CJK vertical layout
Author Chinese, Japanese, and Korean books with native vertical writing, ruby annotations, and tate-chu-yoko.
Catalpas Atelier suite
Scribe
A markdown-native long-form layout and print-output app for authors, editors, and small presses. Write in text, finish the book, and export images, ePub, Docx, and print-ready PDFs from one desktop app.
Manuscript first
From draft to print, in one document
Stay in markdown for structure, references, and CJK vertical layout while page templates, appearance libraries, and export queues handle the publishing side. No round-trips between writing app, layout tool, and prepress.
Explore featuresIn the editor
Designed for the books you actually ship
Native CJK vertical typesetting, live whole-book pagination preview, and a bibliography workflow built into the same editor.
Live pagination overview
Preview your whole book in real time — long manuscripts paginate effortlessly while a live word count keeps tally, giving novelists an immersive, friction-free writing flow.
Bibliography & citations
Manage references, auto-format the bibliography section, and keep in-text citations in sync with your sources.
Compare
Where Scribe fits
Scribe sits between author-first markdown writing and final book production. Here is how it differs from the tools you already know.
| Tool | Best for | Scribe edge |
|---|---|---|
| Scrivener | Drafting, research binders, and manuscript organization. | Markdown-native base + integrated print/export controls. |
| Ulysses | Markdown writing across Apple devices. | Adds Windows / Linux desktop reach plus book production controls. |
| Vellum | Mac-based self-publishing book formatting. | Drafting + bibliography + CJK vertical + CMYK output in one app. |
| Atticus | Browser-friendly book formatting. | Desktop-first for local manuscripts, assets, and export prep. |
| InDesign | Professional page composition and complex print design. | Starts from an author-first manuscript workflow. |
| Affinity Publisher | Affordable print layout and visual page design. | Links authoring, references, style packs, and publishing exports. |
Pricing
Pick the Scribe tier that fits your work
Pricing
Cancel anytime. International checkout is handled after sign-in.
Free
Start writing with no card required.
$0/yr
- Basic Editor
- Image Export
- Preview ePub, Docx and Print PDF
- Exported files with Scribe-branded watermarks
Plus
Full manuscript export for serious authors.
$49.99/yr
- Everything in Free Tier
- ePub and Docx Export
- Print PDF Export (Grayscale / RGB)
- Longform / Publishing project metadata
- Limited Built-in Styles
- On/off exported files with Scribe-branded watermarks
Pro
Print production, references, and editable layout systems.
$79.99/yr
Normal price $129.99/yr
Lifetime price-lock: subscribe during Early Access and renew at $79.99/yr as long as you do not cancel, even after the public price becomes $129.99/yr.
- Everything in Plus Tier
- Print PDF Export (CMYK / CMYK+ICC)
- Ruby annotations (furigana / Pinyin / Bopomofo)
- LaTeX math formulas
- Full-page Image Backgrounds
- Bibliography Management and Formatting
- Editable Page Templates
- Editable Appearance Library
- Editable Master Pages
- Import Fonts
- All Style Addons for Free
- On/off exported files with DIY watermarks
Stripe shows the final checkout amount after account sign-in.
Download
Download Scribe
Free for everyone. Pick your platform to start writing today.
Scribe — Desktop
Purchase
Start free. Lock Pro while Early Access is open.
Create a Catalpas Atelier account to start Free, subscribe to Plus, or lock the Pro Early Access renewal price.