POSTER  |  DRAWiT   |  PRESENT-iT |  PUBLISH-iT

-- These are real comments from real customers. We do not make these up. --

Softseek Editor's Choice: SoftSeek - Poster (32-bit) by Poster Software

ZD-Net Shareware Library: ZDNet Software Library - Poster for Windows 95 (5 star rating).

Need to make some super signage? Try Poster for Windows 95, an easy-to-use program that lets you quickly create signs, banners, and posters up to nine square feet in size at 300 dpi (and larger at lower resolutions). Begin the creation process by using a quick-start wizard, a blank page, a multi-column newspaper style, or a pre-made sample. Use the standard drawing-program interface to continuing creating with line, box, circle, and text tools. Add .wmf, .gif, .jpg, or .bmp graphics; apply special effects to your text (such as 3D, arch, warp, and rotate); and use fills and drop shadows on your artwork. Poster supports TrueType and ATM fonts, import of items from the Clipboard, and OLE. Poster has many of the features of more-complicated drawing programs but is simple enough that the casual user should be able to use it with little trouble. You may create up to ten posters with this trial edition. A 16-bit version is also available.

Quality Shareware (4Q rating). Quality Shareware Poster Review.

Features:  The easy to use interface includes a range of features to enhance the appearance of the text and graphics. As well as the now-standard drawing-programme interface, the software has a range of special effects and image tools, and also supports WMF, BMP, JPEG and GIF files. It is obvious that a fair amount of thought has gone into the design of the software; there are extremely useful features such as being able to position text or graphic images with the keyboard as well as the mouse, allowing for extra precision. A particularly impressive fact is that text can still be edited even when it has had special effects applied to it such as 3D effects and rotation. This can be extremely useful. Another notable feature is the general ease of use - there is an excellent quick-start feature, and an extremely detailed and original tutorial.

Technical Bit:  Full 32-BIT software; very low on system resources: On a Cyrix 586 100 MHz processor with 32 MB RAM, the software used up less than 1MB of memory and just over 3.5% of the system resources. As with any graphics software, the amount of RAM has a bearing on the overall speed of the software; as does the number of colours that you are running it in.

Conclusion:   Poster allows the user to very quickly and simply create some quite impressive looking posters and banners. The interface is exceptionally diverse yet simple to use, and the features seem to combine some of the more useful features of graphics and word-processing software. For anyone in need of any sort of poster or banner, this software offers superb value.

Rocket Download (4 smiley rating).

Poster 6 allows you to create impressive posters, signs, banners, certificates and murals. With the ability to add and create customized text
and graphics, your creations can come in a variety of sizes and be printed up to nine by nine feet. This version of the software makes it the easiest and best to use yet.

In addition to Poster's many new features, its got a spell checker, the ability to smooth and crop pictures and scan content directly into your
creations. You don't need to be a graphics whiz to operate the program. If you know the basics of desktop publishing, the program will be incredibly simple.

The program has a wide assortment of text and graphic capabilities that will give its expensive and overly sophisticated rivals a run for their
money. It comes with over 200 special effects, templates and examples. You'll love its drawing and image tools that let you place and manipulate images. It supports BMP, GIF, JPG, TIF and WMF files, so your creations can include everyone from the family dog to the biggest superstar. Its smooth enlargements, font stretching and special effects make it unparalleled to anything I have seen.

I recommend Poster 6 to anyone wanting to produce signs and banners.

CUSTOMER COMMENTS (These are real comments from real people. We do not make these up.)

