Name: Scribus
Rating: 3.8438 (10 reviews)

Overview

Scribus is an Open-Source program that brings award-winning professional page layout to Linux/Unix, OS X, and Windows desktops with a combination of "press-ready" output and new approaches to page layout. Underneath the modern and user-friendly interface, Scribus supports professional publishing features such as CMYK color, separations, ICC color management, and versatile PDF creation. Scribus/Aqua is a port of Scribus to a native Aqua build using Qt Free for OS X.

What's new in Scribus

Version 1.5.5:

[PDF] PDF Link annotations not updated when inserting/removing pages (jghali)
[Build System] Improve AppImage build by allowing relative paths to resource directories (jghali)
[Build System] Missing docstring in cmake set command (jghali)
[Fonts] Converting true type fonts to outlines produces wrong shapes (jghali)

Full list of changes available here.

15 Scribus Reviews

See all

I really wanted to like this program, but now have mostly disdain for it. At first, it looked pretty good - nice logo decent layout, but it all went waaaaaay downhill from there. At first, it needed GhostScript to import EPS and PDF. Just try to find an easy to install version of GhostScript. Most versions are a pain to install, having to run UNIX scripts and finding out that additional pieces are needed part way through the install forcing one to start over. Finally, I finally found an easy Mac version, but why in the hell wasn't it mentioned at the various websites for GhostScript and Scribus! Next, I TRIED to install templates. They were easy to find, but the instructions were either missing, utterly cryptic, or wrong. This is a classic case of open source assuming that everyone is a UNIX or LINUX geek. After lots of research and trials, I gave up. So, I just tried to create my own document from scratch and almost immediately got the error, 'The application "pdflatex --interaction nonstopmode" failed to start! Please check the path:' Huh? Continuing on, I found that the interface was stunning stupid for some tasks, especially related to text. It is incredible that you have to change the text's characteristics in a one window and then go back to the main window to see the effect. I'm a programmer and run web servers so I am somewhat used to the "logic" and assumptions of the open source and UNIX world. And, I've used Quark since it's intro, Pagemaker, MultiAd Creator, and other DTP programs and have rarely needed to consult their manuals and am very schooled on DTP. I found Scribus to be unnecessarily difficult and illogical. Scribus should and could be a great product and it appears to be very comprehensive, but it need LOTS of help to make it rationally easy to install and use for even the above average user. A lot of good work has gone into Scribus. I hope that they end up making it a great competitor to Quark. For now I will stick with the surprisingly good MultiAd Creator.

Like (8)

Version 1.3.7

I have finally installed and used this one... to some success on some minor projects for output to PDF. I give high marks on that last part, but as to the rest... Scribus needs some serious updating! I have used many moderate to top of the line DTP applications, all the way to the nightmare that is the industrial strength InDesign CC. While Scribus is not that bad, I would not call it good and would not recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with DTP. Things that should be simple, such as inline / inlayout editing, are not. Constantly switching panes to set different things in just one paragraph, section, and/or page was tedious at times. And the story editor was... well, just bad compared to programs of a similar focus. Still, I will keep working at this one, as one day I hope to switch to Linux fully and slave other OSes. Scribus would be the best choice for sparse DTP needs. But hopefully by the time that switch becomes reality, it will have improved. It really needs to from install all the way to advanced work.

Like (1)

Version 1.4.3

anonymous-dingo-653

14 October 2013

A bit disconcerting the Scribus documentation references GS 8.71 in its GhostScript links, and yet the latest version of GS is 9.1. The additional frustration is that neither version will download directly from openprinting.org or from macports. Without GS, Scribus is only half-functional... and yet I cannot even get GS to begin the inevitable wresting match. Anyone having similar problems or know of another location to acquire a directly installable version of GS?

Version 1.4.3

Penguirl

19 January 2013

Interesting that InDesign is not listed under Similar Software…

Like (2)

Version 1.4.2

1 answer(s)

MacFluent

10 April 2013

That's because we, the public, get to list and up or down rate the similar software. You could list InDesign yourself.

Like (1)

NOT so perfect. It downloads easily and looks relatively easy to figure out and use, and there is an instruction manual. However, in order to use Print Preview for pre-press or PDF export features you MUST download Ghostscript. These features are kind of critical for the intended purpose of a DTP. OK, no problem there, Ghostscript is easy to find following the links in Scribus or externally and it has its own Mac OS loader. But once it's loaded, Scribus can't find it on its own and wants YOU to give it a path. How to do that? NOT in the manual though there is a convenient placeholder for it and I couldn't find it in the user forums. Bottom line: too much Linux in this for use by most Mac users, including this relatively experienced one who's used X11 for years (but never needed Ghostscript). So for me, it's unusable as is.

