Pagemaker Fonts

[billennis]

I can't see what each of the fonts look like without trying each one, while using Pagemaker to create a photo/document. I thought that somehow the font samples showed up--what the headline styles would actually look like without going through all of them. Do you know where or how I can see samples of each available font on this program? It would make working up headlines, etc., so much easier. Thanks for any suggestions.

Bill Ennis

[egmtype]

I think you are out of luck with this. Pagemaker is quite old and has not been updated in a very long time. The sample feature you describe is common in many apps today, but not Pagemaker. The only thing I can suggest is that you use the operating system's font samples. If you are on Windows, opening the Fonts Control Panel will list all the fonts and show a small sample of each. On Mac, FontBook will do the same thing.

[billennis]

Thanks for the input.....would I be better off using another Adobe program (i.e., InDesign)? I used to work on a corporate newsletter and always used Pagemaker (years ago)....But, now I want to design "pages" that resemble newsletter pages--with headlines and photo inserts.

[egmtype]

Well, yes, InDesign can do that (and a lot more) and it has much better typographic controls and samples. I freely admit to being biased; I do, after all, work for the company (and in the Type group no less), so feel free to gather other opinions.

[billennis]

So with InDesign I can create newsletter-like files and be able to easily import photos and text into "pages" and then save them as what (.pdf, jpg, etc.) so I can make prints from them? Is this a rather costly program to purchase? Thanks again for all your help and advice. I might have to look into getting something like InDesign for the projects I want to create in the future.

[egmtype]

Yes, that sort of thing is actually pretty simple for InDesign. As for the cost, you be the judge. Currently our apps like that are only available on a subscription basis. A single app like InDesign is, I think, $20/mo. There *may* be a discount for buying an entire year, but I'm not sure. When it was available for full purchase, it was around $400 or $500, so if you spread the cost out on that monthly basis, it's not unreasonable. I *think* you can buy just one month at a time and 'discontinue' it for months you don't need to use it. I think there is even a free trial for a few weeks.  You can dig into all this up on www.adobe.com; read up on the various plans and costs and read everything you can find on InDesign  (Desktop publishing software | Download free Adobe InDesign CC trial) and see if it's what you have in mind.

[egmtype]

Oh, and be sure to check system requirements. If you are running Pagemaker, you may be using a system old enough that the current software won't work.