• I spent about 10 minutes composing my poster. It looked great on the screen. Printed in off (2X) and then trimmed the 4 pages, using Epson Glossy Photo paper.. I used a rolling blade cutting machine that I use with all my photos and posterboards. It is accurate, and easy - and it looks great! M.O. 1/00.
• I've been a software consultant for 16 years and just absolutely LOVE your product! It does everything I'll ever need - without all the bloat. Thank you!!! J.F. 1/00.
• I wanted to thank you for a great poster program. I'v been making medical posters for hospitals for many years and used a variety of "banner" programs. Most were limited and did not let me customize the way I needed to. Again, thanks for a very helpful program! Two weeks ago I was in the midst of creating 5 posters, I was relieved to find your program. It saved tons of time! K.G. 12/99.
• Another success story. Last weekend I went out to our only remaining covered bridge to take some photos. The shoot was on a bright day and when I set up one of my better prints for editing I found that composition was great but I have bright sky burn across the top. There was another good picture in there but about a 40% crop. So . . . cropped the image about 40%, clipped the inside of the bridge and adusted that extremely dark area so the detail came out a little. There I set it up full page and ran your smoothing routine three times. The reviews on the print are excellent. The people I pass images pass can not beleive I get the quality I do already. Nobody beleived that Image was cropped that much and pulled back to 8x10. Thanks again. J.G. 10/99.
• You've got a really nice program - me and a friend just printed a 6 foot by 8 foot poster for a Boy Scout presentation at our country fair.  It's easy to use with a lot of good options and features.  Great work. 
  B.Z. Bethlehem, PA  8/98.
• I wanted to design a poster this morning (a For Sale sign).  I decided to search CompuServe for a Poster package. I found your Poster, and I fell in love with it immediately.  And so easy to use, so intuitive.  It took me under 30 seconds to type some text and place 2 graphics. After such an experience, I had to register. And the price is a super value. Excellent package.
  R.A. 7/97.Please send latest version. Love it!   M.S., Madison WI. 8/98.
• As a teacher, this is an awesome product. M.S., TomsRiver NJ. 8/98.
• love it!!!!!!!!!!!!. D.S., Vally City ND. 9/98.
• I really like poster. It is the first software that i will have purchased off the web. F.R., Porter, IN. 10/98.
• EXCELLENT Program!!!! G.R. Lucerne, CA. 10/98.
• I've done a couple of demo posters to show at the next meeting.  They came out unbelievable. Dwayne Alton 8/00.
• I just want to tell you how great POSTER is. i don't know how the resolution is always so good and consistent, but for what I do, it outdoes paintshop pro almost every time... -much appreciation for a great, and fairly-priced product. Rich Williams. 5/01.
• I dearly love the program. I do oil painting and use it to size my drawings for canvas. It's MUCH better than the copying machine. Thanks a bunch for developing it. Jaci Mikel. 9/00.
• "You sure have great programs. that poster is just unreal! i love it!" Leon P., 3/01
  
  

DRAWiT

ZD-Net Shareware Library: ZDNet Software Library - DRAWiT

Create illustration, signs, posters, and banners with DrawIt. This well-done 32-bit app (from the developer of the popular Poster program) combines the best features of graphics and desktop publishing packages, along with functions designed specially for big posters and banners. Print your creations on a single page, or enlarge it up to 9x9 feet, tiling over multiple pages. Or, create banners on continuous forms paper. You'll find a full set of drawing tools, complete flexibility in the placement of graphics, quick shapes, and the ability to apply textures and gradient fills. Picture editing features include smoothing, sharpening, blurring, rotation, and color adjustment tools. Import and export pictures and entire drawings in .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .tif, .pcx, .png, .tga, .emf, and .wmf formats. Other features include scanner and OLE support, more than 100 special text effects, and a spelling checker. A tutorial, extensive online help, and several examples and templates are included. Registered Poster users can use DrawIt for free and vice-versa.
Reviewed on Jan 12 1999.

CUSTOMER COMMENTS:

• Drawit not only works great it has a lot of features that you only find in high priced graphic programs. And the price is right. Mark Trimm. 9/00.
• I thank you again for the assist with DRAWIT and for the upgrade. Your service matches the excellence of your product. I work for a weekly newspaper, primarily as a politics reporter, but as anyone who works for a weekly will tell you, eventually your beat becomes "everything." Which means writing and producing ads, among many other duties. In the month since I've been using DRAWIT I have produced about a dozen ads of various sizes with the program and I have to tell you that the response has been incredible. I use it in conjunction with programs such as Adobe Pagemaker, Serif PagePlus, and MS Publisher. The text special effects is incredible, far surpassing the programs I mention. I love it. Clients love it. And, I am spreading the word. Keep up the good work. j-c. 3/01.

