Canvas X Draw Reviews

I began using Canvas in the early 1980's when it was only available only on the Mac. Eventually they created a version of Windows, and it was just in time, because our firm was switching from Macs to PC's in order to gain access to AutoCAD. I never learned to use CAD, but I continued to use Canvas almost daily in my work as a project manager. I also used it at home on my Mac for creating every kind of graphics design from business cards to business logos to birthday cards to architectural sketches and many others. For a while, they stopped selling Canvas for the Mac, but the company continued to support my copy and even sent me upgrades for free. Now they're back on the Mac with Canvas X Draw, and I'm still a loyal user.

I was very sad to see them abandon the Mac, but grateful for their continued support. I've seen tools for distorting raster images (by pulling at the corners) in other packages, even in simple software aps on my iPhone, so I know it's possible, but it is not available in Canvas. It's their glaring gap. Otherwise, for technical illustration, Canvas is just about perfect.

Professionally, I used Canvas (Mac) for making slides used for many technical presentations, ranging from small groups to international symposia. Using Canvas enabled me to do many things that Pages, for example, cannot do to enhance the scientific content. For personal use, Canvas is really a great way to produce patterns and templates for one of my hobbies, wood carving. The ability to adjust transparency, to excise portions of photographs, and test different color schemes is a great advantage in all aspects. Customizing various insignia, for example, is a great advantage in carving walking sticks for military veterans.

There has always been a completely new set of bugs in every updated version. For example, in the current version, switching from pages often also triggers unwanted magnification changes. I was touching up a pattern I had drawn using the spray paint tool and the screen immediately changed to a chaotic patchwork! Cmd-z reversed this, and a second attempt worked just fine. Also, the use of the MySymbols...

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Easy to get started with. Does not require monthly subscription. Many file format options

Difficult learning to use some of the draw tools.

I was pleased to discover Canvas X Draw, a user-friendly vector drawing tool which enables users to craft professional-looking illustrations with minimal effort. The program is equipped with a wide range of features, such as creating and modifying shapes, changing colors, inserting text and effects, and exporting files in a selection of formats. Moreover, it is an excellent choice for crafting logos, illustrations, and other graphics.

Canvas X Draw has limited options for customizing objects, colors, textures, and other design elements.

The upgrade to 7.02 was available almost as soon as macOS 11.1 (Big Sur) was issued. This dealt with the problem that I observed opening new or previously-created files under Canvas Draw X 7.01

I think there are two improvements that would help me, personally, out. First, I miss the object info tool (command-i) that tells you the kind of object (group, rectangle), dimensions, area, etc. This hasn’t been available since probably Canvas 7 or so. Second, I’m now trying to design a house, and a tool that would make walls (and allow wall joins and insert windows, doors, etc.) would be great, although I realize that it’s a complicated tool, and may cause some issues in pricing and marketing.

In addition to producing occasional technical exhibits, artwork layouts and other documents, X Draw is great for non-CAD users who occasionally need to produce or edit scaled technical drawings. One of the best features is the ability to import a pdf of an architectural drawing as a background for new shop drawings or technical bidding documents. Drawing layers are preserved and can be manipulated, and scale can be set to match the original document. Area and quantity take-offs are a breeze. Add photos or other illustrations? Not a problem.

It is cumbersome to create new pdf files necessary for final use. For example, if there are 30 files of drawing sheets, I have not found a way to batch process the conversion. Each file has to be saved as a pdf. It would be much more efficient to be able to "print to pdf" directly from the Canvas file, which is the defacto standard for virtually every other productivity app.

Canvas is still what [SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN] once called the 'Swiss Army Knife' of graphics programs. When I was first using the Mac in 1995 I was shocked that between Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop it was impossible to actually send a client a fax using either program. I needed to be able to send sketches with accompanying text. Illustrator wouldn't allow me to enter pixel based images, and...

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The vector tools aren't quite as useful as those in Adobe Illustrator.

The title of this review states the best feature for my use - combination of raster and vector. I typically use Canvas X Draw to develop figures for environmental science/engineering reports. Many figures have a raster base (airphoto, topobase, etc) that I place vector objects and text upon. Sometimes I'll use output from a data graphing program as a vector base, placing vector and text as an overlay. I also benefit from having used the "Canvas product" on the Mac OS for more than 20 years and my familiarity with the user interface.

Minor complaints - (1) page setup (sizing, magnification, etc) could be more user friendly/explicit, (2) the latest version of Canvas X Draw (version 7) keeps asking me for my license key, (3) the Auto Trace function is cumbersome and often doesn't allow me to make editable objects from raster images, (4) the latest version of Canvas X Draw (version 7) does not open some previous "Canvas" formats, (5) conversion from AutoDesk (CAD) formats is quirky.

Since I have been using the Canvas design product for over twenty-five years, (at least) after converting from Claris CAD, I have enjoyed the flexibility between the vector design aspects and the pixel modification (paint type) aspects of the program. For me it is very versatile.

