QuarkXPress 2021 for Mac: Core Features and Complete Operations Guide

Create a New Project:

1. Launch the software, click “New Project” on the initial screen, or use the menu bar File > New > Project.
2. In the dialog box that appears, set key parameters: page size, orientation, number of pages, columns and margins, bleed settings, etc.
3. Click “OK” and a blank project window will be created.

Open an existing project:

• From the menu bar, choose File > Open, or use the shortcut Command + O, then locate and select your QuarkXPress file (.qxp or .qpt).

Efficient layout starts with the use of Master Pages.

1. In the “Project” panel on the right, switch to the “Pages” sub-panel.
2. Double-click “A-Master” to edit it. Place all elements shared by every page here, such as headers, footers, page numbers, background decorations, or guides.
   • Add page numbers: Use the “Text” tool to draw a text box in the header/footer, then choose Item > Insert > Page Number or press Command + 3; the symbol “” represents an automatic page number.
   • Create guides: Drag guides out from the horizontal or vertical rulers. For precise settings, go to Item > Guides.
3. When you finish editing, click the page tab to return to the document pages. Elements on the master page will automatically appear on document pages that use that master page.
4. To apply a master page to a document page, drag the master page icon in the “Pages” panel onto the target document page thumbnail.

Placing Text:

1. Select the “Text Tool” from the Tools panel (or press the shortcut T).
2. Drag on the page to draw a text box.
3. Type directly, or import an external text file via File > Import Text (Command + E).
4. Use the “Measurements panel” or the “Style” panel on the right to adjust the font, size, leading, alignment, and more. It is recommended to use “Paragraph Styles” for efficient and consistent formatting management.

Placing Images:

1. Select an “Image Box Tool” from the Tools panel (rectangle, oval, etc., or press the shortcut R to select the rectangular image box tool).
2. Draw an image box on the page.
3. With the image box still selected, import an image via File > Import Picture (Command + E) or simply drag an image file into the box.
4. Use the “Picture Adjustments” panel (Window > Picture Adjustments) for basic adjustments such as color and contrast. Use the “Cropping Tool” to adjust the visible area.

The essence of QuarkXPress lies in its precise control over details.

• Text Runaround: Select an image box, click the “Text Runaround” icon in the “Measurements panel” (or Item > Text Runaround), choose a runaround style, and adjust the offset distance.
• Linked text frames: Select a text frame, click the “overflow” symbol (a red cross) in its lower-right corner, then click the next text frame you want to link to, and text will automatically flow across frames.
• Applying styles: Select text or an object, and in the “Styles” sub-panel of the “Project” panel, double-click the corresponding paragraph style, character style, or object style to quickly apply the preset formatting.
• Align and distribute: Hold Shift to select multiple objects, then choose an alignment method in the “Metrics” panel or under Item > Align and Distribute.

Final check:

1. Use View > Preview (F6) to hide guides and frames and view the final result.
2. Use the Tools > Preflight feature to check for potential issues such as missing fonts, insufficient image resolution, and color mode problems.
3. Proofread the text carefully, especially pages where automatic page numbers and a table of contents have been applied.

Export the file:

1. From the menu bar, choose File > Export > Layout as PDF (or select another format such as JPEG or EPS depending on your needs).
2. In the export dialog, choose the preset “High Quality Print” (for printing) or “Smallest File Size” (for on-screen viewing).
3. Be sure to check “Bleed Mark” in the “Marks and Bleeds” options according to the print shop’s requirements and set the bleed value (usually 3mm) to ensure colors and backgrounds extend fully into the bleed area.
4. Click “Save” to generate the final file.