Quark Inc. announced a QuarkXPress 8.1 updater, which existing QuarkXPress 8 users can download for free now. This latest update improves PDF output capabilities and introduces features that make the page layout process even more intuitive and productive. QuarkXPress 8.1 introduces a Native Transparency mode for creating PDFs that offers designers faster and more flexible PDF output support and provides greater control over their PDF workflow process.
QuarkXPress 8.1 offers fast and flexible PDF output with its new native transparency mode, which allows objects to which transparency has been applied within QuarkXPress to remain unflattened in the final PDF output. In addition, QuarkXPress is the only layout application that gives layer-by-layer controls in its output options – useful when you need to send content with multiple variants to an output provider within a single PDF.
QuarkXPress 8.1 also addresses outstanding issues reported by customers and introduces a host of improved everyday design features that enable faster and more precise page creation. A new keyboard modifier makes picture drag and drop more precise and predictable. Item Styles and Item Find/Change now fully integrate drop shadows, and users can update Item Styles with a single click to reflect changes they make in the layout. QuarkXPress spell checking is now carried out with a new palette that enables users to save time by more easily adjusting their text as necessary while in the middle of the spell-checking process.
“This release demonstrates that Quark continues to deliver value to our customers by providing them with mid-cycle releases with significant added functionality at no extra cost. Quark continues to lead the way by supporting the latest operating systems and QuarkXPress 8.1 is no exception, as it is both Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Windows 7 ready. In addition, we continue to provide support for Mac OS X Tiger, Mac OS X Leopard, Windows XP, and Windows Vista,” said Tim Banister, General Manager for Desktop Technology for Quark. “We have introduced extremely useful extra features in addition to the PDF enhancements and, in particular, our new scaling feature will bring added value to many of our customers. The Scale palette enables extremely precise numerical scaling of anything from a single item to an entire layout, so users can now rescale any content with a single click and redeploy it for use in a different print campaign or even online via HTML or Flash (SWF).”
Pricing and Availability
Existing QuarkXPress 8 users can download a free update to QuarkXPress 8.1 from the Quark Web site. QuarkXPress 8 is available directly from Quark and through Quark Authorized Resellers. An upgrade to QuarkXPress 8 is $299 and full product can be purchased for $799. Users on QuarkXPress 3, 4 and 5 can also upgrade for the same low price of $299 until September 30. To purchase, visit the Quark Store or find your nearest authorized Quark reseller.
60-Day Test Drive and Further Information
In addition to being available for purchase, a free, fully functional 60-day Test Drive version is available for download from https://8.quark.com/evaluation.html. For a complete list of issues resolved in QuarkXPress 8, please visit the Quark Web site at https://8.quark.com/techinfo/known_issues.html.
This article was last modified on January 18, 2023
This article was first published on August 4, 2009
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
