I use microsoft word.

I use MS Publisher. It was designed to do flyers, 3 fold brochures, etc. BUT - my caveat is that not many people work in this program so if you're needing to send it out electronically, you may run into issues there. However, it does have the ability to save the finished project as a .jpg.

My Two Cents,
Halleyah :)

Don't know if this will work for you but I like saving my projects to a pdf file then printing....

Depending on the project, I use either Microsoft Word for my brochures (if the layout is reasonably simple) or Adobe Illustrator (if the project is more graphics-intensive). Both allow me to control things like centering.

If you want page layout (like for a brochure) InDesign is the correct Adobe program to use. Illustrator is okay for single page layout, but not suited for multiple pages. InDesign is awesome, and if you've used Photoshop it shouldn't be too difficult to learn. It is expensive unless you have a Photoshop license you can upgrade from. If you don't want to spend the money, work with Word or Publisher. They suck, but can be manipulated into decent layout.

Kristine,

I agree with Satya that InDesign is the correct program, it is an incredible professional tool. Word processors and photo editors are just not really the most suitable tools for desktop publishing, though clearly individuals do torque them for that purpose. I think this is because with limited resources, the sunk cost for the learning curve on a given tool gets amortized over increasingly more things: if you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

However, if you are facing limited resources, there is open source software for graphic design that is actually industrial grade and that runs on multiple platforms. This software is free, both in price, and in your freedom to use it with respect to licensing. It also supports color management for printing. You might have a look at Scribus:
www.scribus.net/

The thing to remember though is that every really good tool requires some learning time, and it also takes some time to get acclimated to what makes for a good design ... though you may very well see in your mind what you want for promotional materials, and just want a tool to go do that with. This necessary learning can be done ... I recommended InDesign to local vendor, and she took a complex shopping brochure for her seasonal sales cycle from idea to release to print, in only about three weeks, while also of course running her store.

I can also recommend some learning materials that really helped me with the professional tools, PM me if you choose one, and would like that information.

Hope this information is useful.

Blessings and Light,
Michael

The centering problem probably has more to do with your printer than the program you're using. I recommend InDesign for layout, but you might do better to invest in a higher quality printer, or getting your brochures printed professionally.

As a graphic designer, I use the Adobe Design Suite: Photoshop, ImageReady, InDesign, and Illustrator. Of these four programs, I mainly use InDesign and Photoshop. I use ID for layout, text boxes, etc. and I use Photoshop pretty much as an image editor and for creating background images, etc. InDesign is much better equipped, in my opinion, for actual layout work - you can set up a grid that all objects snap to, ensuring a clean layout with appropriate spacing, etc. For a brochure like you are describing, I would typically use InDesign. A more common program that would have similar uses would be Microsoft Publisher.

Thank you so very much for your responses, everyone! I'm going to look into these options and see what's best for me. I definitely don't want to use Word... I've done this in the past, but really I prefer to just use photoshop. Feel free to make more suggestions though, and if I have any questions I will bring them up again. Thanks again!

Photshop works too :)

I love working with GIMP... an open source graphics/image processing software. Very easy to learn too. A version for every platform.
Files can be converted to pdf or jpg fro sharing or transfer to printer services.

For converting files, I recently discovered a powerful little tool: Nuance Converter Pro 5. It was only $70 and worth every penny. In the last 3 or 4 weeks that I've had it at work it has already paid for itself 100 times in saved time and effort. They also have a "trial" version.

Adobe Creative Suite! Industry standard. Correct your pictures in Photoshop, Build your graphics in Illustrator, Create your document in indesign.

If you want quality 4-color work done, a printer will snort in derision if you bring in publisher or word files. Lots of printers and newspspers won't even accept them.

Word and Publisher are not postscript programs and will not separate into true 4 color. I have worked in newspapers and print shops as a graphic artist for more years than I care to count, including 18 months polishing turds for a boss who accepted ANY kind of file. I thought my head would explode before I found another job, and my predecessor in that position had been only 39 and died of an aneurysm (and I was gonna be next).