Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

jamesl · Jan 26, 2005, 05:14 PM

Does anybody think that an omnigraffle like applpication would be an ideal replacement for the drawing element of Appleworks for the next upgrade of iWork? Maybe even intergrate a basic version of Omnigraffle?

dampeoples · Jan 26, 2005, 07:10 PM

Uh, no.

cpac · Jan 26, 2005, 07:14 PM

OmniGraffle is great for diagramming, but lousy for drawing.

That said, I know I'd love a basic OS X drawing app along the lines of ClarisDraw. My father, an architect, *still* uses ClarisDraw in classic for basic drawings because he hasn't found a good replacement that's OS X native (Illustrator is overkill and too complex; OmniGraffle lacks basic drawing tools/abilities like setting a scale/drawing an arc, etc.)

juanvaldes · Jan 26, 2005, 09:13 PM

They already bundle it with the pro hardware.

wilsonng · Feb 4, 2005, 05:56 AM

I'd have to disagree that OmniGraffle is lousy for drawing.

When iWorks came out, I was mildly amused. I love AppleWorks but I'm still waiting for the day when iWorks 3 will finally replace AppleWorks.

I am still using AppleWorks for most of my word processing and spreadsheet but I have switched my drawing functions over to OmniGraffle Pro 3. I never really tried OmniGraffle 2 that much because I was happy with AppleWork's draw function.

But when I downloaded OmniGraffle 3 Pro, I was floored and ponied up the credit card for it. I like this a lot better than AppleWorks draw as a drawing program. It is my current draw program until iWorks 3 comes out with iDraw or something like that ;-)

The stencils alone make OmniGraffle 3 Pro a strong draw program. Heck, you can do flow charts, organizational charts, and circuit diagrams much easier in OmniGraffle 3 than you can in AppleWorks.

If you want a better draw program, then check out Canvas 9. It may probably be overkill. Your architect dad might like the precision that Canvas features as well. A bit higher priced but certainly a powerhouse in its own way.

At this moment, I'm using GraphicConverter for my Paint functions, OmniGraffle for my Draw functions, PowerPoint for my Presentation functions (I may switch over to KeyNote after I try it out). I still use AppleWorks for my word processing and spreadsheet but i have been outgrowing the spreadsheet function so I'm gonna have to go with Excel on that one.

I can't wait for iWorks 3 when it finally has everything I need to replace AppleWorks.

Originally posted by cpac:
OmniGraffle is great for diagramming, but lousy for drawing.

That said, I know I'd love a basic OS X drawing app along the lines of ClarisDraw. My father, an architect, *still* uses ClarisDraw in classic for basic drawings because he hasn't found a good replacement that's OS X native (Illustrator is overkill and too complex; OmniGraffle lacks basic drawing tools/abilities like setting a scale/drawing an arc, etc.)

Millennium · Feb 4, 2005, 07:07 AM

No.

OmniGraffle is a very specialized kind of drawing app, in that it's made for drawing diagrams. It's very good at doing this, too. However, little effort has been put into making general graphics, mostly because that's not the point of the program.

A replacement for AppleWorks' Draw module would need to be more of a general-graphics style of app: closer to Illustrator than to Visio. OmniGraffle is not that app. This isn't to insult OmniGraffle in the least; it's a wonderful app for what it does, and I've used it for precisely that. However, using a screwdriver to pound in a nail is generally not a good idea.

Millennium · Feb 4, 2005, 07:09 AM

Originally posted by wilsonng:
The stencils alone make OmniGraffle 3 Pro a strong draw program. Heck, you can do flow charts, organizational charts, and circuit diagrams much easier in OmniGraffle 3 than you can in AppleWorks.

No one is disputing that you can make charts and diagrams very easily in OmniGraffle. But try drawing a car -any kind of car will do- and you'll run into its limitations. These limitations bring no shame to OmniGraffle; it's just not that kind of app.

wilsonng · Feb 4, 2005, 07:58 AM

Ah, I see your point about OmniGraffle's specialization. I understand it is mostly for diagramming. But that's all I personally really do in AppleWorks draw.

I'm not sure what you mean by general graphics. The PBs generally come with GraphicConverter to handle the paint stuff. I can copy and paste this into OmniGraffle to place alongside vector graphics.

Methinks drawing a car would be better suited for Canvas 9. That appears to be my front runner for OS X native drawing applications.

Right now, I'm trying to find a suitable low-cost replacement for the AppleWorks Draw and Paint modules. For now, I'm using OmniGraffle 3 and GraphicConverter.

Does anyone else have any other programs that they'd like to offer as suitable replacements?

Originally posted by Millennium:
No one is disputing that you can make charts and diagrams very easily in OmniGraffle. But try drawing a car -any kind of car will do- and you'll run into its limitations. These limitations bring no shame to OmniGraffle; it's just not that kind of app.

Sharky K. · Feb 4, 2005, 08:56 AM

what about stone create?

Krypton · Feb 4, 2005, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by Sharky K.:
what about stone create?

Seconded

The links in my sig (tree, matrix etc) are to tutorials based on Create's drawing capabilities if you care to take a look.

cpac · Feb 4, 2005, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by wilsonng:
Methinks drawing a car would be better suited for Canvas 9. That appears to be my front runner for OS X native drawing applications.

There's Illustrator, and my father the architect has that option available to him, but there is no current drawing option offering the simplicity and power of ClarisDraw for OS X.

chris.p · Feb 4, 2005, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by wilsonng:

Right now, I'm trying to find a suitable low-cost replacement for the AppleWorks Draw and Paint modules.

http://www.eazydraw.com/

From their homepage:

"Think... MacDraw (now Claris Draw) on Steroids

The OS X drawing application of choice for Engineers, Entrepreneurs, Artist, Hobbyist and Educators.

Drafting, DTP, Illustrations, Technical Drawings, Web Art, Organization Charts, Family Trees, House Plans, Math Curves .... "

I haven't tried it, but it might be what you are after.

cpac · Feb 4, 2005, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by chris.p:
http://www.eazydraw.com/

From their homepage:

"Think... MacDraw (now Claris Draw) on Steroids

The OS X drawing application of choice for Engineers, Entrepreneurs, Artist, Hobbyist and Educators.

Drafting, DTP, Illustrations, Technical Drawings, Web Art, Organization Charts, Family Trees, House Plans, Math Curves .... "

I haven't tried it, but it might be what you are after.

Looks promising, but what's with charging $20 FOR A DEMO???

Chuckit · Feb 4, 2005, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by chris.p:
http://www.eazydraw.com/

From their homepage:

"Think... MacDraw (now Claris Draw) on Steroids

The OS X drawing application of choice for Engineers, Entrepreneurs, Artist, Hobbyist and Educators.

Drafting, DTP, Illustrations, Technical Drawings, Web Art, Organization Charts, Family Trees, House Plans, Math Curves .... "

Plus it's the hotest drawing app on the Mac! How many other art programs will also make sure your hos are up to snuff?

cpac · Feb 4, 2005, 10:49 AM

Ah - after emailing the developers of Eazydraw they explained that there is, in fact, a free demo. It's just limited in terms of how many objects you can create (30). The $20 gets you full capabilities for 9 months.

I wish they made the free version more prominent on their site.

Krypton · Feb 4, 2005, 11:13 AM

Download Stone Create here.