Did this as one of the weekly themes from over at the MMB forums that feature the MediaChance's forums, including RealDraw-Pro. It's a handy program and the author is busy at work on version 4.0 (I think it will be 4.0, considering all the new things he's adding in and bug fixes, ect...!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif )
Any way the theme was 'Shadows', which interested me, so I did my first full blown image in that program. It's got some extras that XaraX does not have but for the most part XaraX's anti-alaising, bevels and speed and selection abilities are far above, IMHO, even the more expensive programs out there.
One thing I really like is the programs ability to allow for "pixel to vector" and back again (similar to PI's ability but unlike PI it takes you into a seperate work area so there is no confusion). I can select the "Paint New Bitmap" icon (7th icon down) go in and paint a tree shape and when I'm finished click on the "Object Selection" button (first icon) and I'm taken back to the main interface and then I can transform into a vector by selecting: Object/Convert To/Polynome (Vectorize) and Wha-la a new tree shape that is totally editable in either area. Really neato!!
It's use of "Packages" is also very good, a step above 'grouping' objects'. The "3D Lights" are totally cool and gives you total control over the light colors, types of lights and intensity. Very easy to figure out. To move a particular light make sure you have the one selected from the "3D Lights" menu and then select the "Edit Lights" icon (3rd from the bottom) and move them around to get things just right.
Other areas like "text" and "bevels", "shadows" and "lines" are all pretty good. I'm not super familiar with them all yet so I can comment too much on these tools!! "Bump maps" and "Transparency" effects are abundant through out the program. "Transparency" can be achieved in 2 areas. In the fill area there are other options to make the fill as user friendly as possilble. These other selections are: "Screen", "F-8" (not sure what that means) but it seems to reverse the fills intensity, "Transparency" and "3-D" with a handy slider. Middle of the slider gives you the default but to the left or right gives the user intensities of 3-D effect in either direction. Pretty darned cool!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
Of course there are areas that need work but as I mentioned Oscar is busy working on these areas, so it's nice to see a program with an author that is continuously excited about the program and wants the quality of the program to meet the demands of the user base. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
The "House" image is not perfect. I'm still learning stuff but I thought it was good enough to post. The bushes and shrubs were created using the paint to vector options. Handy!! Not confusing like I found PI to be. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret purchasing PI, on the contrary, I'm glad to have it in my tool box but for ease of use, for me, I like RealDraw-Pro better!!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
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