Canvas 8 (Deneba)

A Michelangelo in the making

Deneba has directed its efforts toward saving time, space and money. Today, according to this software company, a single program that can combine a user's many needs is all that is required to be creative. No more wasting time to shift from one program to another just to edit a picture or prepare a webpage. And, most importantly, no more spending hundreds of dollars to purchase every obligatory software package. So what's the solution? Canvas.
Canvas, currently in its eighth version, is a cross-platform, precision vector illustration program also capable of image editing, page layout, web design and more. It can be installed in about 10 minutes and the procedure is a piece of cake.
The program allows the user to edit texts, create vector illustrations, and import and modify images all while remaining within the same document. Once you've completed a task you can export the document in a myriad of different ways, including HTML pages, PDF documents and many more.
Canvas has a relatively simplified graphic interface, yet it also presents an astonishing amount of palettes that, if opened simultaneously, may take up the entire screen area and cause havoc. To overcome the problem Deneba has provided each palette with an "instant dock" button that may be accessed through a convenient task-bar making them easily available.
Certainly the many advantages offered by the program confine all minor details to the background. Some of the most interesting features are associated with the new SpriteLayer and SpriteEffects technologies. These allow the user to apply layered effects tools to the many items within the workspace, such as graphics or images. To simultaneously modify such a range of different items is now as easy as shelling peas. All the user needs to do is select the desired effect, enable it et voilà: the masterpiece is finished! In addition, Canvas offers a comprehensive set of Art Tools and an updated range of filter effects to those who wish to pursue artistic avenues. These options really let you give an added touch to your artwork when necessary.
Although it may seem that Canvas is primarily a graphics program, document, report or presentation impagination is merely a mouse click away.
Easy to use Wizard panels help you export the artworks into HTML, Flash or PDF formats without requiring any specific or advanced skills.
The peer-to-peer feature is one of the program's most exciting innovations. Known as DenebaShare, it allows art exchanges among users within a workgroup or on the Internet. The technology is similar to the basic working principle behind Napster, but instead of swapping MP3 files you can search for graphic formats or simply update your colleagues on your projects. DenebaShare is enticing particularly because it may be password protected so as to guarantee access only to selected users.
Those who need to constantly repeat a specific set of actions will be pleased by the program's option for recording a sequence of commands to apply to the various items eliminating the tediousness of such operations. In addition, the software may be automated by external scripts written in Visual Basic or Java for a Windows platform or in Applescript for Mac.
Altogether, this graphic studio suite program has impressive and meaningful capabilities. And overall, relative to most integrated-programs art tools available on the market, this one offers a little more. Perhaps something is lost in terms of the versatility that several specific programs can present to the consummate field specialists. Nevertheless, Canvas 8 is an easy-to-use, professional product that will please users who need to employ several programs yet cannot afford to spend the fortune required to purchase each of them.
Canvas 8 is currently available for Windows and will soon be available for the Mac (OS X included) platform. The price of $399 USD is a good bargain, considering what the program can offer.
For more information on Daneba Canvas 8 visit: www.deneba.com

Publication Date: 2001-09-23
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=415