Canvas 8
August 22, 2001
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Deneba's Canvas software is like a fine wine in that it gets
better with age. Unlike wine, the latest version — Canvas 8
— is reusable, won't leave you tipsy, and the only way you
wake up looking at something ugly is if you create it that way
before you go to sleep.
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In all, Canvas 8 includes more than 100 new features and
enhancements, taking it far beyond the status of a mere drawing
program. It still has all the drawing tools that have made it an
effective tool for design and engineering, but that is only the
beginning.
Among the features that stand out is its ability for automation,
Flash export, and
.PDF export.
Here is a look at each of those features:
- Automation: Rather than have to try to remember the
steps taken to create a particular effect, Canvas can record the
sequence as it is made and then replay it as needed on other
objects.
While that is an impressive feature, Canvas' ability to use VB
Script,
JavaScript,
Visual Basic,
and other such scripts, goes further by allowing
users to program the automation they wish to have performed,
including accessing the program's features.
For example, an image could have its border changed, size
adjusted, resolution altered, and then be exported to an HTML
document by running a single script. Then, another touch of a
button to activate the script could repeat the process on another
image.
- Flash export: Animations created in Canvas can now be
exported in the ever-growing .SWF format, making it perfect for
use either directly on the Web or in other applications that are
geared specifically toward
Flash.
- .PDF export: Create a slide show within Canvas and
then export it in .PDF format, including transitions. That makes
such shows viewable on a multitude of platforms and perfect for
use on the Internet. And, because it is integrated within Canvas
and performs so well — including the embedding of TrueType
and Postscript fonts, it eliminates the need to purchase Acrobat
Distiller, too.
There are several other good features in Canvas 8, too.
For those who need to share files, DenebaShare enables peer-to-
peer collaboration and instant file sharing, making it possible
for users to share work and chat about it within the program. For
safety, files can be password protected.
Canvas' image-slicing tool is another benefit, and the program
allows users to see their work in pixel preview mode. As has been
the standard in the past, Canvas 8 handles transparency better
than most programs, too.
Deneba has bolstered Canvas' text-handling ability quite a bit,
too. Users can paste text where they want it down to the pixel,
use the new Form Fields tool to create blank forms, take
advantage of the context-sensitive text menu to easily perform
various functions, and even use the find-and-replace feature to
find special characters.
There is no question that Canvas continues to improve, although
the amount of improvement seems greater in this version than in
some updates of the past. That makes it well worth the money to
upgrade or get it for the first time.
What is it called again? Canvas
8
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Where can I get it?
http://www.deneba.com
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How much does it cost? $399.95
(boxed version); $349.95 (electronic download); $129.95 upgrade
from earlier versions; $249.95 competitive upgrade (boxed
version) and $199.95 (electronic download).
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How big is the download? 37.2 MB (allow 100 MB of
hard drive space when installed).
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Is it worth it? Down to the last drop.
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