PRESENT-iT

ZD-Net Shareware Library: ZDNet Software Library - PRESENT-iT

Present-iT is a powerful presentation builder that comes with a lot of the features usually expected in much more expensive software. You create your presentation using one of the 100 colorful templates for consistent style or you can build your own template using borders, backgrounds, and graphics of your own choosing. Select from slide styles such as title page, one or two column text, bulleted list, or design your own. Scan graphics from any TWAIN-compliant source or draw what you need with the tools on the floating toolbar. You can crop, sharpen, warp, and stretch the graphics for dazzling effects. Use system fonts but add color, shadows, perspective, arches, and slants. View your creation in sequence or 20 slides at a time for editing. There's well-written help, an easy-to-follow tutorial, a spelling  checker, and a couple of sample presentations to get you started.

I downloaded PRESENT-iT several months ago so see what it was like - another super piece of software. Jane Bradshaw. 9/00.

PUBLISH-iT

ZD-Net Shareware Library: ZDNet Software Library - Publish-iT

Is it really possible to get a quality desktop-publishing program in a file that's under 1MB to download? Yep, and its name is Publish-iT. This lean but still very capable DTP app enables you to create newsletters, brochures, advertisements, and other publications with ease. You can even print pages as large posters up to 5x5 feet. Publish-iT also lets you create master pages to give your publication a consistent, professional look every time; use professionally designed templates; and take advantage of over 100 special text effects. Other impressive features include spell checking, a full assortment of drawing and illustration tools, a complete set of pre-drawn shapes, the ability to import images in many popular formats, and TWAIN support. Before you shell out big bucks for a commercial DTP app such as Microsoft Publisher, you owe it to yourself to take Publish-iT for a 21-day test flight first.
Reviewed by ZD Net in November, 2000.

CUSTOMER COMMENTS:

• It is quite unbelievable to find that there are no software programs dedicated specifically for the publication of a newsletter, that is until I found PUBLISH-IT software.  Sure, you may find some programs that may
  provide a simple template but PUBLISH-IT software has it all.  My hats off to the developers of this program, starting with the amount of options available to create a first class newsletter down to the impeccable on-line
  technical support.  PUBLISH-IT is the real deal !  John Dunlapp. 9/00.
• I don't think I've ever gotten better, faster, or more responsive help from a software developer.  David B. 5/26/01
• I have been using Publish It for about 6 months in my small business. I design ad copy for my advertising (camera ready results saving on art and set up fees), I also use it as a word processor. I have had tremendous results and its fairly easy to use. After trying several other programs I decided that Publish It was easier to use and had less issues. I'm glad I did and I recommend it to anyone wanting an easy to use DTP program that gets great professional results. Brian Anderson,Anderson Awning, Bossier City, LA

LINKS TO OTHER SHAREWARE PAGES.

• Association of Shareware Professionals.
• Public Software Library.
• SoftSeek.com - Welcome to the source for shareware, freeware and evaluation software.
• ZDNet Software Library - Top Rated Shareware
• Quality Shareware
• Rocket Download.

CLIPART, FONTS, and TEXTURES for your POSTERS, SIGNS, and BANNERS.

POSTER SOFTWARE CLIPART CD (from Nova Development).

GENERAL CLIPART.

• Microsoft clipart gallery.
• The Clip Art Connection (free).
• Art Today (subscription service).
• Links to many other sites.
• Clip Art Review - guide to other clip-art sites.

TEXTURES..

• Absolute Background Textures Archive (2000 free textures).
• Timid Textures.
• Ian's Textures.
• Free seamless textures.

FONTS.

• 70 Halloween Fonts.