This is not a programming issue, but I am asking it here because it is certainly a software development issue, if you take “software development” to include all aspects of creating a software system.
I am an independent iPhone developer. With the exception of translations, I myself handle all aspects of my applications, including graphics. I have to regularly create icons, buttons and user interface elements. I recognized a few tricks in these lines, and although they are certainly not works of art, I can effectively use gradients, shadows, strokes, transparency and textures to create minimalistic, attractive effects.
So far I have used the VectorDesigner vector drawing tool for all of my designs, with periodic post-processing of the Pixelmator raster. So far, it worked fine, but VectorDesigner has many problems:
- It uses the package format for its files, which prevents the use of Subversion.
- This is a printing tool, and I have to be very careful not to be in objects with fractional pixel values that cause anti-aliasing.
- While you can take the union or intersection of shapes, or add and subtract them, curves tend to warp with repetitive logical operations, sometimes quite sharply.
- And he offers very little control over the strokes, to the point that I hardly use them.
So, I'm looking for the best tool for this specific purpose: drawing simple icons, buttons, and user interface elements on a Mac with the help of someone without learning graphic design. Good export features would be a plus - ideally, it should be almost as easy to export PNG to the place it sends in my project, since it should save (not save as) the file.
The ideal tool for me is one that allows you to determine the shape of an object by stacking areas and masks defined by primitive shapes (which will remain separately editable), and then define properties on objects such as transformations and strokes. I have no idea if something like that exists.
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