I guess the rainy season isn’t over yet here. It looks like it’s going to stay for another week. Meanwhile, we’ve finished doing taxes, closing the book for the last accounting year. So we are back to software development business. So what’s the first software title to introduce? Well, we managed to submit the first Mac software title of the month to Mac App Store several hours ago. This new software submission is called ShapeWorks.

ShapeWorks is a desktop application that lets you easily work with vector graphics. Speaking of vector graphics, you don’t play with bezier curves as far as this application is concerned. All hard work is already done. ShapeWorks is loaded with more than 100 clip art vector shapes. So you’ll just have to pick one to work with. You can apply a simple color gradation map with two colors to the selected vector shape. Or you can open the gradation editor window to create a complex gradation color map with as many as 50 color stops. What you select is a vector shape, which is size-flexible. So you can easily resize the selected shape with your mouse by grabbing one of anchor points. And you can add a stroke to the selected shape with a color of your selection and a line type.  

Features

1. Get access to more than 100 vector shapes.
2. Use your mouse to grab one of anchor points and freely resize the selected vector shape.
3. Use two solid colors to make a quick color gradation cast over the shape background. Or open the gradation editor window to work on a more complex color gradation map.
4. Import to this application color gradation presets made by other applications that are developed by us. Similarly, export color gradation presets to a disk so that you can share them with other applications that are developed by us.
5. Add a stroke to the selected vector shape with a solid color of your selection. Choose one of more than a dozen line types for the vector stroke.
6. Save progress as a project file. Double-click on a project file to reproduce previous progress.
7. Change the background pattern behind the display area. Choose one of nine patterns (8 solid colors + a checkerboard).
8. Send the current vector shape to the printing screen. Save the current vector shape as a PDF file.
9. Change the view rate to see the entire vector shape at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 150, 200% or 300%. Press Command plus +/- to increase or reduce the view rate.
10. Flip the vector shape horizontally, vertically or horizontally and vertically when exporting it as a graphic image.
11. The application comes with an introductory window with a 5-page quick tour.
12. The application supports the fullscreen.
13. The application supports the Retina display.
14. Language: English only.
15. Application file size: 13.2 MB
16. The application comes with a complete user’s guide written in English. (Choose Help > User’s Guide.)

System requirements

1. Mac OS X 10.8 (tested), 10.9 (tested with 10.9.5), 10.10 (tested with 10.10.2)
2. 64-bit system

Limitations

1. Supported export formats are BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPEG 2000, PNG, TIFF plus PDF.
2. The user cannot rotate the selected vector shape though they can flip it when saving it as a graphic image.
3. The only gradation fill pattern supported by the application is linear.

Version history

1.1.6 (Released on April 15, 2015)

1. The application could fail to work properly with an European localization package where the comma is used to denote a decimal number.
2. Mac OS X 10.7 is cut off, and the development target is set to OS X 10.8.
3. The application will write the final image to the disk with resolutions of 144 dpi x 144 dpi for JPEG, PNG, TIFF is they have a Retina display.

1.1.3 (Released on August 25, 2014)

1. Fix: The application could crash or freeze when the user chose Gradation > Delete All Presets.

1.1.2 (Released on August 9, 2014)

1. Fix: When the user adjusted the split view divider position, the background pattern of the top pane was distorted vertically.
2. Change: When the user adjusted the split view divider position all the way to the bottom and then slided it back higher, several controls inside the bottom pane including the drop-down menu for shape type selection could disappear. As a workaround, the divider position is limited for the bottom split pane.

1.1.0 (Released on August 5, 2014)

1. 10 new vector shapes (House with a door 1, House with a door 2, Movie ticket, Pin, Umbrella, Electric plug 1, Electric plug 2, Comment 2, Comment 3, User 2) are added.
2. Fix: A minor fixed is done for opening a project file.
3. Fix: When the user launched the application, the number of degree under the Shape label did not appear.

1.0.2 (Released on July 13, 2014)

1. Fix: One of the vector shapes had a discontinuous break between lines.
2. A couple of vector shapes are renamed.

1.0.1 (Released on July 13, 2014)

1. Fix: The Save Shape Settings command under ShapeWorks did not kick in until the user first changed one of the settings.

User’s guide

Application user’s guide is available (only in English). Click here to access it online.






Trial/Demo version

Click here to download a trial version. It’s fully functional till July 20th, 2014. Rewind the system clock to continue to use it after expiration.






Video tutorial

A video tutorial with text commentary is available in the form of a QuickTime movie. Click here. The data size is 105.6 MB, and the movie duration is 9 minutes and 33 seconds. The video dimensions are 1,440 x 900 pts.






ShapeWorks is a product of MacHouse.
Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Mac App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.