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Now Available: QuarkXPress 8

31.07.2008
The new version of QuarkXPress features an intuitive interface for more efficient work with fewer clicks, precise typographic control, integrated Flash authoring tools, and global publishing capabilities.

Archive notice: This article was originally published on July 31, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

Today, Quark announced the availability of QuarkXPress 8, the new version of the industry-standard page-layout and design software. The software is now available worldwide directly from Quark or authorized Quark resellers.

QuarkXPress 8 delivers unmatched design power through a new, intuitive interface developed specifically for creating high-quality page layouts; authoring tools for print, web and Flash; design-oriented typography features; and the ability to publish globally in more than 30 languages. The improved new interface enables more design with fewer clicks. Examples include:

  • Flash and web authoring tools: Designers and creative professionals can reuse content for print, web and Flash projects without programming skills or additional software.

  • Image-content tools: Images can be grabbed, rotated and scaled in real time with the mouse, without changing tools or entering numbers.

  • Item and text-content tools: Work efficiently even when rotating and managing multiple objects, without constantly switching tools.

  • New Bézier pen tool: Draw vector graphics directly in QuarkXPress 8 with the redesigned Bézier pen tool.

  • Workspace improvements: New buttons provide instant access to master pages and export formats including PDF, EPS, SWF and HTML. Other additions include buttons for multiple views, enhanced contextual menus and customizable pasteboards.

  • Measurements palette: An expanded palette provides quick and easy access to more functions, with new clickable controls for directly editing drop shadows or displaying images’ actual resolution.

  • Drag and drop: Drag text and images directly from the desktop, Adobe Bridge, iPhoto or another drag-and-drop application into the layout. Content can also be dragged from QuarkXPress into Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word or other applications for direct editing.

  • Typography features: Customize optical margin alignment and baseline grids.

  • Global publishing: Publish globally in 30 languages with dictionaries and hyphenation.

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“We are pleased to announce that QuarkXPress 8 is now available everywhere. The new version of our flagship product once again raises the bar for page-layout and design software,” says Terry Welty, Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Quark. “QuarkXPress 8 now offers even more sophisticated features for far greater productivity while remaining familiar to long-standing users. I encourage everyone to try QuarkXPress 8 for themselves or visit us on the Xperience Design Global Tour.”

Awards and independent studies

Even before release, QuarkXPress 8 received an excellent score of 1.6 in MACup’s individual test of the month in issue 8/2008.

“I am pleased that the QuarkXPress 8 interface has been adapted more closely to the way creative professionals work,” says Oliver Krüth, Editor-in-Chief of MACup. “Content can now be imported or exported by drag and drop. The Measurements palette is even more powerful and avoids detours through other palettes. Item styles—a long-missed feature—have now been integrated. In my opinion, the flexible handling of hanging punctuation is the icing on the cake in QuarkXPress 8.”

The innovations make the software significantly more efficient, according to a new independent study by consulting firm Pfeiffer Consulting. Andreas Pfeiffer conducted a benchmark analysis and found that QuarkXPress 8 is more than three times as fast as QuarkXPress 6.5 and QuarkXPress 7:

“The great advantage of QuarkXPress 8 is that frequently used functions can be performed much more efficiently, increasing productivity without requiring users to learn much that is new. For example, the new Picture Content tool lets users do everything at once without going into menus: rotate pictures, rotate boxes, crop, scale and resize pictures.”

Sales information

QuarkXPress 8 is now available directly from Quark and authorized Quark resellers. An upgrade from any version to QuarkXPress 8 costs €399. The full version is available for €1,349. The student version costs €125. Attractive volume pricing is available for multiple licenses. All prices are manufacturer’s prices excluding VAT and shipping.

Topics: Interactive| layout
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