EMBERLINE
For a long time (since I was a little baby) I’ve been a fan of hybrid editors.
Tools that combine bitmap and vector seamlessly in one place.
Plenty of tools tried. I did too. (I couldn’t resist the pun)
A hybrid graphics editor
Most software splits the world in two:
You either get a vector tool with a bit of bitmap editing, or a bitmap editor with some vector features bolted on.
But in a hybrid editor it’s not this or that: it’s both, at the same time.
When you paint on the canvas, it should feel like a real image editor. When you draw shapes, it should feel like a proper vector tool.
And they should live by the same rules.
A vector object should behave like any other bitmap layer, same blending options, same effects.
You should be able to blur it, adjust it, experiment, and still keep it fully editable as a vector.
WIP TECH PREVIEW
Phase 1 (Bitmap editing)
So what is a hybrid editor?
Third time’s a charm
This is the third time, I’m writing this type of image editor. It almost feels like a tradition. Every decade…
But this time I decided to scrap everything - I’m NOT going to re-use any ancient code. I’m going to design this from the scratch, all fresh and designed for
the modern computer using modern code elements, parallelism (we have so many cores now in computers!) and modern graphics.
The current status
Interface
Phase 0 (99% complete)
Layers, blending, Opacity
The layer blending engine is pretty fast
Interface, Manipulator
Resize, Rotate, Skew, Distort.
Layer view
Mouse reordering. Hiding layers, locking.
Paint Engine
Phase 1 (90% complete)
Brushes and paint engine
Most of it is done (98%) Just some minor logic needs shakedown
Selections
Rectangle, circle, polygone, freehand, Magic wand, Feather is parametric
Masks
Done, we can add Layer mask, paint or remove
AI Object selection
Not in the code, but works in test code - Inspired by Davinci Resolve (feels about the same and
on CPU which is grerat)
Vector Library
Phase 2 - vector library is developed in a separate project before merging
Text Library
Phase 3 - text library is developed in a separate project before merging
Live Filters/effects
Phase 1b (it should work before Phase 2)
Implemented and Working
Blur, Gaussian blur, Kaleidoscope Blur (new idea!) Drop Shadow, Inner Bevel, Outer Bevel,
Gaussian Bevel, Custom Bevel, Glow, Inner Glow, Inner shadow, Newtonian Shadow, Levels
Planned
All the typical color options, various blurs, anything that can be a live effect
Unexpected Extra
Posable bone editor
A bitmap object or multiple objects can have skeleton that allows them to be posed on
the main canvas
Light Cone
A parametric light cone that shines light on layers beneath
Kit-Bashing Stencil
Imprint texture or image parts onto a canvas
FAQ
Will this be compatible with Real-Draw …?
No. This is on purpose - rewrite from scratch. It will use the standard general file formats like PNG, JPG, AI, PSD, SVG… whatever everyone else uses and it’s
own *.ebn format. Outside the idea, it has very little common with Real-Draw.
Release Date?
I’m working on this in parallel with other projects. There is no deadline, but you will get the ability to peek in and see the progress with alpha releases.
There is still a lot to do, even for the current phase.
Parametric Effects - Everything Is Live
One great thing about vector editing is that it is parametric. You can change fill, outline or shape at any time.
In a Hybrid editor parametric live effect are a cornerstone of all objects and all filters. So not only you can apply the same effects to any objects (vector, text
or bitmap), you apply them as live filters (something like a filter in a video editor - a blur doesn’t change the video file itself and you can remove it even hours
later)
I know, I’m kinda describing Macromedia (RIP) Fireworks (RIP too) - that could have been all that if it wasn’t sent to a permanent retirement by the almighty
Adobe.
And also I’m describing my own Real-Draw, that too stopped short and somehow deviated from the idea.
Some new ideas
In Photo-Blend I added light cones that you can place on the background as a sort of studio lights. I added this feature but made it more logical and working
with layers. Also in Photo-Blend I used Laplacian merging of layers - and I added something similar here - as a layer blend mode called Photo-Bash.
An interesting addition in Emberline is adding 2D skeleton rigging - you can create a posable object, let’s say a person or even use it for other things. While
rigging is not new, I did make it new the way it can split a rigid 2D image object.
Drag some PNG files there, try brushes, selection, each
object can have multiple Live effects, try the posable
editor.
It doesn’t have any vector/text support yet
This is a pretty much “proof of concept” at this stage
Showing: live bevels, Newtonian shadow, Light objects, custom brushes and posable editor
Kit-bashing allows simple “stencil” imprint for textures and objects
