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Real-Draw PRO (RD)
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 What
OS are supported ?
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RD works on Windows Platform. It works on Windows 95, Windows 98, ME, Windows 2000, XP and Windows NT.
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| Is
there a version for MAC? |
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No there is no version for MAC.
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| Is RD vector or bitmap editing application? |
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It is none and it is also both. RD uses vector principle to create an output with bitmap characteristic and effects which would be very hard to do in true vector application.
Unlike in true bitmap editor, all in RD is always editable, you can move, resize, change shapes, apply or remove different effects anytime and as many times as you want - same as used in known vector application.
Unlike a true vector application the output is intended to be an image, not a scalable vector document. The output from RD can look more realistic than from most known true vector applications since RD is not bound to the vector only requirement. It happily mix all available tools to produce great looking graphics.
RD blends the differences even further since you can use true bitmap features such painting using brushes or nozzles over the vector objects. |
| What do you mean by bitmap? |
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Some people confuse word bitmap with Microsoft Windows Bitmap format *.bmp but these are not the same. Bitmap is a general name for an image format which is build from pixels not from curves (as vector). For example JPG is also a bitmap. As such, bitmap editor is not an editor for editing exclusively *.bmp files but for editing any general supported image files (jpg, png, bmp, tif...).
The word bitmap is often used in this text. |
| When I zoom into the document why it looks like I am zooming into bitmap image ? |
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As said before, RD uses vector editing to produce bitmap kind (jpg, bmp, png, psd) of image. The objects in RD behaves as if they are vector (you can change shape, move them, apply effects, lights, colors, texture..), but they are not true vector objects. |
| What is then strong point of using RD? |
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You can easily create images which would be very hard to produce in any other vector or bitmap application.
Look at any examples such as here. In RD this is a very easy task, few objects, textures and lights - all done in few minutes and always editable. This would be quite a work to do in true vector package while in a true bitmap package you will loose the editability.
With the new 3.0 you can create also full web page with rollovers which could be used as the core page for further working in your web editor.
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| Can RD replace my current vector editor? |
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Depending on what you do. If you use your vector editor to produce graphic for web or multimedia, then probably yes. However RD is not build for creating printed materials such as brochures where true-vector editor is at home.
Because of the very low price of RD the best and most recommended way is to use it as addition to your current software.
A little history often helps: All the major vector applications were created before the web boom to allow creation of posters, letters and many other mostly one page printed materials. That was their goal and they do it very well. However the things changed in last (10 years?) but the vector applications didn't much. They recently put some tweaks and effects to be more web friendly but it is the same as with the new tricks and the old dog.
Real-Draw was build to specificly address the current needs and trends for building web and multimedia graphics. It excells in those areas, but it wasn't build for printing posters or invitation.
I personally believe it is better to have 2 good applications for different tasks than one which claims to do everything.
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| Can RD replace my current bitmap editor? |
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Depending on what you do. A true-bitmap editor such as Adobe PhotoShop or our PhotoBrush is build for different task. Image editor is mostly for adjusting or enhancing already existing images, while RD is build for creating new images from scratch. Yes, you can adjust or enhance existing images with RD, but that would be underestimating its power. |
| Can RD replace my current web editor? |
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Still replacing something?
RD 3.0 can create fully working web page using slicing, rollovers, links and ability to add text, but it is not a web editor. It however does what web editors can't do - prepare a core page with great modern graphics, but hte next step would be to open the page in your favorite web editor (DreamWeaver, GoLive etc.) and continue to format texts etc.
Real-Draw is a truly great companion to the web editors but it is not their replacement.
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| What is the difference between PhotoBrush and Real-Draw? |
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PhotoBrush is our version of a true bitmap image editor for enhancing and adjusting images from digital cameras, JPG, BMP, PNG etc... Using PhotoBrush doesn't exclude using Real-Draw, these two are different applications for different purpose.
If you need to edit , adjust or enhance existing images (for example from digital camera) then PhotoBrush is the best choice. |
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Is Real-Draw and Real-Draw PRO the same application?
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Yes it is. We have just one application. The word PRO was added later to distinguish its usage, since it is more complex application than for example CompactDraw.
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| What is the difference between CompactDraw and Real-Draw Pro? |
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Compact draw is entry-level software, yet with many powerful features. Real-Draw Pro continues where CompctDraw stops, it is more complex, offer even more effects (such as lights) and has also bitmap editing support.
Other difference is the price.
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| Why there is no direct support for GIF? |
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GIF require a special licence and payment from UNISYS for LZW patent. To cut the price down we didn't include direct GIF support.
Anyway the GIF is really outdated format, it can have just 256 colors (unlike millions of colors in JPG or PNG). We spent many hours on creating new effects all in millions of colors so it would be pity to destroy it with such old and not free format. |
| How can I create image for web with transparency? |
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You should probably avoid that. The only format (currently fully supported in web browsers) that support transparent color is GIF. However in GIF only one color can be transparent which would most of the time create hard or jagged edge around the image - an effect often visible on various personal pages where bitmap background was used.
If you look at most of the professional web pages they actually avoid using transparent images. They avoid using background image either so there isn't big need for transparent images. (It really doesn't look good if you force your viewers read text on some textured or colorful background.)
The new format PNG can have all that gif doesn't - it can use smooth alpha blending for transparency which would look good on the page! Real-Draw has full support for transparent PNG files. Unfortunately currently only Opera browser has serious support for transparent PNG files. While IE or Netscape supports PNG, the transparency is often badly implemented. |
| My xxxx bar disappear. What to do? |
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RD has a handful of various toolbars and floating bars. They can be minimized, closed or moved away. If you don't see a property bar even if you click on the corresponding button on the right side the chances are that the bar is minimized and maybe you overlooking it. Simply follow the instruction on this page to switch between property bars.
If you can't resolve this you can still reset the bars to its default position by going to menu View - Reset to default.
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| Can I enter the values by number rather than moving a slider? |
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Yes you can, look at this page in help, paragraph "Entering by numbers".
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