SpringPublisher Review, Giveaway

Computers are ideal tools for certain design related jobs, like creating business cards, flyers or letterheads. Many word processing applications come with basic capabilities and some templates to get users started. Those who want a professional solution can either hire a designer for a few hundred bucks, or use a program like SpringPublisher to create their own templates.

SpringPublisher is a desktop publishing software that can be used to design and print business cards, flyers, postcards and letterheads, among others. The program is template driven, with templates available after installation and additional ones in the online store.

Users who first start the program can create a new project by starting with a blank template, or select an existing template from the local storage or the online store.

Templates can be modified easily once they have been loaded into the program. A click on text or visual elements opens the element’s properties. Here it is possible to make direct changes to the template. All it takes for instance to enter your name and address is to click on the elements and change the default text under Element Properties. You can alternatively double-click on an entry for even quicker editing.

It is furthermore possible to remove elements from the template if they are not needed or if they need to be replaced. Shapes, text and images can be inserted into each template easily with a click on one of the Insert buttons on the left sidebar.

Images need to be selected from the local system. They are initially displayed in their original size which can be altered under Element Properties. Here it is possible to change the width and height, vertical and horizontal alignment, orientation, opacity and several other parameters.

Here is an overview of what you can add, edit or remove from a design template:

• Insert Images: Load jpg, png, gif or bmp images. Edit their resolution, position, opacity, orientation, shadow and tile.
• Insert Text: Select font size and color, use formatting options like bold or underline. Select the width and height of the text and font separately.
• Insert Shapes: Insert geometric shapes, change their colors and position.
• Page Manager: Create multi-page layouts, for instance the front and back of a business card.

Projects can be saved as project files or images. The former is handy if you want to have a copy of the design on your computer, for instance to act as a template or as a backup if you need to make modifications at a later time.

The images can be saved as low (96dpi), medium (180dpi) or high (350dpi) quality images. The active design can be printed locally as well with a click on the print button.

Creating Templates

Most users are probably interested in creating their own designs and templates, and that’s relatively easy with SpringPublisher. It begins with the selection of a standard sized project, for instance a US business card or European letterhead, or a custom sized project. Selecting a standard size ensures that print shops can print out the finalized design easily.

A blank template is then generated and displayed on screen. It is then up to the user to add the contents. Since that is easy to do it should not pose any problems, even to inexperienced users.

SpringPublisher Verdict

What I really like about SpringPublisher is the ability to edit and move around all elements at the same time. While it is possible to create a blank template, I would suggest that new users start with an existing template to get to know the program and modify the design according to their needs.

The real strength of the program is the ability to design and print new templates with little effort and design experience.

SpringPublisher is offered as a Free and Professional version. The professional version comes with free template store credits, rights for commercial use and the high quality dpi output option.

Giveaway

We have ten licenses for the program that we want to give away. Winners will be drawn randomly from all users who leave a comment under this review. Good luck everyone. The giveaway ends in one week’s time.

Update:

The winners are: Guy from Canada, Jordan Humberto de Souza, Paul, Jan Wroblewski, Carl Turcotte, sunkumarspace, Ravi Lodhiya, Gerry, Don and Niroop.

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Author: Martin Brinkmann, Sunday July 10, 2011 -
Tags:business card, giveaway, windows software

Responses so far:

1. Jay Mehta says:

   July 11, 2011 at 10:25 am

   Count me in

   Reply
2. Terieron says:

   July 11, 2011 at 11:04 am

   The advantage of this program is simplicity and speed of creating publications and the ability to download a lot of interesting templates to use. Thanks ghacks.net for the chance to win.

   Reply
3. Arie says:

   July 11, 2011 at 2:01 pm

   this software is useful, hope i can get one. please count me in. thank you very much.

   Reply
4. Leslie M says:

   July 11, 2011 at 2:20 pm

   Please count me in as I can see that this would be very useful for me.

   Reply
5. Ed says:

   July 11, 2011 at 2:55 pm

   wooot! love me some giveaways!

   Yay!

   peace martin

   Reply
6. mickay says:

   July 11, 2011 at 3:00 pm

   Count me in, please.

   Reply
7. Anson says:

   July 11, 2011 at 3:11 pm

   Please count me in Thanks:)

   Reply
8. Yogendra says:

   July 11, 2011 at 3:13 pm

   been looking for something like this for a while now -to design my own stuff-thanks

   Reply
9. Ravi Lodhiya says:

   July 11, 2011 at 3:41 pm

   I am interested. Please count me in.

   Reply
10. derekuda says:

    July 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm

    Nice software easy to use. Count me in.

    Reply
11. Gerry says:

    July 11, 2011 at 6:56 pm

    thanks for the chance to get a license for spring publisher…i work as a musician and frequently have to put a flyer together and this program looks ideal…

    Reply
12. Mohammed Khawaja says:

    July 11, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    I would love to have a copy, count me in!

    Reply
13. icecreamman says:

    July 11, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Count me in ;)

    Reply
14. Jeff says:

    July 11, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    Please, count me in.

    Thanks!

    Reply
15. vhick says:

    July 12, 2011 at 12:19 am

    Using SpringPublisher making business card is easier.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
16. Michael Brazil says:

    July 12, 2011 at 1:54 am

    Count me in, please.

    Reply
17. DAVID COLBERT says:

    July 12, 2011 at 3:35 am

    Please add my name to the drawing. Thanks!

    Reply
18. Suresh says:

    July 12, 2011 at 5:22 am

    I would like to win one license.
    Please add my name to the drawing.
    Thanks!

    Reply
19. MGOT says:

    July 12, 2011 at 8:41 am

    Please add my name to the draw.
    Thanks

    Reply
20. k19s says:

    July 12, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    Count me in
    Thanks

    Reply
21. Don says:

    July 12, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    I would love to win a license for this extremely useful software package.

    Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply
22. otisthethird says:

    July 12, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    Looks Good!!!

    Reply
23. Leonard says:

    July 13, 2011 at 9:14 am

    thank you verry much

    Reply
24. niroop says:

    July 13, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    Thanks Ghacks.net for this Giveaway.Please count me in.

    Reply
25. Matias says:

    July 13, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    Please count me too!

    Reply
26. sheldon366 says:

    July 14, 2011 at 9:40 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
27. Sandeep says:

    July 14, 2011 at 5:53 pm

    Please count me also for such a great giveaway.
    Regards

    Reply
28. safecn says:

    July 15, 2011 at 4:29 am

    Thanks, it will be great to have this cool program

    Reply
29. Arbie says:

    July 18, 2011 at 6:02 am

    Include me too please.

    Reply
30. Guy from Canada says:

    July 18, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    Thank you so much ghacks.net (Martin B) and SpringPublisher, I recieved my license. Congratulations to the other winners. Thank you again.

    Reply
    • Martin Brinkmann says:

      July 18, 2011 at 3:40 pm

      You are welcome.

      Reply