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DESCRIPTION

iCalamus is a desktop publishing solution that allows you to create documents with text, photos and other visual elements. Some demonstration videos are available.

The free 'iCalamus lite edition' already offers a cool feature: You can create professional photo books and calendars like in the full version and order high-quality prints at the Photographerbook company. The Photographerbook document service in iCalamus even supports iPhoto calendars (and iPhoto books coming soon) which can be printed at Photographerbook at a lower price.

iCalamus has been developed completely new for Apple's operating system and hasn't much relationship to its cousin, Calamus SL, the well-known DTP program for Windows and Atari, but the name is similar. iCalamus is an excellent choice for all layout purposes from simple posters and business letters over complex layouted magazines up to books and scientific works. Complete Unicode support and the smart PDF import offer easy access to creating and layout work. The reasoned user interface with its low learning curve guarantees for fast success. iCalamus doesn't limit your layout freedom by offering prepared layouts. Its practical tools offer all options for your own creative and productive layout work.

iCalamus is a modular program which will grow in future by external modules, even from third-party developers. Therefore invers Software will create an Open Development Area (ODA) and publish the plug-in interface. iCalamus has been developed in Objective C with intensive usage of Apple's Cocoa library.

You can import all image and text formats which are supported by Mac OS X into iCalamus documents. Images from digital cameras scanners or iPhoto libraries can be imported as well as whole web page content and PDF documents. Grab text content from large PDF documents easily for further text processing. Elaborated masking options and many predefined, partly dynamically changeable frame shapes offer freedom for creativity. Working in precise measurement units is the other side of the iCalamus world. Use virtual copies for multiple document elements and change them afterwards with a few mouse clicks.

Print output uses all printers which are supported by Mac OS X. Optionally output documents in various PDF formats (e.g. PDF-X, encrypted PDF, PDF Fax).

WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.14:

Photographerbook documents
  • Fix: [571]: Too large auto-generated images (blends, shadows) could cause iCalamus to hang due to missing RAM.
  • Fix: Internal corrections for iPhoto Calendar and iPhoto Book production.
GUI
  • New: iCalamus menu and Help menu have been redesigned.
  • New: iCalamus lite versions now ask for registration on launch and quit.
  • New: [480]: The dialog "About iCalamus" shows user name and serial number.
  • Fix: [561]: Document Service popup menu in "New Document" dialog works normal again.
  • Fix: [562]: All multiple selectors in all available inspectors now show tooltips.
  • Fix: [569]: "Check For Updates" shows the "What's New?" information in the currently used iCalamus language.
Manual
  • New: [566]: Color Inspector chapter now gives information about web colors and web color edit field.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later.


SCREENSHOT

Developer:invers Software
Downloads:14,596
  - Version d/l:465
Business:Presentation Tools
License:Demo
Date:12 Sep 2008
Platform:PPC/Intel
Price:$195.00
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iCalamus User Reviews (4 posts)Write A Review
sort: smiles | time
Mar 17 2008

MACLOVER1.1  I cannot even start to rate this app. At first it seems wonderful.. yet I keep running into all types of bugs (I'm on a MacPro, 10.5.2). Bugs range from unresponsive text boxes, flawed text wrapping and many many others. At times I'm saved by my backed up files (not the automated ones since each time a file has gone corrupt on me... the automated backup is as flawed as well obviously) at other times I need to just close my file without saving it, reopen it and things are responsive again.. it gets very tiring and stressful. I really wanted something to replace IndDesign (which I used to replace XPress) I just hope this app gets stable or it can really be a misery in a beautiful disguise.. I cannot imagine I am the only one to have suffered this ?!  
(Version 1.12)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Nov 18 2007

THOMAS_U  Version 1.11:

Many new features, now runs on Tiger (10.4.5 and newer) and Leopard; good support - developers are quick to response to bug-reports.  
(Version 1.11)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Dec 8 2006

CLOUDNINER  I used Calamus back in the late 80's and early 90's on an Atari TT. IMHO the absolute greatest DTP on the market bar none at the time. The PC world was still using Dos stuff (yuck).

Hope they get this up to speed to match the performance of that great Atari program that I very much miss.  
(Version 1.04)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Oct 11 2006
***½.

LOUKASH  This could become a good and easy to use layout app. But after a couple of minutes playing with it I'm already missing:

- Spot colors

- Moving objects between layers

- Deselect all

- Join path

- Zoom/Move shortcuts à la cmd-space

- Quick page preview

- Editing guides

- ...

And there's no Services support. Why? I thought it "just works" in Cocoa?

Not ready yet to replace InDesign 2 (!) which is what I'm still using for my layout work.  
(Version 1.01)

praisebury
0
[ 2 Replies - Reply ]
Replies:
Oct 11 2006

MIMO  Just some comments on your points:

  • Spot colors. Yes I'd like to add spot color support too,

  • but OSX does not officially support spot colors yet.

  • Moving objects between layers is possible by

  • cut/copy/paste, of course. We'll come up with more

    convenient stuff soon.

  • Joining (and other operations) of paths is possible!

  • And: Joining is used also for live masking.

    See the acording promotion demo movie on our site

  • There are lots of shortcuts already to move (+ hand tool) and zoom (+ zoom tool)!
  • Editing of helplines is possible of course.

  • Helplines are just locked by default.

    You can even move helplines together with frames

    and vector points (I love it :-)

  • Quick page preview. You can use iCalamus Navigator Inspector or Preview app for that.

  • Let me invite you to further discussions in our Forum.

    Greetings from germany,


    MiMo  
    (Version 1.01)

    praisebury
    0
    Oct 11 2006

    LOUKASH  Danke für die Antwort/Thanks for replying.

    I'll check out your forum then...  
    (Version 1.01)

    praisebury
    0