Overview

Canvas 8 is designed to be a versatile environment for handling vector illustration, image editing, page layouts, presentations, and Web publications. Four different object types are used to create documents: vector, paint, type, and group objects. It is important to understand the difference between these types of objects because not all objects can be modified using the same methods. Vector objects are geometric objects that can be defined by mathematical formulas, such as rectangles, circles, polygons, lines, and smooth lines. Examples of paint objects are photographs, screen captures, and scanned images. These objects are also known as raster graphics and are composed of a fixed number of pixels. Text objects are boxes that contains text. Group objects are collections of any object type that have been grouped together.

Canvas 8 should easily satisfy high-end user needs. The most significant improvements provide users with greater flexibility in collaborating with others by providing a broader number of file import and export options and the ability to exchange graphics, scripts, sequences (special macro-like scripts for automating object effects), and more through a feature called DenebaShare. DenebaShare allows password protection of shared files and folders, plus the ability to search remote folders, chatting with others connected to the DenebaShare network, uploading or downloading files, and setting up user IDs and friend lists. Users may now automate graphics-editing tasks through the use of script engines (controlled from outside Canvas) and sequence engines (controlled from within Canvas). Web designers will appreciate the substantial new features, such as Flash, HTML and PDF-export formats, Slice Creator (used to slice up large images to speed up image loading on Web pages), and the animated-GIF file-save option, geared towards making Canvas graphics easily Web publishable. Long-time Canvas users will remark on the improvements that have been made to the user interface to enhance ease of use. For those interested in evaluating Canvas 8 for themselves, a free, 15-day evaluation copy may be downloaded from the Deneba Web site.

How Long Did It Take to Learn to Use It Productively?

One week.

Product Quality

Customizability

There are many ways users can customize Canvas. From within the file menu, preferences such as the number of undo levels, how large a document window to open, and what unit of measurement one prefers for general program attributes, may be modified. In addition, the customize option provides the ability to modify the menu bar or to assign keyboard shortcuts to particular functions. Macro object sets may be created that allow the user to create a custom palette of frequently used objects with graphic effects that may be dragged and dropped into any new document.

Ability to Program in Scripts, Add Extension Modules, etc.

Tasks such as downloading images for Web publication, converting multiple documents into PDFs (portable document files), and converting a file from one format to another can be automated by using scripts to run Canvas. Scripts can be written in any language supported by Microsoft Windows, including Visual Basic, VBScript, and JavaScript.

Canvas-created design effects that are applied to objects or groups of objects may be automated by creating a "sequence." A sequence is similar to the more commonly known macros used in many word-processing and spreadsheet programs. They may be recorded, saved, edited, and played to reproduce any design effect.

Ability to Import and Export in Different File Formats

Import and export formats are greatly expanded from previous versions of Canvas to enhance the ability to share graphics among different programs. One especially exciting format is the Self-Running Slide Show format, which allows a Canvas presentation to be turned into a free-standing application known as an executable file (.EXE). With this file format, users can take slide presentations on the road without having to worry about whether the computer on the other side has Canvas, because they may be played independent of Canvas on any Windows-compatible computer.

For those interested in compatibility with Macromedia Flash (for Web animations), Canvas 8 files may be exported as Flash files (.SWF). The caveat to this export is that it is important to distinguish what the end use of the file will be prior to export. SWF Player files are best viewed by Macromedia's Flash Player or a compatible Web browser, whereas SWF Editor files are better for import into Macromedia's Flash 4 application. Files saved as either SWF Player or SWF Editor may be viewed either in editors or players, but there are differences in the way Flash players and editors interpret these two file types, due primarily to text and font incompatibilities. The intent of Deneba was to address this issue by providing two export modes. A multipage Canvas document can be exported as a single multiframe Flash file. Canvas also now has the ability to export as HTML, but not import. A complete list of file import and export formats may be found on the Web site.

Useful or Unusual Features

Deneba's Sprite technology enables users to apply a variety of effects to objects while maintaining the editability of those objects and object properties in the future. This technology is made up of two components: SpriteEffects and SpriteLayers. SpriteLayer technology (present in Canvas 6) specifically deals with adding transparency effects to objects and text. SpriteEffects (introduced in Canvas 7) deals with applying image filters and making adjustments to vector objects, images, text, and grouped objects. Deneba's Sprite technology is one of the most notable enhanced features of Canvas 8. To see examples of Sprite technology in action, Deneba's Web site hosts an image gallery.