I have no cons since I am not into computer generated CAD.

The versatility of the package - from illustration, photo edit, layout, tech drawing, design and layout we use it for all applications, literally from factory layout to workflow, product design, brochures etc

I can't really think of one - I was pretty upset when Deneba stopped supporting it on Mac for a while.

The interface looks almost exactly as the windows version. I happen to have used windows version more often because there was no acceptable version for MAC till this version.

What I don't like: 1. The font size for the interface is very small and hard to read. 2. Can not save in eps format Needing to save in .cvd not .cvx so now I have two versions of my graphics. One for windows machines and one for MAC machines. I happen to use both but would halve preferred to use one Canvas file format for both (like MS Word, Power Point, Excel, etc). Is this too much to ask or even dream about?

I like that it contains features of vector, raster, and presentation graphics all in one program.

A single license only allows a user to install and use the software on one computer. I use two, a laptop and a desktop computer, so only allowing use on one is very limiting for me since I switch back and forth. Users should be allowed two installations.

This software allows us to open any image, PDF, schematic, drawing or any other image to incorporate in our technical documentation. We rely on this software everyday to design communication systems while keeping the scale of the original document. We could not prosper as a business without this software.

This software has all the features and more than we can possibly use.

Canvas Draw provides an excellent tool for design and drawing that includes both Vector and raster graphics capabilities- this was critical to my personal decision because it was required to work with our Laser cutter and 3-D printers. Additionally it has allowed me to easily take my visions for furniture and such and create layouts for them.

As with any professional software, the learning curve constantly grows as the capabilities expand. As a retired faculty, it takes me longer to acquire the skills necessary to remain fully competent with the software. On the other hand, there are a number of resources to assist with developing the skills needed to make this software function at its optimum level. The other issue that I am still undecided about is the transition from purchase to subscription software.

Back and available for Macintosh users! It's a combination, page layout, graphic design, word/text creation and editing and a photo/art toolkit ALL wrapped into one!

Honestly, there is nor has been much. The biggest challenge I have had with this software was removing Macintosh users availability (which is now back... THANK YOU!) The only other challenge I have had with this software are the crashes and issues with remembering my user name/PW combination. This was early in the Mac reintroduction. I've not experience these lately.

For me the polygon drawing tools. The ability to add a GIS componemt for mapping. The variety of cvtools and their intuitive implementation and ease of use.

Export to HTML (web pages). At one tome it was leading edge but has not develped. The three choices and how it implements CSS, centre and normal all have imperfctions ie fuzzy fonts unless you tell it never to render, inconsistent URL links, loss over earlier versions maintaining list of URLs used, sometimes does not make link on htm/html page. Unable to set htm or html as preference.

I've used Canvas for upwards of 25 years - seriously. I love the combo of vector drawing and bitmap editing, on one canvas. Layout and scaling is so nice. Like a lot of tools, it is how familiar one is with the options (and Canvas has a lot) that matters. It just works when I need to make a graphic for personal or professional use.

Functionally, Canvas hasn't really changed over last 5+ years. I wish the licensing hadn't moved to annual subscription (though I understand). I tend to upgrade mainly for OS compatibility, and now extend my license for same purpose.

I have been very impressed by the continual upgrading of the Canvas Draw products

I have not found any drawbacks to the Canvas Draw products

I like very much to build very simply, quickly and easily moderately complex graphics mixing various componednt soursces as vectorial drawing, JPEG pictures, texts etc. Its very intituitive. There is no equivalent software on Mac. I used all versions of Canvas since 1990 and was very diasapointed by his discontinuation in 2005. I was very happy to find it again in 2015, There was nothing equivalent.

I regret that to buy a lifetime license has disappeard. I prefer to choose when to update than to be forced.

Producing step by step instructions with the layers

I do not having any negative comments about the software. It has been the best for me from the beginning.

The ability to copy and paste equations from WORD

The inability to graph an equation, like y = f(x). This graphic limitation forces me to use a third party product for graphics to follow by a 'copy and paste'.

Canvas is unrivaled in its ease of use in combining vector and image graphics. For presentations, it allows me to combine complicated text and equation (via LaTeX) with detailed graphics from CAD applications to Photoshop images. Output to standard graphics formats works well.

Some features are lacking compared to the Windows version of Canvas or even Canvas X for MacOS, for example Math Expression Plot.

It is free form. For example, using layers you can trace over JPEGs and create a vector object. It can do almost anything you wish to do with a graphic program. It is also fast.

Stability was an issue early on. that has been fixed! It has met all my needs thus far.

All in one capability. It runs native on the Mac.

Photo manipulation is a little long in the tooth compared to some of the new products on the market. Doesn't seem to have all the functionality of the PC version but good enough for my purposes. It doesn't presently run on the iPad but, if it did, it would be super wonderful.

Easy to use Can be used to review Files sent by AutoCad users

Has occasionally crashed causing me to lose unsaved work