The Complete History of PageMaker: An Insider‘s Guide for You
Have you ever wondered how graphic designers and publishers created print materials before modern publishing software? Well, in this complete guide just for you, I‘ll walk you through the evolution of the pioneering desktop publishing app Aldus PageMaker. Buckle up for a nostalgic tech tour!
PageMaker: Bringing Publishing to the Masses
It all started in 1984 when entrepreneur Paul Brainerd founded a little company named Aldus and began work on an application called PageMaker. Brainerd recognized that the Mac‘s GUI and Apple‘s new LaserWriter printer could enable accessible desktop publishing.
PageMaker 1.0 first arrived in 1985 exclusively for Macintosh systems and sold for $495. While limited compared to later versions, it let everyday people design and print materials like newsletters without any publishing experience.
"PageMaker 1.0 empowered business people to produce high-quality publications,” wrote one reviewer at the time. “It will undoubtedly change the ways in which people think about document production."
| Version | Year | Major New Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 1985 | Initial release supporting basic text formatting and layout for Macintosh |
| 1.2 | 1986 | Added ability to create fonts and import typefaces from other programs |
| 2.0 | 1987 | Added support for spot colors, multiple open documents, and Windows release |
| 3.0 | 1988 | Text flows automatically across text blocks, plus alignment guides and master pages |
Fast enhancements made PageMaker much more capable in its critical early years. Let‘s examine some key advancements in this pioneering software.
Racing to Refine: Rapid Early Enhancements
The Aldus team upgraded PageMaker rapidly, listening closely to customer feedback.
Version 1.2 in 1986 included the first font creation tools and typeface imports – crucial for flexible page design. This allowed users to escape the limitations of the few built-in fonts.
PageMaker 2.0 brought multiple open documents, style sheets and – notably – the first release for Windows systems. This expansion beyond Mac appealed to an exploding PC user base.
By 1988‘s version 3.0, PageMaker could automatically flow text between text blocks. This "copy fitting" made it feasible to format book-length documents. Other additions like master pages, alignment guides, and font preview made professional desktop publishing more accessible for you.
“Pagemaker 3.0 is setting new standards for desktop publishers,” applauded PC Magazine. “It’s loaded with features…yet still the easiest to use.”
With its toolbox expanding, PageMaker propelled the desktop publishing revolution of the late 80s/early 90s.
Skyrocketing Success – And New Competitors
Consumer desktop publishing grew rapidly from 1985-1990. Fueled by PageMaker’s continued enhancement and improving printer technology, publishing migrated from companies to homes.
PageMaker dominated market share – nearly 50% by 1990. With demand high, Aldus even released platform-specific versions tweaked for Macs, Windows PCs, and computers by Digital and Next.
“Virtually every corporation, small business, and home office has desktop publishing tools,” marveled the Chicago Tribune in 1991.
But while PageMaker sales soared, rival programs – especially QuarkXPress – threatened its market lead. To survive, Aldus needed resources.
Adobe Acquisition Rescues PageMaker
With its market position slipping in the early 90s, Aldus agreed to a major buyout by graphics software developer Adobe for $525 million.
The 1994 deal gave PageMaker access to Adobe’s technology resources. Adobe rapidly rolled out PageMaker 6.0 in 1995 with boosted performance, easier PDF exporting, and fresh web/multimedia options.
Reviewers took note of this revived platform. “For document design and production, PageMaker sets the standard,” wrote one analyst.
But ultimately, PageMaker couldn‘t stay cutting-edge. Developers had to rescue its aging codebase. While Adobe tweaked and patched, an overhaul loomed…
The Shift to InDesign
Despite updates, by the late 90s it was clear PageMaker development had stalled, especially compared to emerging options like QuarkXPress.
Quietly, Adobe built its next-gen publishing platform from scratch. InDesign 1.0 launched in 2000 prioritizing modern web publishing and smoother workflows.
While Adobe shipped PageMaker 7.0 in 2001 with minor updates, press and customers had already moved on. “If you loved PageMaker in the past, it‘s time to move on,” urged reviewers, dazzled by InDesign‘s capabilities.
In 2004 Adobe officially discontinued PageMaker tech support, guiding users to adopt InDesign instead. An era had ended.
Lasting Impact: Do-It-Yourself Publishing Arrives
PageMaker brought professional printing capacity to the public for the first time, empowering amateurs to access and distribute information themselves using affordable home computers rather than depending on publishers.
It rapidly evolved to handle sophisticated book and publication formatting needs for the mainstream. Features we take for granted – flowing text between columns, master pages, alignment rules – originated with PageMaker.
"PageMaker revolutionized a marketplace and empowered people to design, publish and disseminate information as never before,” summarized Paul Brainerd later, reflecting on its influence.
Those seeds of creativity and independence PageMaker planted back in 1985 continue to blossom today each time we craft that birthday flyer, class newsletter or printed memento we need to share our story.
So next time you print out your perfected document, remember you‘re carrying on PageMaker‘s legacy! What will you publish today?
