PageStream is one of the oldest names in desktop publishing software. From its first release in 1986, PageStream has been the publishing application of choice for tens of thousands of people.
PageStream began life as Publishing Partner for Atari computers in 1986 and was immediately called a "knockout program" by Personal Publishing magazine. Publishing Partner grew into PageStream and was released for Amiga computers in 1989.
PageStream celebrated ten years of DTP excellence in 1996 with the release of PageStream3 for Macintosh and PowerMacintosh. With our new location under construction, and the release of PageStream4 for three platforms, our 14th year is looking to be one of our most exciting ever!
SL Publishing Corp. was founded in September 1985 by Deron Kazmaier and Shawn Fogle. SL knew there was a niche in the desktop publishing market and started development on what was to become known as a major breakthrough in desktop publishing for the Atari ST/STe/TT and Commodore Amiga computers.
SL marketed its first products for the Atari platform; Electro Solitaire, 21, Electro Calender and the Logiktron Clock Card. In April of 1986, SL began development on Publishing Partner ST, the first version of what was to later evolve into PageStream.
Personal Publishing reviewed this first version of what grew into PageStream in 1986 and called it a "knockout program." PageStream went on to win every major Amiga and Atari award and has grown into a publishing powerhouse.
Through these years, SL listened to considerable amount of feedback from customers on how to improve Publishing Partner, SL began development on Publishing Partner v2.0 which was marketed as Publishing Partner Professional and later in 1988, renamed to PageStream.
PageStream ST, Publishing Partner evolved through several updates starting with version 1.0 to major enhancements within version 1.8. In March 1989, after initial developments, SL released PageStream for the Commodore Amiga platform.
PageStream matures into a serious desktop publishing program with version 2.0 combining highly advanced features, power and speed while maintaining its easy to use interface. Award Winning
PageStream 2 Amiga received the 1992 Amiga World Magazine Experts' Choice Award for Best Professional Amiga Desktop Publishing Program. In addition, PageStream Amiga received the Readers' Choice Award for Best Professional Amiga Desktop Publishing Program by Amazing Computing Magazine in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
1992 brought a series of new products and developments to SL. Deciding to expand the possibilities of PageStream and desktop publishing, SL released a "live" data interchange program for the Commodore Amiga: HotLinks.
In that same year, SL also released the long awaited Art Expression Amiga illustration program. Art Expression brought a new level of drawing capability to the Amiga along with a variety of special effects features; such as gradient fills and text along a path.
1993 brought the dawn of PageStream 3.0. PageStream3.0 is a completely new version of the #1 desktop publishing program. Adding a comprehensive list of features that users have requested, PageStream 3 surpasses its competition on any platform.
PageStream 3 gave users over 1000 new features to help create better pages. Professionals rely on PageStream for its precise typographic controls, advanced drawing features, stunning color output, and recordable scripts. Beginners love PageStream because its easy-to-learn interface simplifies the creation of newsletters, cards and banners.
PageStream 3 is more powerful than its predecessors but not more difficult.
Adding to SL's commitment to be one step ahead of the rest, in 1993, releases the first Amiga outline font editor: TypeSmith. TypeSmith is an indispensable program for users who want to create fonts, modify existing fonts or convert between Type 1, Type 3, Compugraphic or SL DMF font formats for use with PageStream and other popular Amiga applications.
Through its phenomenal response, TypeSmith continues in the tradition of PageStream with receiving the Readers' Choice Award for Best DTP Accessory Program by Amazing Computing Magazine in 1993 and 1994.
Furthering TypeSmith's usability, in 1994, SL adds a valuable key feature in version 2.5; the ability to create, modify, and convert True Type fonts. This expands Amiga users into the never-ending world of fonts available in Macintosh and IBM PC formats.
In 1994, the unfortunate demise of Commodore Business Machines occurred. While Commodore's demise led other third-party Amiga software developers to following in their footsteps, SL's commitment of providing the highest standard of desktop publishing related products stands hold and continues on with several more new additions to its existing product line.
To expand the versatility of PageStream 3 Amiga, in 1995, SL creates PageStream 3 extensions. These extensions add further functionality to the program. PageStream 3 extras include: Text FX, Gary's Effects, TrueType Font Engine, JPEG Filter, Wordworth Document Filter and Borders.
Text FX adds to PageStream the ability to warp text inside of shapes and to bend it on curves. Text can be warped inside any of the 65 present shapes, or bent on the 15 preset curve paths. Users may also draw their own shapes and curves. TextFX is the best-selling extension to PageStream 3 for Amiga.
Gary's Effects is a collection of 12 effects filters for use with BME, a junior image processor included with PageStream3. BME is also available free online, eight effects are included with BME. The twelve new effects are: Average, Median, Maximum, Minimum, Equalize, Solarize, Threshold, Hue/Saturation, Gamma, Blur, Histogram, and Convolve. Convolve includes 20 presets.
The TrueType font engine for PageStream 3 lets users choose fonts from the huge selection of public domain, shareware, and commercial TrueType fonts. With this font engine, PageStream3 can print TrueType fonts to any type of printer with the same speed as PostScript and DMF fonts.
JPEG is a very popular format for video, photo and other graphic work. This filter allows for importing and exporting of JPEG pictures into PageStream 3 and BME.
The Wordworth document filter is a perfect companion to use with Wordworth and PageStream 3. The Wordworth filter allows PageStream 3 to open entire Wordworth documents, preserving document layout.
