Looking for Print Layout Software
Looking for Print Layout Software
Hi all!
I've been dual-booting windows and linux mint for a while now. I'm mostly being held back by just a few things preventing me from switching to only linux, though. One thing in particular is I'm running a small new business for printing art and photos, and we use the proprietary Canon Professional Print & Layout software to set up all sorts of custom layouts.
It's nice because it's quite purpose-built for choosing different papers, has really nice control over margins, sizing, and placement, and integrates nicely with our printer. It also gives tools for professional colour management, as well as soft-proofing in client.
Do any of you have experience with native linux software that works similarly to this? Is this type of functionality one of the things that GIMP can cover? (I tried years ago to learn how to tackle GIMP but I simply did not click with it, though I'd be willing to give it another shot if there isn't a better choice)
Also, I think CUPS can contact my printer on the network, but i am worried that i might lose some functionality without the proprietary drivers? Like HDR/high bit-depth colour or something.
If any of you have experience or tips on this, I'd really appreciate it!
Have you looked at scribus? I've used it for a couple things and it seems pretty straight forward. Then again, I am far from any type of professional.
I downloaded this the other day, actually! still have to play some more with the printing functionality, it just felt like it was much more purpose-built for typesetting and design. But will be giving it a closer look, thanks :3
scribus is a great DTP/layout package. I do some free (read amateur) ocassional layout and printing work for friends and family and gimp, scribus and inkscape are the primary tools.
regarding the printer, you are likely to lose some proprietary driver functionality if that functionality comes from the driver software and not the printer hardware. a little bit of playing around with settings (in gimp for example) will often compensate.
I work in Print. I know what you are talking about. Not DTP software, you want prepress software.
Only well maintained FOSS for this in Linux that I'm aware of, is Ghostscript. One issue is that it doesn't have a UI, it's a CLI tool.
So you would have to script print flows and set up watchfolders, OR make a GUI.