Tell me more ×
Graphic Design Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professional graphic designers and non-designers trying to do their own graphic design. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 0 down vote favorite

I usually draw (or vectorize) using flash. I like how I can draw a line then bend that line. i.e. not using the pen. I find this easier since I can always go back and modify something easily.

Do you know any other software that works in a similar fashion? If it's available on Linux it would be great, since I'm trying to stop using Windows and Flash drawing is one of the biggest issues.

Thanks in advance!

share|improve this question

4 Answers

up vote 0 down vote accepted

While this is not going to help you get away from Windows, Autodesk Sketchbook Designer has a curve drawing/editing feature similar to what you describe. It allows you to re-stroke an entire curve or a portion of a curve using a free hand method. It also gives you control points you can grab and drag around to freely modify a curve.

share|improve this answer
I thought about posting Sketchbook designer but decided against it since it is (at least to me) not at all developed. The UI is cool and is very easy to use. The same goes for the functionality. BUT once you try using it with a Wacom... practically no shortcuts no customization of existing ones. no line scaling. no highres artboards (even if it's vectors resolution is always 72dpi). I seldom grew more frustrated by any software. Possibly because of it's immense and unrealized potential and unfinished feel. Are you currently using it in your workflow? – leugim Apr 22 '11 at 8:02
@leugim - I know what you mean. I really love the UI--so much so that I try to find occasions to use Sketchbook Designer wherever possible. It does have some pretty substantial limitations, however, and it feels largely neglected among the Autodesk lineup. With some real attention it could be great, but left as it is now it feels kind of abandoned; certainly not a contender as a cornerstone application in most workflows. – Sean Apr 23 '11 at 6:11
I feel the same when using Sketchbook designer! I also try and use it where ever possible. At the moment I use it the most at my doodle-stage. After that I generally trace the image or use it as a side-reference. – leugim Apr 23 '11 at 7:27
up vote 1 down vote

Not quite the same but inkscape has some very nice drawing tools, IMHO. It's become my replacement for Freehand (which I always preferred to Illustrator).

http://inkscape.org/

share|improve this answer
Inkscape is very good, I know it, but it uses pen, which is what I'm trying to avoid. So it's not relevant to my interests. – Kirby Apr 21 '11 at 20:10
1  
Pen is but one of the tools. Try the freehand option. Or...maybe I'm not understanding what you are looking for. You can also draw beziers with the pen tool then 'bend' the segment itself by grabbing it with the 'edit paths' tool. – DA01 Apr 21 '11 at 20:21
I don't want to modify the line based on points. I just want to click-drag one random point on a line, then pull/push it to make it curved. I could say "the point then it's generated and allows me to adjust it". Also, the original line is a straight line (made of two points). – Kirby Apr 21 '11 at 20:24
1  
Kirby...try grabbing the freehand tool, adjust smoothing to maybe 30 or so, and switch it to 'Create Spiro Path' mode. Unlike beziers, where you adjust the point handles on the curve, on a Spiro path, you grab the actual points and slide them along the path as you see fit to adjust the line segment in our out. Still perhaps not what you are looking for, but perhaps an option. – DA01 Apr 21 '11 at 20:29
I'll try that, since I don't see any options xD thank you very much for your comments :3 – Kirby Apr 21 '11 at 20:52
show 2 more comments
up vote 0 down vote

The drawing tools in Flash came from SmartSketch, a vector drawing tool Macromedia purchased and integrated into their own products. I actually used SmartSketch before Flash ever existed, so I was pretty amused to see the exact same drawing tools years later.

This bit of history doesn't help you out at all but I'm mentioning this answer for completeness sake. It is technically a program other than Flash that has the same drawing tools.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

Fireworks is a great vector drawing program. You can certainly bend and edit lines. Files can be saved as vector or raster and can also be exported with HTML if needed to be used online. Illustrator has been my tool of choice for vector drawing for many years for print documents, but Fireworks is now my vector tool choice for all my online work. If you have Flash, you probably have either Fireworks or Illustrator or even both already since all are part of Adobe Creative Suites.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.