$54.99

One-Time Purchase

iCalamus overview

iCalamus is a desktop publishing solution that allows you to create documents with text, photos, and other visual elements.

iCalamus has been developed completely new for Apple's operating system. iCalamus is an excellent choice for all layout purposes from simple posters and business letters over complex layouted magazines up to books and scientific works. Complete Unicode support and the smart PDF import offer easy access to creating and layout work. The reasoned user interface with its low learning curve guarantees for fast success. iCalamus doesn't limit your layout freedom by offering prepared layouts. Its practical tools offer all options for your own creative and productive layout work.

iCalamus is a modular program which will grow in future by external modules, even from third-party developers. Therefore invers Software will create an Open Development Area (ODA) and publish the plug-in interface. iCalamus has been developed in Objective C with intensive usage of Apple's Cocoa library.

You can import all image and text formats which are supported by macOS into iCalamus documents. Images from digital cameras scanners or iPhoto libraries can be imported as well as whole Web page content and PDF documents. Grab text content from large PDF documents easily for further text processing. Elaborated masking options and many predefined, partly dynamically changeable frame shapes offer freedom for creativity. Working in precise measurement units is the other side of the iCalamus world. Use virtual copies for multiple document elements and change them afterwards with a few mouse clicks.

Print output uses all printers which are supported by macOS. Optionally output documents in various PDF formats (e.g., PDF-X, encrypted PDF, PDF Fax).

What’s new in version 2.26

Updated on Apr 26 2024

Fixed compatibility issues with Sonoma

Information

License

Shareware

Size

19.7 MB

Developer’s website

https://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/icalamus/

Downloads

33627

App requirements

Intel 64
Apple Silicon
macOS 10.13 or later

0.0

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Comments
User Ratings

zlazkow

May 1 2019

2.19

2.0

Version: 2.19

To be competitive to the best in desktop publishing SwiftPublisher, it needs to be priced competitively, to be affordable at $20-$30.

Miner

Jun 26 2018

2.17

Version: 2.17

I was not aware iCalamus moved to LemkeSoft, of well deserved GraphicConverter fame. Feels like a good match! With that, the info on this MacUpdate page needs some heavy revisioning....

anonymous-trout-1840

Feb 13 2017

2.14

4.0

Version: 2.14

Good for 90% of all possible layout jobs. If you want to layout the yellow pages, you need InDesign :). The engine is faster then iStudio Publisher, scrolls smooth on my MacBook Pro. I switched from iStudio Publisher because that app doesn't use paragraph and text styles. You need to copy and paste the styles there. Only 4 stars because it doesn't have a baseline grid (yet). The developer is very responsive and even replied on a sunday.

Cattus-Thraex

Feb 12 2017

As compared to its competitors (Publisher Master and iStudio Publisher, or some other simpler e.g. Publisher Lite or even Pages, mainly the older version, which allows to link text frames) it is overpriced. I was one of its initial users,, but the developers did not keep their promise to add new features, e.g. to not lose footnotes, smth solved in the late 1990’s. If you wish to pay a lot of money for an overpriced app, do it, there are a lot of cheaper and more robust solutions.

anonymous-skink-4656

Jul 29 2016

2.13

3.0

Version: 2.13

There is no function baseline grid for the text. Even in Scribus is this function. Without this it is impossible to make a professional looking publication. CMYK support is not enough to name the application "solution for desktop publishing" Calamus is most suitable for creating school newsletters.

Jan-rybar

May 23 2015

2.08

Version: 2.08

It is not a real software, only a toy. Every REAL DTP software must support full docx import: iCalamus do not know footnotes, tabs... Great for a birthday party design, not for real work. That is a pity: InDesign needs a strong competitor. QXP is dying, Scribus and iCalamus are too simple. :(

Jan 16 2015

I have the same question like some 7 years ago, when I first purchased it: where are my footnotes?

George-Fidias

Mar 2 2014

2.03

Version: 2.03

Great software but no support: submitted an issue on 2014-02-01 19:07 CET - still waiting for an answer...

