Busenitz

Is there a way (keyboard shortcut) to add shade or tint to a color? In CorelDRAW I was used to being able to quickly alter a color by clicking on the shape, then holding down CTRL, and clicking on the color I wanted to add to the current color. see: http://www.coreldrawtips.com/site/adding-tint-and-shade-on-a-colour-fill-in-coreldraw Is there an equivalent in AD?

Silhouette sells the plug ins for CorelDRAW and AI, so I would think the plug in for AD would have to come from them as well. But they're not going to do it if there are only a dozen of us that want it. :-)

I can understand that all vectors are either set as cut lines (or not) and changes will need to be made in the cutting software. What doesn't seem right is that parts disappear when exported to SVG (see above example and notice the white circle is missing in the SVG) Also, some items that are rasterized with transparent backgrounds (png) that are included in the SVG end up with a rectangle cutting line. I have had some better success exporting to PDF. As far as recreating the shapes, it would work great if it is a circle, rectangle, etc. but what about a vectorized shape that isn't one of those? (for example, an arrow or heart that would not match up identically?) I am still working on this process and would love to hear from anyone (whether using Silhouette or other cutter) who has had any success in this.

Janita, Another thought is that there is a LOT of help available on the forum if you are looking how to do something specific - it just won't necessarily be in terms of scrapbooking. (whether it's adding a shadow, putting an image into a shape or block of text, making something look 3D, etc.) You'll find a lot of help, and helpful people here.

Janita, What software have you been using before? I assume you are used to starting from scratch yourself with Digi Kits as opposed to quick pages where you simply insert your own photos? One of the first things to help might be starting with the Media Browser (ctrl+shift+M) You can add the folder where you have your kits by right-clicking in the top and choosing ADD. Then you can browse through your assets and simply drag an item into the page. (you can do the same from Finder also) A lot of the shadows and other effects are under the tab EFFECTS (Make sure EFFECTS shows by ticking View / Studio / Tools) I think you will find the software very easy to learn, whether you are just beginning with digi scrapbooking, or have been at it awhile - just a matter then of learning different methods. I have found that AD is very easy to learn - you don't have to stumble over the more difficult things as you look for the basic options. A lot of the tutorials from other software (PSE, CorelDRAW) will be relevant as far as learning what you can do, and the basic process. What will differ will be terminology, location, and what abilities each software has. Hope that helps some, and happy scrapping!

Is the CutWizard a full app, or a plugin for another app? If it is a full app - does it allow you to import SVG or PDF? I'm using Silhouette Studio Designer Edition for my Silhouette Cameo. Haven't perfected the exporting / importing ---yet. :-)

Agh forgot the attachments :-(

Here's the results using PDF. 1 -Screen shot of AD, selection for export. 2- as the PDF exports into SSDE. 3 - the cut lines as seen by SSDE 4 - how it needs to be, including the correction of the layer of the white circle which gets moved behind the black one. AI and CorelDRAW have plugins for the Silhouette cutter, and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to cut directly from AD. However, I realize this is asking for the moon. :-) Second choice would be to figure out how to use either SVG or PDF exports. SSDE is better than most Mac Graphics programs available, quite honestly. BUT not close to AD.

I am wondering if there is a way to make the logo look more embossed or branded into the wood?

My son asked me (totally non-professional digital art design lover) to design a business card for him. The logo we did years ago (on CorelDRAW / Windows) Loving AD!!! Any suggestions or criticisms welcome. thanks

Being able to add multiple would be incredible!!

Don't know if anyone has time to put together a timeline of past improvements, but I know if would be good for me to review them when I get impatient with the thing I'm still waiting for (for me the biggie is offset/contour) It's easy to forget that SO much has been added in a rather short time, and all free updates!! Would be good to view that next to the roadmap. :-)

R C-R Thanks for the info. The saved search was new to me, and very helpful. Being a diehard Windows fan from 3.1, switching to Mac was a huge step. So glad AD / AP came along about the same time!! Still lots to learn!

Thanks, R C-R. I've been on Mac nearly two years, but still learning. Didn't realize I could do start a new file while the app window was hidden. (So obvious once it's pointed out to me.) I did realize that it hadn't closed, but didn't know how to get to files except the recent list. THANKS a lot!!!

I also have a problem with this (though it is probably the user) On the other apps that only minimize the app upon closure (instead of full quit) when I click on the icon again, it will give me an option of what to start, new file, etc. With AD, if I close (using red button) then the app icon shows it is still running. If I click on the icon though, I get nothing. I have to right-click to get a list of recent files, and open one of those. Then I close that file and start a new one. Is there a simpler method I'm missing?

ok. Thanks. I'm just used to using the right-click so it seemed awkward. Thanks so much for the response!!

Wow - THANKS!!! That will help immensely with my vinyl cutting!! (though I am a little perplexed why the DPI would effect the size, but maybe I'm thinking in terms of printing and not necessarily vector attributes?) I do have another question now though regarding exporting an image within the vector shape. If I export for web, using the 72 dpi, then the SVG opens as one would expect in Graphic, but in SSDE it opens without the image inside. If I save the SVG that I opened in Graphic, it will open ok in SSDE. Is there some setting that I am not choosing right that Graphic is correcting for me? Not sure why I'm so confused on this. But I would love to be able to create the design in AD (which is SO much better than SSDE) and then open the design in the cutting software and cut it. (print and cut feature) Thanks again in advance!!!! I really appreciate the help. Love the software, just want to be able to use it to the fullest that I'm pretty sure I should be able to!!!!

Just to clarify, it is by design that you can't alt + right-click/geometry/add for non-destructive?

When I add two shapes, it is possible with a right-click / geometry / add, OR layer menu / geometry / add, OR the add icon. If I want to do it nondestructively, I only have the add icon for an option. If I hold down the Alt and right-click, I get nothing. If I hold down the Alt and use layer menu / geometry / add, then I get the normal add function. I'm on the latest MAS version.

I am still struggling with SVG export. Not sure why. I am mostly designing in AD and wanting to export/import into Silhouette Studio Designer Edition (digital cutting software.) Although I have the issue in SSDE, I also have it in Graphic/iDraw and inkscape, so I don't think it's on Silhouette's end. I am never getting the original size of the design, and often the design is not even in correct proportion (stretched one way or the other.) I finally created a 3" square to export and try different settings. No matter what I settings I try, I either end up with a square that is 12.5", or one that is 1.389". If I choose to export the entire document instead of just the square, I get a rectangle instead. If I could get the exact sizes it would really be wonderful! Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Ok, coming from Paint Shop Pro - totally different. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

BTW if your choice is AI / on a Windows or AD on a Mac, the Mac is cheaper in the long run.

Although strictly amateur, I've used CorelDRAW (a lot) for years and that was my main reasons for putting off the Win/Mac switch. Happily, shortly after the switch I found out about AD. Since then I've slowly weaned myself off CorelDRAW and it dawned on me yesterday that I can't remember the last time I booted into Windows to use it. There are still a few features I miss, (though on AD's roadmap) but if Corel presented me with a free option to switch back to CD but I also had to give up my AD - I'd have to say I would stick with AD. This is coming from a dedicated Corel fan. My advice truly would be to pursue any possibility of Mac machine. (maybe not an option, but by far the best possibility if it is)

Is there a way to set the selection brush tool to choose by opacity, rather than color? Also, is it possible to choose the selection for contiguous/noncontiguous? Thanks in advance!

Just saw that pixel to vector is on the roadmap - so excited about that one!! Also, still waiting for the contour / offset. Another feature I greatly miss. Otherwise, really enjoying using AD!! Made my switch from Windows to Mac a lot less painful! :-)