Like (4)

Version 1.4.0

2 answer(s)

Andrew-K

07 May 2012

I agree that the process of installing and locating Ghostscript was awkward - to say the least! However, there is plenty of help available. A (usually) friendly e-mail list, a forum and IRC. I've not used the last two. Once you take the time to understand how to install and locate Ghostscript, I'm sure you'll find that Scribus is more that worthwhile. I have. And I wouldn't class myself as a 'relatively experienced one who's used X11 for years'.

Like (2)

anonymous-dingo-653

16 January 2013

I've been watching this one for a while, have downloaded for a peek now and then, but I never get around to using it because the exact points made here. And that's why I don't rate it. No program should be this difficult to install if truly cross platform. No one should claim that its easy "once you..." Well, if it isn't part of the programs standard install AND it isn't directly in the manual... then it isn't easy. I'll keep watching and waiting.

Like (2)

Perfect app.

Version 1.4.0

1 answer(s)

Rubaiyat

22 June 2013

Perfect? Really?!? I've used dozens of DTP apps and none of them are perfect, least of all Scribus.

Like (3)

Scribus is a professional DTP solution. To really understand its value we must look at it pros and cons. 1. Scribus is cross-platform (Linux, Windows, Mac OS X). This is its main advantage and its main disadvantage. It is an advantage as you can move its document files across different operating systems and the result will still look the same (try this with a MS product). It is a disadvantage as you cannot expect a native Mac OS X user interface. 2. Scribus has a professional feature set. As with any professional software it has its complexity and learning curve. But when you start to manage it, it is of real value. I printed a lot of flyers and smaller books with it and was always impressed by its feature set. 3. Scribus is open source and comes for free. It is really impressive what Scribus brings you for nothing. But, as true for many open source projects, its development cycles could be shorter. Of course, we all would like to see every month a new final release, but the available resources are limited. Scribus has a strong development community, which offers continuous support since many years. What else can we expect? If you do not bring your files to a professional printer often, then this software might not be for you. You might be more pleased with Apple's Pages. If you need to create printable PDFs and you do not want to invest in expensive software like Adobe InDesign, then this is worth looking at.

Version 1.4.0.rc3

13 answer(s)

Rubaiyat

02 January 2012

Pages is really a terrible solution for commercial print. It is nearly impossible to get an adequate resolution, color managed pdf out of it. I'd say it would be a fast way to do your dough. It is a pity that Apple markets it as a cheap but viable DTP application because it is really no good for anything except output to your desktop printer. Having said that about Pages, Scribus is simply a cheapskates DTP solution, I would not use it for serious output for commercial print. Unless it has its own method to output to pdf it is as flawed as Pages, whose achilles heel is OSX's print engine.

Like (3)

Laos

02 January 2012

@Rubaiyat Scribus has its own algorithms to create a PDF. It does not use the PDF engine of Mac OS X, which makes its PDF output much better.

Like (2)

Rubaiyat

02 January 2012

@Laos Thanks for that. Been a while since I seriously played with it and it is difficult to really test without risking a commercial print job. Can it output spot colors?

Like (1)

Johninsapporo

03 January 2012

Rubaiyat, what a complaining grumpy guy you are. Your comments about Pages are rather like someone complaining that a Big Mac doesn't taste like Filet Mignon. Pages is the 2011 version of AppleWorks. It does what it says on the label. It's not supposed to produce serious output for commercial print. It's very easy to use and quite capable of producing pretty good quality (for a home user) products.

Like (2)

Laos

03 January 2012

@Johninsapporo Pages brings you a lot of features with ease of use, but its layout and text rendering engine is rather limited. It would be more fair to compare Scribus with Adobe's InDesign. @Rubaiyat Even tough I never tried it, the documentation says Scribus can do spot colors. Read more information here: http://documentation.scribus.net/index.php/Spot_Colors

Rubaiyat

03 January 2012

@Johninsapporo I do support for Pages. I know it very well. I wish it was AppleWorks II. It is not, it misses the database for a start. Not that AW was a serious DTP. Apple is quite deceptive about what Pages can do. I have repeatedly asked the local Apple Store staff to stop claiming it is capable of serious publishing and is a complete replacement for Word. They tend to ignore anything that hampers sales though. We end up with all the confused users in support, along with the Apple Sales staff who made all the exaggerated claims. The 2 versions for iOS5 and OSx have only added to the confusion. Despite my long experience in Publishing it frequently has me consulting all my references to get things done. Superficially it is nice and so long as you don't push it past the gorgeous set of supplied templates, even useful.

