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Good vector graphics software

A

aid

macrumors member
Original poster
Hi,

Once upon a time, many years ago I used a wonderful vector graphics program called Artworks on the Acorn RiscOS operating system. This later became Xara X in the PC world.

I'm a Mac user now and am hunting for a good vector graphics program similar to Xara X that is not too expensive - preferably <= $100.

I see all these beautiful icons on the Mac for the applications - would be good to know what people are using for these.

I did try out Illustrator on a friend's machine, but found it's method of editing lines and bezier curves truly awful...

Any pointers appreciated!

Cheers,

aid
 
Illustrator is really the Industry standard. As for the bezier curves, you'll get used to them. Illustrator is a very powerful program, with tools robust enough to make almost photorealistic illustrations. Just get one of those books like the "Visual Quickstart Guide", and it'll help you limp your way through the curves problem.

Hope this helps,
Jason
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bluemonkey said:
Illustrator is really the Industry standard. As for the bezier curves, you'll get used to them. Illustrator is a very powerful program, with tools robust enough to make almost photorealistic illustrations. Just get one of those books like the "Visual Quickstart Guide", and it'll help you limp your way through the curves problem.
Click to expand...

It's not the use of bezier curves per se that is the problem - been playing with those since Acorns !Draw application in 1999 - but Illustrator's user interface for manipulating them that I find terrible.

Check out http://www.xara.com/gallery/ for some excellent examples of what Xara X can do...

Thanks for the feedback though. Maybe it is just because I am quite used to Xara that I find Illustrator difficult as it just does not work the Xara way...

Cheers,

aid
 
I really don't like the way Illustrator handles those either, but you'll find that Freehand, Flash, and LiveMotion work the same way.

You might look at Intaglio and EazyDraw. I've forgotten their exact functionality but I'm thinking that they're vector-based and $100 or less.
 
This may not be the cost effective answer you were looking for but I did see a new plug-in for illustrator that allows for more intuitive manipulation of lines called Xtream Path.
 
I haven't tried it yet, but the Gimp 2.0 (I'm still usiing 1.2.5) supports some sort of vector graphics. It's free, so it's always worth giving it a shot to see if it will do what you want. I saw a spiffy screenshot of the Gimp mascot guy being edited as a vector drawing or whatever (if I am using these terms wrong, forgive, I'm not a graphic artist by any stretch) today, but I can't find it anymore!

Rob
 
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