The future of DTP Software - Trends, Features and Technology

Previous topic - Next topic

nitramr

Over the past few days, I've been researching trends in the desktop publishing industry to find out what features and innovations might be relevant for Scribus.

During my research, I came across an interesting LinkedIn article that highlights some interesting trends and innovations. I'd like to use this thread to gather general trends and developments from which we can derive a long-term roadmap for Scribus.

The aforementioned article also addressed a few things that have already been discussed in the forum, on Reddit, or in the bug tracker.

1. Variable Font Support
It seems that variable fonts are becoming increasingly important. Especially because, as a designer, you have many more options and have to install fewer fonts.

2. Collaborative Work in the Cloud
There have already been some discussions about this here in the forum. Even though it can be very complex to implement, I still consider it an important feature for the future.

3. Interactive Content
I know Scribus focuses on print. However, I think opening up to digital could be a logical next step. This starts with adding "pixels" as a new unit and ends with embedding videos and audio files in interactive PDFs.

4. Data Visualization
It might be possible to extend the render frame so that CSV files can be rendered directly as charts.

Here's the article:
https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/what-some-emerging-dtp-tools-technologies-skills-desktop-publishing?lang=en

Let me know what you think of these ideas and feel free to add more trends here.

Nermander

As for item number 3, does the PDF format really support pixels as unit? Otherwise I cannot see why it would be useful in Scribus.

nitramr

I don't know if a PDF directly supports pixels as a unit. Regardless, I think it's good to be able to create a document in pixels (e.g., for screen sizes) and also specify everything in pixel dimensions when editing. The PDF output can then be converted to all supported units.

Use cases: Digital slideshows, export as images, document optimization for e-book devices.
I think an EPUB or AWZ export would also be nice. But for that, we need dynamic layout support.

a.l.e

Thanks for sharing the article!

Personally, I read it in two directions.

On the one side, there are trend that we might or should follow.

On the other side, most other software will be following those trends, and there will users who will not appreciate that. If we don't have the resources to do the same (or at least better), we can provide an alternative solution.

As an example, automation and scripting is for sure something where Scribus could shine, the question is: what changes would help new user in need for automation to adopt Scribus.

For cloud solutions, on the contrary, I have the feeling that Scribus won't be able to provide any viable solution in the foreseeable future. But Scribus might be able to solve the same problem that is solved by going to the cloud, in a different way, a way that will be liked by those who would prefer to not rely on the cloud.

Personally, I'd like to have some sort of a plan, in which direction Scribus could realistically go in the future, what needs to be done to get there, and to whom such a Scribus would profit.