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Mayura Draw
April 25, 2001
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Mayura Draw is a graphics program that offers far fewer options
than CorelDraw and other such hard drive consuming programs, but
what it does provide is a quick and easy graphics editor that is
much smaller in size (a mere 460 KB) and in price ($25) when
compared to most others.
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The mere fact that it doesn't offer as many features as the big-
name programs is not to say that Mayura Draw (know in earlier
versions as PageDraw) is a program lacking in features —
necessary or otherwise.
The program can import .AI, .WMF, .GIF, .JPG, and .BMP formats
and can export files in .SVG, .EPS, .PS, .AI, .PDF, .WMF, .GIF,
.JPG, .BMP, and .TIFF formats. Users can download a program
called
Ghostscript
to convert .EPS files to .AI files, thereby enabling the
editing of the PostScript graphic in Mayura Draw.
Mayura's .SVG export is based on the latest draft of the Web's
new industry standard for vector graphics. The program also
proves its Internet friendliness in dealing with .SVG files
because it allows users to apply URLs to elements of an .SVG
file. In other words, it's great for producing Internet-ready
graphics. Users can download a free SVG Viewer from
Adobe.
Mayura has the usual basic drawing tools — rectangles,
ovals, rounded-corner rectangles, lines, curved lines, polygons,
and arc tools. Unlike most drawing programs, users can draw an
arc that can hold a fill color as is shown here, simply by
drawing the arc and selecting a color from the palette at the
bottom of the screen. The program also offers a number of
patterns that can be applied to a drawing with a simple click of
a mouse button.
Mayura Draw does behave differently than many graphics programs
when it comes to rotating objects, especially text, whether they
were drawn in the program or imported. When users select the
graphic and the rotate tool, the program places a facsimile of a
stick pin on the graphic. That pin can then be moved anywhere on
or along the graphic to change the center point of the rotation.
Mayura also uses the same principle for skewing, scaling, and
reflecting graphics, a fact that enables users to create more
difficult appearances with little effort.
When using the free-form tool, the program will apply smooth
curves and automatically connect the ends if the ending point is
close to the starting point. Users can select handles on bezier
curves to manipulate them, and the program handles such movements
better — and smoother — than most. Further, the
program allows users to select multiple objects for alignment,
which it then automatically lines up.
As seen in the large graphic, functions are available either
through a drop-down menu or by clicking on an icon, typical of
most programs. Unlike many drawing programs, however, Mayura Draw
does give the user a wireframe view as well as the option of
turning on a grid.
The program — despite its Internet-like features — is
designed for scientists and engineers who need to make technical
drawings. Mayura Draw can also work with
Perl
to perform PostScript form generation.
The program allows users to make graphics in portrait or
landscape orientation and change them as needed without starting
a new document, including zooming in as needed up to 1,200
percent.
Mayura Draw is definitely a program worth exploring for people
who need to make professional looking graphics and want to keep
costs down.
What is it called again? Mayura
Draw 3.6
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Where can I get it?
http://www.mayura.com
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How much does it cost? $25;
Users can have a 30-day free trial
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How big is the download? 460 KB.
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Available in what languages?
English, Italian, German, and Russian
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Do I recommend it? It's a no-brainer for those
wanting effective but inexpensive drawing tools.
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