QuarkXPress Tips, Techniques
and Resources

An edited compendium of the best QuarkXPress resources: articles, user groups, listservs, books, forums, tutorials and more.

QuarkXPress (not Quark Express, please!) is under the gun from Adobe InDesign, but it's undeniably a powerful page layout program and is believed to still hold the majority of the design and publishing market in its grasp. (If you count all the people still using Quark v4.) It will be interesting to see how v7 affects the current Quark to InDesign migration. Quark has its quirks, as we all know; but the resources on this page will help you overcome them.

QuarkXPress Tips from DesignGeek e-zine

Best Quark Resources from Their Web Site

Free Tryout of QuarkXPress 7.X Macintosh | Windows

The evaluation version of QuarkXPress (for U.S. users only ... keep reading) is a first for Quark: It's a fully-enabled copy of the software, but it expires in 30 days. To check system requirements, to download Mac or Windows tryouts for Passport (for non-US users), or to request the demo on a CD-ROM, go here. Still on version 6.x and need updates, extensions, documentation? Here's the QuarkXPress v6 downloads page.

 

Free QuarkXTensions for v6.X and v7.x

Download the free XTensions you've been reading about: XML Import, avenue.quark, QuarkXClusive, Edit Original, Full-resolution Preview, PSD Import, Quark Vista, and more.

 

XTensions and Quark Alliance Directory, 7th Edition (PDF, 3.0 MB)

The good news is that the XTensions directory is back in downloadable PDF format (I ranted about the online series of JPEGs in the last version of this page.) The bad news is that it's basically a phone directory — contact information for XTension developers, trainers, and other Alliance members — and nothing more. Older versions of the directory were so useful because they described the full range of XTensions that were available, grouped by function ("Production," "Design," "Automation," etc.). This one doesn't even have the names of the XTensions listed!

 

Quark 6.5 Known Issues (and "resolved issues")

A list of glitches that Quark knows about already. Read this before you tear all your hair out trying to fix a problem. If you're still on 6.1, see the Quark 6.1 Known Issues page instead. Also, here's what Quark 6.5 Fixes, and what Quark 6.1 Fixes.

 

License Activation Info and Links

Are you getting an alert that says you have to activate QuarkXPress? For answers and detailed instructions, including the buried link to Quark's e-mail activation request, go here.

 

Printing Guide for QuarkXPress 6.5

Quark has kindly written up a helpful white paper for Quark users world-wide. This 30-page, 1.2 MB PDF covers what's new/different about printing in v6.X as opposed to earlier versions, and includes quite helpful information on printing Vista-modified images, troubleshooting PostScript errors, creating Print Styles and options for PDF exporting. You'll need to enter your e-mail address for some reason (no confirmation reply required) before they'll let you get to the PDF download link.

Best Ways to Get Help from Other QuarkXPress Users

QuarkXPress Sic list

This long-running mailing list for Quark users is not only populated with hundreds of seasoned Quark veterans (users, managers, printers, consultants, trainers, etc.) from around the globe, an actual Quark staffer sometimes chimes in. I love that the list is not affiliated with Quark, it's entirely user-driven, which makes it more "real-world" than most. (If you're wondering why it's called the "sic" list, you'll find out in the Welcome e-mail you get after you sign up.)

 

Quark Forums

Jump into this raucous on-line group of user-to-user forums to learn how people are solving problems with Quark in the 21st century. Quark engineers often chime in, and post requests for new features or participation in surveys. Tip: You can have a lot of fun with the "Member List" link at the right of the each forum page. See who's posting the most, who's posting from Denver, etc.

CTP-Layout Listserv

If you're on the "back end," this online community is for you. Hosted by PrintPlanet.com, the "CTP-Layout E-Community" is the place for pre-press and commercial printers to discuss output problems with designer-supplied files (what? there's problems?) in QuarkXPress, InDesign, PageMaker, Acrobat, even MS Publisher. You'll need to register (free) on their home page before you can join the list.

Quark Alliance Users International

I've been puzzling over the page this link leads to for awhile, ever since I came across it while searching for "user groups" on Quark's site. Apparently if you already have a group of users who want to start up a local Quark users group, you can fill out the 5-page application (link to the PDF application is on the page), include a copy of your group's charter, and send Quark $175 every year; and baby, you've got yourself a QuarkXPress user's group. You get some benefits (nothing earth-shattering) for your group and its members, which are listed on the page. Has anyone actually done this? Let me know and I'll link to you here — couldn't find any links to existing QUI groups on Google or in the Quark site.

Best Quark Online/Video Training

Virtual Training Company's QuarkXPress Lessons

Got a hankerin' to catch up to the new features of Quark 6? You can sign up for a single month at VTC for $30 and take just the lessons you want in Quark (and have access to all their other courses too), then cancel with no penalty.

     Or you can order the entire course on a CD for $99 to get the highest quality Quicktime files. That way you can take your time through them and let your staff or freelancers sit down for a few lessons. Either way, all sample files used in the lessons are included.  

 

Lynda.com's QuarkXPress CD Training

Lynda.com also offers CDs/online versions of Quicktime training movies, including one for Quark 6. They're slightly cheaper than VTC's, but the content isn't as consistent. For example, some lessons are 3 minutes long, others are 20 minutes long. You should try out the two or three free lessons they provide, though, because it's good to have a choice. And who knows, you might prefer it.

 

Other Quark-centric Web Pages with Good Stuff

Well, the sad news is that I can find very little "fan site" type resources for QuarkXPress v6. There's some useful Quark 4 stuff out there, but egads, everyone knows Quark 4 already! (And I refuse to link to tutorials with OS 9 screen shots. I mean, really!)

I'll continue scouring the net for good Quark 6 resources. If you know of any, please use the form at the left to let me know!