Mac/PC Review: Canvas 7 and Canvas 7SE
December 1, 2000
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I had last used Deneba's Canvas graphics program back in the day
when the U.S. could choose a President without consulting colleagues
of Judge Judy. In the past five versions, Canvas has matured into
a quality, professional product worthy of election in any court.
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Even in the "old" days, Canvas was a good tool for technical
drawings, but its usefulness today is as good for the internet and
other forms of desktop publishing as it is for the slide-rule crowd.
The program comes in two sizes - the Canvas 7 Professional Edition
and Canvas 7 Standard Edition - for both PCs and the Macs. Aimed at
different markets, both versions live up to their campaign rhetoric.
The differences are as one would expect: The Pro version is $375;
the Standard version is $99.95. The Pro version offers extensive
features, while the Standard version is generous compared to others
in the program's pricing structure but does not include near the
depth of its big brother.
One of the top features of Canvas is that it allows users to apply
SpriteEffects (filters, if you will) to vector and bitmap graphics,
and to text, while all the time maintaining editability of the object
and the filter. Filters that are compatible with Photoshop Actions
can be used on vector and photo graphics at the same time. Further,
users can layer, blend, and composite vectors, photos, and text and
still have control over transparency.
While the Standard Edition can import 12 types of image formats and
export 11, the Pro version imports 36 and exports 25. Graphics can
also be obtained by scanning from within the program.
Both versions have a complete set of drawing tools, complete with
dimensioning (horizontal and vertical only for the Standard Edition,
17 tools for the Pro version), bezier curves, freehand, basic
geometric shapes, and curve editing tools.
Photo editing tools also abound, including layers, gamma, contrast,
color balance, masking channels, selection tools, and cloning. All
effects can be previewed before final application.
This review is primarily about the Pro version because of its many
features. In terms of web design, it offers all one needs to go
from blank page to the web without much outside help. Canvas 7
includes the abilities for animating .GIFs, onion skinning, .GIF
optimization, .JPG smoothing, HTML export, Javascript rollovers,
HTML image maps, support for style sheets, and FTP capability.
Canvas 7 allows four different previews of graphics to be exported
to aid in decision making, and it permits the inclusion of graphics
with varying resolutions in the same document. The Pro version also
offers a Macro Objects palette that enables users to add graphical
elements and manage global changes in both art production and
engineering uses.
The program also allows users to blend objects and apply extrusions,
envelopes, and shadows. Groups can be bound, colorized, fractalized
and placed on offset paths.
When it comes time to send the results to the web, the programs
collects all included elements, including fonts, for output to the
server.
Canvas' interface is one that takes advantage of every pixel
possible, augmenting the usual drop-down and icon-type menus and
links with a tabular approach to the many features needed in web
site building. Menus offer most every option available.
Despite the program's attempt to be the apple in web builders' eyes,
the one very basic thing it fails to do is include pixels in its
measurement choices.
In summary, Canvas 7 offers a lot to buyers of either version. With
its included 2,450 fonts and 30,000 clip art illustration (500 fonts
and 10,000 illustrations for the Standard Edition), more expensive
programs such as Corel Draw can surely hear the footsteps catching
up or whizzing past.
| What is it called? Canvas 7 |
| How much does it cost? $375 for Canvas 7 Pro Edition for PC or Mac; $99.95 for Canvas 7 Standard Edition for PC or Mac. |
| What are the requirements? For Mac, System 8.6 or later, 32 MB RAM, 80 MB hard disk space, 16-bit color or higher, 800 x 600 or higher screen resolution. For PC, Windows 95/98/2000/NT 4.0 or later, 32 MB RAM, 80 MB hard disk space, 16-bit color or higher, 800 x 600 or higher screen resolution. |
| Where can I get it? You can get a 15-day free trial or purchase a copy at http://www.deneba.com |
| Is it worth it? No doubt. |
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