Foremost among these is a new intuitive interface that Quark believes will enable designers to work "faster and smarter"; boosting productivity and providing a more enjoyable user experience.

Tim Banister, general manager of desktop technology for Quark, said: "QuarkXPress 8 demonstrates our understanding of the way designers work today and underscores Quark's commitment to continually providing innovative software that pushes the design experience forward."

Design and publishing industry analyst and consultant Andreas Pfeiffer said the potential productivity gains of the new release "should be considerable".

"QuarkXPress 8 manages one of the most difficult tasks in software development: to rethink the user interface to make it more efficient, more productive, and more enjoyable, without alienating the experienced user," he added.

Updates to QuarkXPress 8 include a picture content tool, item tool and text context tool, as well as a new Bezier pen tool, all of which should allow for faster, simpler working.

The software also features workspace enhancements, such as buttons for instant access to master pages, a measurements palette, and a drag-and-drop feature between Quark, the desktop and various compatible applications.

In addition, QuarkXPress 8 integrates what was Quark Interactive Designer, allowing for simultaneous and synchronised design across print, web and Flash.

QuarkXPress 8 will be available direct from Quark and through authorised resellers worldwide within the next 60 days.