Scribus is a free, open source desktop publishing (DTP) application. Native versions are available for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X and Windows. It has high end page layout features of the kind found in Adobe PageMaker, QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign.

Scribus is designed for flexible layout and typesetting, and the ability to prepare files for professional quality image setting equipment. It can also create animated and interactive PDF presentations and forms. Example uses include writing small newspapers, brochures, newsletters, posters and books.

Scribus supports most major graphic formats in addition to SVG. Professional type/image setting features include CMYK colors and ICC color management. It has built in scripting using Python and is available in more than 24 languages.

Printing is achieved via its own internal level 3 PostScript driver, including support for font embedding and sub-setting with TrueType, Type 1 and OpenType fonts. The internal driver fully supports Level 2 PostScript constructs and a large subset of Level 3 constructs.

PDF support includes transparency, encryption and a large set of the PDF 1.4 spec as well as PDF/X3, including interactive PDFs form fields, annotations and bookmarks.

Based on XML, the file format is fully documented. Text can be imported from OpenDocument text documents, as well as RTF, Microsoft Word .doc, and HTML formats (although limitations apply).

External links

• Scribus Home Page
  • Native Windows, Mac Aqua and Debian/Ubuntu packages available for download
  • Sourceforge Project page for source code and other versions
• Scribus Official Documentation
• Scribus Issue Tracker
• Scribus Wiki (register account by e-mail ^* in order to contribute)
  • News coverage and articles on Scribus
  • Scribus and DTP resources around the web
  • Scribus UI design analysis

Articles

• Linux Magazine article series: Linux for Layout
  • Part 1: A Linux Newspaper — Professional layout in Linux with Scribus (PDF, free download)
  • Part 2: Desktop publishing in Linux — Professional typography and layout with Scribus (PDF, free download)
  • Part 3: Desktop publishing in Linux — Putting the finishing touches on our Scribus Linux newspaper (PDF, free download)
• Scribus: Open Source Desktop Publishing
• Scribus in the Commercial DTP World
• Small-business forms using Scribus and PDF
• Scribus 1.1.6 Review by MadPenguin
• Review: Scribus 1.2.1 Desktop Publisher
• A short Scribus PDF manual by Scot Blades, with source materials available
• Desktop publishing with Writer and Scribus

Desktop publishing software | Free software | SourceForge projects

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