Expert: Richard Roberts - 10/30/2001

Question
Dear Richard,
I asked someone what type of software(s) they would use to create some nice, professional brochures,(with picture-like illustrations),for an alternative medical practice. This guy told me I'd be best to contract a graphic artist to do the work and he also said I'd spend half the month trying to figure out pagemaker and that the printers might snub it a little. I have no experience in photo or publishing programs and as a beginner I was just wondering if you could tell me if I could create a professional quality brochure myself...or, should I contract a graphic artist? If you think I can do this myself, please advise me on what to purchase. Thanks! Mike Eidson.

Answer
Hello Mike,

You can do this yourself, but the first attempt at any new endeavor is usually not as polished as we would like. I would recommend taking some PageMaker classes first so that you know how to do things "correctly".

PageMaker is my favorite page layout program, and I encourage you to learn it. It is not easy at first, but with some practice you can make anything that you can imagine.

If it is critically important that this publication is perfect, I would suggest going with a graphic artist that uses PageMaker. Tell them you are interested in learning PageMaker and that you want to do your own projects in the future. If they have any integrity at all, they will help you on this path, even if they charge you for a bit of training.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

Best Regards,

Richard Roberts