Borders
Borders are great for certificates, posters, coupons, cards or other documents. There are currently two volumes of Borders available, Basic Borders and Geo Borders. Each volume contains sixty decorative borders in a variety of designs.
10th Anniversary
SL celebrated its tenth anniversary on September 11, 1995. In an industry where companies appear and disappear seemingly overnight, SL products have been in demand for Amiga and Atari computer owners for over a decade.
1996
SL unveiled the newest addition to its product line; PageStream for Macintosh.
PageStream for Macintosh has been eagerly awaited by many PageStream Atari and Amiga users and is now available.
Like other Macintosh publishing programs, PageStream can be used to set type, draw objects, and place graphics. It has extremely precise typography, professional printing, and a rich assortment of features.
PageStream differs from other DTP programs in that it has most of the drawing features of an illustration program, a powerful selection of unique features, and most importantly, an outstanding interface.
The Decade Ahead
PageStream has become the #1 Amiga and Atari DTP program by being the best available. The Macintosh and Windows markets have entrenched market leaders, but SL's extensive experience as a pioneer in the DTP field will help SL succeed where recent DTP newcomers have failed.
Document Construction PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Maximum number of open documents unlimited 25 unlimited unlimited? Maximum number of document views unlimited 1 1 1 Maximum document size (in pages) unlimited 2000 999 1000 Maximum page size 2000" x 2000" 48" x 48" 42" x 42" 99" x 99" - mix page sizes in a document Join pages into spreads Visual page arrangement Maximum number of master pages unlimited 127 256 26 - hide/edit master objects on pages /
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- retroactive master column changes Automatic page numbering Chapters Layout Aids PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Snap-to-guides, adjustable strength - user-defined guide color Snap-to-drawing grid, adjustable strength /
Snap-to-layout grid Rulers / Change ruler direction - adjustable zero point / ruler offset Number of measurement system options 11 7 6 5 - precision 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.05pt 0.01pt - do math in text boxes - mix measurements in text boxes Pasteboard Layers Text Frames PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Max number of columns in a frame 99 30 20 1 Frameless text blocks Resize text visually by dragging Variable-shaped text frames Automatic text frame creation Vertical justification Link text frames / Show frame links Column / Page breaks Word Processing PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Find and change text / attributes Copy and paste attributes Import / Export text - convert quotes / dashes Maximum number of tabs unlimited 20 40 15 - decimal tabs / custom decimal - dot leaders / right indent tab Show invisible characters Smart quotes / dashes Styles, Character / Paragraph - next style / based on style - import styles Typography PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Type size range 1-1000pt 2-720pt 4-650pt 1-327pt - size increments 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.1pt 0.01pt - scale text horizontally 5-655% 25-400% 5-250% 25-250% Number of type styles 10 10 8 7 - configurable type styles, number of Text color fill/stroke Left, right, first indent - auto hanging indents Paragraph spacing / rules Widow and orphan control Bulleted / Numbered paragraphs Auto / Manual kerning Auto / Manual tracking Tracking tables Auto Hyphenation / Discretionary hyphens - custom dictionary Absolute/relative leading, increments Automatic ligatures Rotate/skew text, precision - edit rotated text Drop caps Graphics & Illustration PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Import / Export pictures - set frequency, angle and screen Picture effects Import / Export drawings - dissolve drawings into paths & shapes Import / Export EPS Irregular cropping/masking Line / Box tools Ellipse / Arc tools Pen / Freehand tools Regular Polygon tool Object / Point selection and editing Proportional sizing constraint Bring to front, back, forward, backward Move / Nudge objects Step and repeat duplication Rotate and skew objects, precision Merge and split paths / Convert to path Group / Lock objects Align / Distribute objects Text wrap around objects Anchor objects to text Copy and paste attributes Object styles Line, Fill & Color PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Tint (percentage) fill precision 0.01% 0.1% 1% 0.01% Bitmap fill styles, Preset/Editable Gradient, radial and shape fills Screen types (spot functions) 6 4 1 3 Line width precision 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.1pt 0.01pt Dash styles, Preset/Editable Caps / Joins Arrowhead styles, Preset/Editable Number of color models 6 8 8 4 Create process / spot colors Object level trapping Printing PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Tiling / Thumbnails Color separations / Plate control Print to file / Save pages as EPS files Crop and registration marks Page independence Booklet printing (reader's spreads) Suppress printing of selected items Mail Merge Scripting PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Record / edit internal scripts Assign scripts to keys, buttons, menu AppleScript, ARexx support Miscellaneous PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Load / Save program defaults Autosave / Autobackup Revision control Toolbar, customizable Number of view magnifications 11 6 8 7 - custom magnification & zoom maximum view magnification 3000% 400% 800% 800% Report font, graphic, article usage Undo and redo / levels Index generation Table of contents Table of figures / multiple catagories HTML / PDF export Image processor / Autotracer Table editor Article editor Full online help system Professional Manual Street Price PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7 Direct Price or MacZone catalog $249.00 $657.98 $548.98 $218.98
Grasshopper LLC has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this comparison. Please contact Quark, Adobe and Manhattan Graphics for full details on XPress, PageMaker and ReadySetGo.PageStream is a registered trademark of Grasshopper LLC. XPress is a registered trademark of Inc. ReadySetGo is a registered trademark of Esselte Pendaflex Corp. PageMaker and PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
