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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    6

    Default Dedicated Eraser Tools

    Why hasn't there ever been a true dedicated eraser true lasso or magic/magnetic wand in Xara X ~ XPGD7? Even free and open source programs like Inkscape,Serif PhotoPlus,Hornil StylePics amd PhotoScape have always had these common to their toolbar.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Placitas, New Mexico, USA
    Posts
    41,487

    Default Re: Dedicated Eraser Tools

    Welcome to TalkGraphics

    The answer is this. Xara is a vector drawing application. Vector objects are define by an outline with control points that dictate how the line will be drawn whatever the size. So you can scale a pure vector shape up the size of a building and not loose and detail.

    Bitmap applications, such as Photoshop, use pixels, tiny, non-scalable squares of color, to define an object or image. Bitmaps can be scaled down in size but not up by more than a small percent, or else the image gets soft unfocused.

    True erasers and lassos, magic wand tools, are bitmap tools. They are meant to work with pixels.

    You can erase an object, even more accurately using a vector outlined shape. It is a lot of work granted, but all in all produces a superior result (IMHO).

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2000
    Location
    Bracknell, UK
    Posts
    8,659

    Default Re: Dedicated Eraser Tools

    Quote Originally Posted by gwpriester View Post
    True erasers and lassos, magic wand tools, are bitmap tools. They are meant to work with pixels.
    Edit:

    At one stage processor power wasn't good enough to make a real-time eraser in anything but a raster-based image. Advancing processor power has made this possible for vector based artwork, yet the idea persists that it's not possible to have a vector eraser. Many existing vector programmes show this not to be true.
    Last edited by pauland; 22 April 2012 at 10:06 PM.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Dedicated Eraser Tools

    Gary, download Serif's DrawPlus free version. At least I think the free version has the eraser. Altering shapes via an eraser is an extremely useful tool...and filling in non-closed shapes. Seem to go hand in hand to me.

    Take care, Mike

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sunshine Coast BC, Canada. In a beautiful part of BC's temperate rainforest
    Posts
    9,864

    Default Re: Dedicated Eraser Tools

    Inkscape is also a vector drawing program and I believe it has an eraser
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    My current Xara software: Designer Pro 365 12.6

    Good Morning Sunshine.ca | Good Morning Sunshine Online(a weekly humorous publication created with XDP and exported as a web document) | Angelize Online resource shop | My Video Tutorials | My DropBox |
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    21,283

    Default Re: Dedicated Eraser Tools

    if there is such a thing as a 'true' eraser, then surely it is the sort shown attached

    illustrators got one too....
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	mars-eraser.jpg 
Views:	123 
Size:	10.0 KB 
ID:	88978  
    -------------------------------
    Nothing lasts forever...

 

 

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