At last Desktop Publishing is access able to everyone for Free. That includes all the programs and the training. Vector Drawing, Photo Editing and Desktop Publishing, this is an entire package!
I have just recently launched a new Web Site Open Graphic Design that provides a completely Free Graphic Design course using only Open Source Software. This Software has been developing at a steady pace over the last few years, but has reached a point where I believe they can be used as a serious alternative to the Goliath multi-million dollar Graphic Design programs that have dominated the industry for years. My courses are not necessarily designed for their Wow factor, but to build a proper understanding of Desktop Publishing and each tutorial integrates with Tutorials on my other Sites.

So good are these Free programs that in some cases I seriously believe they are better than programs costing hundreds of dollars. Take the time to read this article and then do yourself a favor, learn the programs properly and I promise you won't be disappointed. If you own a business and shell out megabucks for expensive Graphics Software then read on. Graphic Artists are often resistant to change and are surprisingly conservative. I know this because I was and Art Director and have been a qualified teacher providing Desktop Training for years. I takes a fair bit to get some artists to even listen, let alone try something different. The Truth is that Software programs are the Artists Tools and Palette. The more you have, the more options you have and the better you will be. If these programs are free you have absolutely nothing to loose and everything to gain. These programs are completely cross platform. Windows, Mac and Linux so there's no excuses.

The Open Source products I am referring to are:

Inkscape – an excellent high quality Vector Drawing package similar to Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator, but with its own character and feel. Vector drawing programs are used for creating Illustrations, Logos and Linework. I believe this Program is as good as the commercially available products and to be honest is my preferred Vector Drawing Package. All of the Graphics on my Web Sites were created in Inkscape. I have a Site dedicated to teaching Inkscape at www.inkscapetutorials.net The real revelation in using Inkscape is its intuitive interface. Inkscape is very easy to learn and use, the tools are well laid out and easy to find and understand. I find it a relief to use a program that has decent Control handles and Nodes. When it comes to creating a complex Graphical Vector Image , such as a Motorcycle or a Car Engine I find Inkscape easier, faster and more fun to use than both Corel Draw and Illustrator. (Programs I have been using and teaching since their very first versions). Seriously take the time to learn the program properly and you will be pleased. Oh by the way Inkscape Opens Illustrator Files and Single page pdf's as well as allowing eps and pdf export. It lives happily with the other major graphics packages.

The GIMP - One of my favorites, the GIMP is arguably one of the best Photo editing programs available today with a stunning range of features and filters enabling a truly professional output. Version 2.6 has a modern interface and many of the features you would expect in a program like Photoshop, like Layers, Channels, Undo History, Navigation window, Brushes, Clone Tools etc.There are a huge range of Plug Ins and scripts available for the GIMP which expand its functionality, in particular adding much needed CMYK support in the way of a Plug in. I have a Site dedicated to teaching The GIMP at www.thegimptutorials.net. I have written books on learning The GIMP and used it for years, it is and has been for a long time a serious alternative to Photo shop and now even more so. There are such an amazing range of FREE Plug ins and filters, couple this with an easy to use interface and quality accurate tools and you have a serious professional program.

Scribus – A really great Desktop Publishing Program with full PDF-X3 CMYK (standard in the print industry) export facility. This Program is not unlike Adobe In-Design or Quark express, it is capable of producing high quality book publications or single page Ads . I have a Site dedicated to teaching Scribus atwww.scribustutorials.net Scribus requires an Understanding of Desktop Publishing. It is an assembly program that combines Vector Graphics with Photo images to product a document for the Printer. Its Text tools are high quality and very accurate the kerning and paragraph formatting is of a very high standard. Once you have learned how to use the program properly. (Obeying the correct principals of Desktop Publishing) You will get great results and yes FOR FREE.

Open Office – A Suite of Programs many extremely useful to Desktop Publishing such as Writer for creating text, Draw for creating Illustration...and much more. Not enough people really appreciate the amazing features and diversity of Open Office. Did you know that you can use it as a WYSIWYG Web editor like Dreamweaver. Create multi-media documents like Publisher. Create Vector Drawing Images like Corel Draw. Assemble Data Bases, make forms, export PDF files from any of it's programs, import a staggering range of documents from other programs and all for FREE.

I use all of these products in my daily work - everything from Web Design to Promotional Products such as Mugs, T-Shirts, Drink Holders and Printed Products such as Brochures, Flyer's and Books.......You can do it all to a high Professional Standard using Open Source Software and even better these Programs are Cross Platform, so they are available for Windows, Linux and the Mac …..at last Linux can be used for serious Desktop Publishing.

All of my web sites are still in their infancy, I intend to keep adding tutorials and updating information on all of them.