MacUpdate-Lon

Mar 6 2012

1.26

Version: 1.26

It should be known that on the developer's site it does state: "You can use iCalamus for free. The unregistered version offers a lot." http://www.icalamus.net/icalamus/download.php?lan=en

Bentley

Nov 27 2010

1.23

Version: 1.23

This app looks like it does have some interesting features that others either don't have or have buried, and it is a bit cheaper than the retail price of either Quark or InDesign. However, I am confused by some of the comments here - I mean, why would you even want this app if you already have one of the "big guns" that are already established as industry standards? Sure, ID CS2 & CS3 are a few versions behind, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them and they pretty much do it all. Especially if you also have the design suite which interacts easily between all of the programs - automatically updating changes made in Photoshop for instance. Where is the benefit of spending money on and learning yet another app that printers may have a harder time dealing with if it is not an industry standard app they are familiar with? A curious designer wants to know...

Pacman

Nov 24 2010

These people know what they're doing; they've been in business for more than 22 years and have already made the best desktop publishing application worldwide (Calamus for Atari ST). For quite a while, I've been wishing that Calamus existed for the Macintosh. This 'initial release' of iCalamus is promising; I look forward to see this as the major application for Mac, which makes people want a Mac. For the developers: Keep up the good work; I believe you're among the few who can make a huge difference in software for the Mac!

There is a special at TheMacBundles.com this week for $75, and an anouncement that it will be on MacZot soon. Still too expensive for me, and too advanced. I'll stick with BeLight Publisher for my needs. Or my cherished copy of Canvas X!

Brookhaven

Apr 24 2010

1.20

Version: 1.20

As it's on sale today for $79, I thought I would give it a whirl. It does have a long list of impressive features, but there are some important gaps too. Three that stand out to me are that there is no Contents/Indexing facilities, no footnotes and no tables. The app also crashed a couple of times when trying to set it up in a book format. So still some way to go yet.

Rubaiyat

Mar 20 2010

The problem with ALL OSX software using OSX's printer drivers and .pdf filters is that they will not produce files suitable for commercial printing. Something that will not be remedied until Apple chooses to do something about it. Only QuarkXpress and Adobe Indesign currently have industrial strength printing.

opeter-si

Sep 10 2009

1.16

Version: 1.16

Sadly, there is no table support. If that one could be implemented, this would be a hell nice of an application! Especially with the multilanguage support, that it got already.

Brumm

Nov 6 2008

1.15

5.0

Version: 1.15

Wow, a professionell DTP app for 195 Dollars/129 Euros? Well, with all the white it looks a bit like early Quark versions, but it is really super fast, has a well thought-out interface, good comfort, many clever features. Compared to the price tag of Quark and Indesign this is just unbelievable. Trying out for 5 hours now, where are the bugs, is there any catch? Too poor I have bought Indesign CS3 a couple of month ago, I think I will try this app a bit longer before buying the CS4 update (....or not buying). Overall a very good first impression. Alltough a full featurered 30 day trial would be much better.

Maclover1-1

Mar 17 2008

1.12

Version: 1.12

I cannot even start to rate this app. At first it seems wonderful.. yet I keep running into all types of bugs (I'm on a MacPro, 10.5.2). Bugs range from unresponsive text boxes, flawed text wrapping and many many others. At times I'm saved by my backed up files (not the automated ones since each time a file has gone corrupt on me... the automated backup is as flawed as well obviously) at other times I need to just close my file without saving it, reopen it and things are responsive again.. it gets very tiring and stressful. I really wanted something to replace IndDesign (which I used to replace XPress) I just hope this app gets stable or it can really be a misery in a beautiful disguise.. I cannot imagine I am the only one to have suffered this ?!

Thomas-U

Nov 18 2007

1.11

Version: 1.11

Version 1.11: Many new features, now runs on Tiger (10.4.5 and newer) and Leopard; good support - developers are quick to response to bug-reports.

Cloudniner

Dec 8 2006

1.04

Version: 1.04

I used Calamus back in the late 80's and early 90's on an Atari TT. IMHO the absolute greatest DTP on the market bar none at the time. The PC world was still using Dos stuff (yuck). Hope they get this up to speed to match the performance of that great Atari program that I very much miss.

loukash

Oct 11 2006

1.01

3.5

Version: 1.01

This could become a good and easy to use layout app. But after a couple of minutes playing with it I'm already missing: - Spot colors - Moving objects between layers - Deselect all - Join path - Zoom/Move shortcuts à la cmd-space - Quick page preview - Editing guides - ... And there's no Services support. Why? I thought it "just works" in Cocoa? Not ready yet to replace InDesign 2 (!) which is what I'm still using for my layout work.

May 15 2022

2.24

Version: 2.24