XPress is back

Software The American software company Quark is ushering in a new publishing era with XPress 7.
XPress 7, the latest upgrade of Quark's layout application,
postponed. Two beta test cycles, in which anyone could participate, have
the company also authorized. This time they probably wanted everything
do it right. Where it is not yet too late, where the desktoppers have switched to InDesign
and have switched to Adobe's XPress killer
design and produce traded layout applications, the
The wait was worth it. Because what the software developers have put into the new version
have packed into it is indeed remarkable.

In two parts, we will focus on the most important of the countless new
functions of version 7 of XPress: Part 1 is dedicated to the
new layout and design functions; part 2, which will be published in issue 25
will then cover the topics of production and cooperation
treat.

160 new functions
Nobody buys because of a new logo and a fresh look
a new software. In order to outpace its rival Adobe InDesign
the software company has pulled out all the stops. With
more than 160 new functions, according to Quark, probably the most comprehensive
Relaunch of the layout classic, XPress pulls ahead in many areas
its toughest competitor InDesign, even overtaking it in the
one place or another - and even suggests completely new paths in the
Publishing.

What is striking is the new "graphics and typography engine" and the
new display technology XDraw significantly optimized illustration of
fonts, images and graphics. Significantly improved compared to the
the latest version 6.5, Quark has also introduced the still limited
OpenType support. In version 7, users benefit from
extended OpenType properties, which, if available in the font,
in addition to real small caps and fractions, also decorative characters
and others.

The software is so clever with the fractions,
that they can be used when changing to an OpenType font that does not contain any
supports fractions, does not lose this formatting - the fractions
immediately reappear as such when a corresponding
OpenType font is used. Thanks to the support of Unicode, a
international standard in which a digital code is assigned to each character.
and the Windows and Mac compatible XPress file format
the complete exchange of documents between these two organizations is now
possible on both platforms.

Hasta la Vista
Access to alpha channels that are stored in Tiff or Photoshop PSD files
is a productivity-enhancing feature that significantly improves
function. This new feature, which is based on the integration of the improved QuarkVista
XTension - an already for version 6.x available
Program extension - available function also allows you to use an in
mask used in an image can be used for blurring
can. The PSD import palettes responsible for this (access to layers saved in the image,
alpha channels and paths) and image effects (various filters and
possibilities for color matching) have the advantage that the
image modifications do not affect the original - as a further
Pluspunkt can display one and the same image in different versions.
can be used in various places in the layout.

Whether a picture with
image effects was finally changed, a small symbol in
in the top right-hand corner of the picture; the corresponding palette is open,
you can even look up the parameters applied to the image.
be applied. If the same image effect is ultimately to be applied to other images
transferred, then the settings can be saved first.
They can later be transferred to one or more images.

Transparency and drop shadowThe
transparency functions integrated for the first time in version 7
is very comprehensive. Opacity can be applied to text, images, frames,
edges, lines, on the background and foreground of the frame and on
Tables and gradients can be applied via palette or slider
- in tenths of a percent increments. The transparencies can be
can also be combined. For example, a word within a text that is used in a
is placed on a picture in a semi-transparent frame, via its own
transparency settings. Even gradients can be made transparent
transparent elements are placed in front of them.

Drop shadows are another new feature of Quark's renewed
Layout application. The shadows are adjustable in terms of color, angle
and distance can be freely selected. In addition, several objects can be simultaneously marked with an identical
defined drop shadow. If shadowed
objects displace texts, you can also specify whether the
object or the shadow itself is decisive for the course of the text.

The two new functions transparency and drop shadow can be
can also be combined; this is the easiest way to
appealing effects can be achieved. A desirable function would be
here that these settings could also be saved as a set
for use on other objects or in other documents.

Improved user interface
Quark rightly counts the intelligent, context-dependent dimension palette among the XPress 7 highlights. Intelligent, because it always adapts to the
activated object. Without having to use dialog menus,
the most important parameters of the selected object can be
faster and interactively. For example, if a
text frames are active, then thanks to the automatically appearing or
Fixed tab next to the previous palette attributes
immediately accesses all other text and frame attributes. If two
or more frames are active, then within the dimension palette
Symbols that indicate the alignment of objects in relation to previous
simplify program versions considerably.

To free up space on the screen, the number, arrangement
and
The order of the other pallets, which have recently been
together, move them together and connect them "magnetically".
can be saved as pallet groups. They
can be called up on a project-specific basis if required. Quick access to
individual palettes is also possible by holding down the Option/Ctrl. key and clicking
in the left-hand area intended for moving the measurement palette
possible, which once again means no pull-down menus and dialog boxes.
must be called.

Anyone who has worked a lot with layers in the past will find it
consider that elements that are placed on a "green" level, for example
also appear with a green object frame. This immediately
The level on which the object is stored can be seen in the "View" menu. Another particularly practical feature is hidden in the "View" menu. There
can simulate how the open document will appear in print or on the
proof looks. And if you have several layouts within a project
at the same time, the window can now be displayed either horizontally
or divide vertically.

First conclusion
In many areas, the layout software overtakes its competitor InDesign. But XPress 7 has remained XPress. It is superficially
not become a completely new product that has to be developed from scratch.
has to relearn, but rather it is a matter of a comprehensive
Further development. Thanks to the many detailed improvements
faster and remains more flexible at the same time.

Users of much older versions will quickly find themselves in the
new, stringent XPress 7 environment, ultimately benefit from
The modifications that have been made have resulted in an improved
Productivity. A new "single layout mode" allows these users to
even to create layouts again - instead of projects. The projects
was introduced by Quark with version 6; they allow a project to be
contains more than one layout, e.g. a brochure and the information contained in
business card in one document. In a moment
When creating a new document, you can choose between the two paths
be decided.

With the Composition Zones and the Job Jackets, Quark also goes the extra mile.
new ways. These features will be presented in issue 25.

Quark
Founded in 1981 in the US state of Colorado, the company is named after the sub-molecular particles known as quarks.
The company, which is still privately owned today, was founded almost 20
desktop publishing for years with QuarkXPress and at that time
launched its first layout software on the market. According to
Quark has been the company for more than 20 years
profitable and debt-free.

Jürgen Franck