A number of subtle but effective enhancements to the user interface have been incorporated into Canvas 8. One such item is the new tab-styled Docking Bar that allows easy access to frequently used tools and the ability to open them as windows or drag them out as palettes.

The main thrust of Canvas 8 is the ability to automate global tasks by using scripts and to automate the application of effects to objects using a macro-like feature called a sequence. Canvas 8 has significantly improved the ability to generate Web-ready documents. The new PDF export option is slick and allows users to generate PDF files directly from multipage documents without having to purchase Adobe Acrobat.

Objects may be annotated by using the object-properties feature. This is quite impressive since it allows detailed notations to be linked to components of complex illustrations. Each component's properties are similar in function to a record in a database and each "label" in the properties list is similar in function to a field within a database record. Individual labels for an object may include information such as size, weight, location, part number, or price. Because of this capability, it is possible to use this feature in manufacturing environments to track information such as cost, inventory, location, and availability. In a biomedical laboratory setting, it could be used to keep track of information associated with different structural components of a complex illustration of a cell that contains objects representing different organelles and cytoplasmic and membrane-bound proteins localized immunofluorescently.

Biologists could use Canvas as a low-cost way of annotating 2-D protein gel images. I tried this by scanning in a gel at 300 DPI or greater and then using the auto-trace function in the Image menu to find the protein spots on my gel. I was surprised that it did a good job of finding spots if "strict" was chosen in the auto-trace preferences dialog. After that, the auto-traced image had to be ungrouped and then each spot had to be grouped separately. While a bit tedious to do manually, it is possible that this process could be automated using the sequence recorder now available in Canvas. At this point, the object-properties feature can be used to annotate each spot with items such as protein identification, spot number, mass of protein, GenBank accession number, etc. Compared with commercially available programs that automate all of these things, Canvas would be a cost-effective alternative for labs whose budget does not allow such an expenditure. A complete list of new features in Canvas 8 may be found at the Deneba Web site.

Limitations

Because of the way Macromedia Flash files are handled, the Canvas 8 export-to-Flash file option is somewhat suboptimal, but it works if the proper method of export is chosen.

Comparisons with Similar Software

Canvas 8 contains significant feature improvements over previous versions and is more than worth the upgrade; the number of new features is well over 100. The most noticeable improvements to long-time Canvas users is to the user interface. Great effort has been given to improving the ease of use and capability of existing tools. The ability to create custom macro-object palettes is a nice option. The closest programs that currently compete with Canvas 8 are Macromedia's programs Dreamweaver and the Flash5 Freehand 10 Studio. While both programs have their merits and unique features, it is hard to determine a clear winner.

Technical Support and Documentation

Deneba's Web site is packed with help for Canvas users. In the Web site's online user forum, users can exchange ideas and share problems. In addition, a searchable knowledge base is available that is categorized by the type of knowledge represented, such as tech note, user tip, frequently asked question (FAQ), or bug. An extensive section on tips and techniques offers help in creating different effects or using particular features of Canvas. The "how to" on scripting was particularly useful.

Registered users can download any available updates. Deneba also offers support to registered users of Canvas in a variety of different ways: email; fax technical questions to (305) 273-9069; telephone Canvas support, (305) 596-5644 (choose option "2" any time during the welcome message); or go to the Deneba Web site support page.

There are four printed manuals provided with the CD-ROM version of the software that are very well written and easy to follow even for more advanced topics. The Getting Started manual contains the basics of how Canvas works and is useful for new users or novice users. The New Features Guide covers many of the new features specific to Canvas 8, but is not exhaustive. The thicker User's Guide goes into greater detail, but is a bit sparse on information concerning new features. The Clip Art and URW Font Library shows examples of available clip art and fonts. Contextual help is available from within the program's help menu. It is equally well written and provides enough detailed information to be worth using.

Target Users

Anyone with high-end drawing and image-editing needs. Perfect for generating scientific diagrams and illustrations and melding images with text.