an experienced user, you might opt for the three competitors mentioned. However, if you are a novice in desktop publishing, better start out practicing with the tools in Publisher. Another issue is the difficulty in getting support. If you are really having a problem with the program, you can contact the support team online or through phone. It will not be charged the first time, but succeeding help already costs a lot, at least $35 per request.