Advice for selecting a DTP program

[RMS1]

Hello,
I have recently moved to a new laptop computer, running Windows 10. My old computer was running old versions of Adobe Photoshop, and PageMaker 7, both mainly for home use and personal projects. For this new computer I have purchased Corel Paintshop Pro X8, which I am finding suitable for what I do.
I would like to install a desktop publishing program that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. What is there in the Corel line, or anywhere else, that would be satisfactory as an alternative to InDesign? I don't need an expensive suite containing a whole lot of programs, some of which might already be duplicated one way or another in Corel Paintshop. I just need a relatively contemporary DTP program that will complement Paintshop Pro.
Thanks,
RMS1

[LeviFiction]

Scribus is a free open-source option.
https://www.scribus.net/

Serif's PagePlus SE (starter edition) is decent it's free because it has limitations placed on it, but the full version is $120. So depending on if you need the options it provides the free may be all you need.
http://www.serif.com/desktop-publishing-software/

Xara - it has a page designer option for $89.
http://www.xara.com/us/page-layout-designer/

LibreOffice Draw technically works as a DTP option. Libre Office itself is a free alternative to Microsoft Office and Draw is their closest equivalent to Microsoft Publisher
https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/draw/

Those are all of the ones I know about.

[photodrawken]

RMS1,
It depends on what you mean by "DTP".

What, exactly, are the types of "home use and personal projects" that you want to do?

LeviFiction pretty much covered the low-cost options for page layout programs....

[RMS1]

Thanks for all responses.
To answer a question: maybe my interpretation of "DTP" is out of date. For me, in the past it has meant small poster displays and flyers printed from a home printer, and a self-produced, edited and formatted magazine of illustrated short stories and comic strips printed by a commercial printshop in order to be trimmed, stapled and folded. I made these in PageMaker some years ago, on my previous computer, and have done almost nothing like this since. I am now of retirement age, and wanted to update the software to put together similar material on a new computer.
In my previous posting I did not necessarily mean that I was only interested in free software. After posting, I looked at CorelDraw Home & Student Suite X7, which is a bit more expensive than what I paid for Corel Paintshop Pro, but that is OK. CorelDraw H&S might be what I'm looking for, but it includes a program called Photo-Paint that seems similar to Corel Paintshop Pro, which I already have. Is this correct? If so, paying for what is essentially a built-in duplication doesn't seem too practical. I am finding Paintshop Pro to be fine (except that I've had to find the 32-bit version and put a shortcut to it on my desktop, because the 64-bit version won't recognise Twain via my new Epson scanner, which I bought to scan old slides).
Thanks,
RMS1

[LeviFiction]

RSM1, don't get me wrong. I didn't list mainly free ones because of the money, but rather because those are the ones I'm most familiar with. My experience with DTP software is PageMaker, PrintShop, Publisher, and the ones mentioned above. PageMaker annoyed me but that's more because the Macintosh it ran on crashed half the time I attempted to make even a simple placeholder. Publisher was alright but very slow so I've never given it much attention. And it's been far too long since I used PrintShop to make any determination on its fitfulness.

Scribus being open sourced has drawn a lot of professionals to it and gained some real good support and features. It's actively used to make magazines, newsletters, books, etc. But you'd have to try it out to determine if it's right for you.

Serif's PagePlus is considered by many to be an excellent program. Whether or not the free version is good enough for your needs you would have to determine on your own. They also have a free trial for the full version to try if you'd prefer.

As for CorelDraw and Photo-Paint. If you intend to make anything you can sell, make sure that CorelDraw H&S doesn't have a limitation against this usage. If it's for personal use only, then it should not be an issue. Photo-Paint has often been compared closer to Photoshop than PaintShop Pro. Yes they are both raster/photo editors but they have their own strengths and weaknesses. They do share some tools such as the smart carver. But beyond that they are different beasts. Photo-Paint was developed by Corel long before they bought Jasc and gained PaintShop Pro.

[photodrawken]

RMS1,
Thanks for the clarification.

it has meant small poster displays and flyers printed from a home printer,

For such simple tasks, just about every image editor on the market has the capability to produce those.

and a self-produced, edited and formatted magazine of illustrated short stories and comic strips printed by a commercial printshop in order to be trimmed, stapled and folded.

As your projects gain more pages and the layouts get more complicated, you'll need a page layout program with more features. I wouldn't hesitate to use my preferred image editor (it's not PSP) for brochures up to 8 pages, but beyond that I use an old version of InDesign.

In particular, if page layouts are complicated and involve elements that extend across the center fold, page imposition capabilities become critical -- I want to design using reader's spreads and have the layout program automatically output in printer's spreads.

Similarly, if your magazine will be produced by a service bureau, then you need to ensure the layout program can output as PDF. Being able to work on your layouts directly in the CMYK colour space might also be an advantage.

The programs mentioned are worth trying; MS Word can be a viable alternative, too.

It's important to test the various programs with a sample project to see which program best suits the way you like to work. For example, it's been a few years since I used Scribus and I remember that it was just too awkward to use. Not saying it isn't capable, just that I disliked using it.

[RMS1]

Thank you again for all responses and help - I'll have a good look at the choices. Also apologies for not immediately replying. I thought I had checked the facility to have all responses emailed, but I hadn't.
- RMS1