Johninsapporo

03 January 2012

Rubaiyat - We agree. To get the full functions of AppleWorks you would need Pages + Numbers + Bento. This would make it very expensive. Especially considering that AppleWorks or was it ClarisWorks was free. For people like me, however, who don't have need for a powerhouse DTP app, Pages does very well. For writing, as an idea mill, I love Scrivener. But that's not for DTP either.

Rubaiyat

03 January 2012

@Johninsapporo Pages + Numbers + Bento ≠ AppleWorks. Bento has no integration with Pages at all and Numbers is neat with charts but is a right bastard with merges. It drives most of our users nuts. How Apple gets this so wrong mystifies me.

myschizobuddy-1

03 October 2012

@Rubaiyat "They tend to ignore anything that hampers sales though." name one company that would do this.

myschizobuddy-1

03 October 2012

wouldn't do this

Rubaiyat

28 March 2013

@Myschizobuddy Like Apple you have it both ways. Deceptive is deceptive. What is it with the dumb-as consumer Gen Y now? You get pissed off with anyone who ISN'T unethical!?

myschizobuddy-1

28 March 2013

@Rubaiyat smart people make purchase decision after using a product and judging by themselves not what a sales person of a company tell them. you seem to be angry at what sales person claims a product is capable of. Other than you no one gives a damn about what a sales person says.

Rubaiyat

28 March 2013

@Myschizobuddy Smart people don't constantly make excuses. Especially given the difficulty with both purchasing and installing iWork software over the years. People were pushed into buying iWork preinstalled with the Mac and then left with no installer, no serial and no way out. People who bought the boxed version on recommendation couldn't get refunds once opened. People who did test the waters and installed the demo were not told how (let alone that you had) to get rid of the demo before reinstallation, which leads to the legitimate copy being thrown back inexplicably into demo. The later is one of the most asked questions on the forum: "Wha' happened!!!?" Now with the Mac Store version people on older, unupgradeable systems can't even access a version that would still run, if Apple would only let it install. But getting to the point of when and how people discover the flaws in software. Mostly it is not within the 30 day period of the now non-existent demo version. The Mac Store has no trial period, users have to take Apple's (often dubious) word for that "It just works". In store Apple shows it all working perfectly and reassures customers that it is practically like having MsOffice, only better. Plenty of fools in this world side with the liar and against the sucker. Until it is themselves who are caught out and full indignation and outrage blossoms. Willful and misleading conduct in business is against the law in most civilised countries, except the States where you could lose your citizenship for not bending over to pick up the soap for major corporations. You appear to have seen that Dial up close, so often Myschizobuddy, it must seem like a warm, comforting friend.

Jimw

20 February 2011

Ghostsrcript help is under the troubleshooting tab

Version 1.3.9

Jimw

20 February 2011

A recent compiled version is now located here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/ghostscript/files/GPL%20Ghostscript/8.71/ghostscript-8.71-macosx.tar.gz/download Install the executable file here: /$home/usr/bin Where $home is your root directory of your hard drive. The 'bin' folder is hidden so you will need to us the Finder 'Go To Folder' menu item or a utility to reveal hidden folders. In an application that needs it, such as Scribus, in preferences point the gs file path to the executable in your 'bin' folder. To pont to this file, open the 'bin' folder or leave it open from the install. When in the Open dialog in your program, click on the executable in the 'bin' folder.

Version 1.3.9

Like (8)

Version 1.3.7

1 answer(s)

Maeric

14 July 2010

Thanks for your review! About two years ago, I considered open source apps and tried Scribus. It was a frustrating experience so I went back to upgrade my ID and QXP. I thought I would look into it again this week and after spending time at the Scribus page, I needed to hear from Mac users. Sounds like the same ordeal I went through 2 years ago especially the text characteristics windows. "Professional quality" open source apps sounds good in theory. I'd hoped for a good replacement to FreeHand within Inkscape, but damn, working in X11 with an Windows-like interface was a strain after years with FreeHand MX. Scribus had the same effect.

Like (4)

Version 1.3.7

Scribus

Overview

What's new in Scribus

Join over 500,000 subscribers.

Scribus Screenshots

15 Scribus Reviews

More from Author Tools

Apps you might also like