Feature
A Replacement for Adobe?
Aviary has been around for a while and offers web-based solutions that aim to challenge similar desktop software. They have already introduced (in Beta): Phoenix, an image editor along the lines of Photoshop, Peacock, a visual laboratory of sorts for pixel-based images and Toucan, a color palette tool.
These are just three of the many tools at which Aviary is hard at work, recreating some of Adobe's most popular works.
Raven, A New Vector-Based Image Editor
They have just released Raven, a vector-based image editor that hopes to compete with Adobe Illustrator. While it's functionality doesn't exactly match that of Adobe, it does a decent job of recreating the essentials. It's not just limited to complex vector art though.
Raven includes the following features:
Vectors:
- Powerful and full-featured path engine
- Draw curves and lines
- Manage handles
- Multiple selections
- Draw shapes (square, star, polygon, circle, eclipse)
- Transform tool
- Add/remove anchor points
- Convert Anchor Point tool
- Convert curve to line and line to curve
- Freehand tool
- Break/Split path
Layers panel:
- Full layered file
- Add/move delete layers.
- Hide/lock layers
- Small previews in the layer panel.
- Blend modes
- Alpha
Fill & Stroke:
- Control Fill style and apparence
- Solid, linear, radial fill
- Control stroke style, width and color
- Gradient strokes
- Powerful Color picker
Additional features:
- Import SVG from url and computer
- Export SVG and bitmaps
- Undo/Redo
- Cut/copy/paste
- Align and distribute
- Zooming
- Keyboard short cuts
- Guides
- Rulers
In future updates, users can look for text tools, brushes and the ability to import bitmaps.
A Cheaper Alternative With a Few Less Features
Aviary solutions are available with basic features for free. Yet to benefit from all the collaboration and community enhancements, a Pro version is available for US $ 9.99/month.
If you've already got Adobe, play around with Aviary's free features to see what it offers. Who knows -- maybe you'll be able to save some money when CS5 comes out. If you've yet to make a down payment to Adobe, perhaps this is an opportunity to see how much you can benefit from Aviary's solutions.
Competition breeds change, as they say, and Adobe's been a mainstay of the design world for a long time. Perhaps, a flock of birds will help ruffle their feathers.
