Please bring these features of previous ArtText versions to ArtText 3:
- The option to turn the display handles on an object ON/OFF. At times it is so much easier to work without those annoying handle squares blocking the view.
- The ability to 'tab' between the Width and Height fields when setting the document size. It may sound trivial, but it was very helpful.
- Keep duplicated layers at the same 'x' and 'y' as the original layer. Previously when duplicating a layer, the new copy would be located at the EXACT location of the original layer which made sense! If I want to duplicate a layer, I expect the shape, its style AND its location to be identical, not offset.
- After the Union of multiple layers, the ability to 'break it apart' back into the original layers. This is such an extremely valuable feature in ArtText 2 and my number one request!
Suggestions for improvements:
- Add a numeric angle field to the Fill > Gradient tab (like on the Geometry and Effect > Shadow tabs) so that a precise degree of angle for the gradient can be set.
- When the Inspector panel is "floating" or undocked you're only able to view one tool at a time (Text, Fill, Stroke, Effects, Mask, Geometry) and have to constantly use keystrokes to switch between tools. It would be nice to have each tool in its own window.
- Add the ability to "float" or undock selections from the Content Panel (Templates, Images, Shapes, Layers) and have each in their own window.
- Be able to easily change a Text layer into a Shape layer (e.g. triangle) and also a Shape layer into a Text layer without adding and deleting layers.
Quirky little bug to fix:
- Transform a shape with Spline-Curve transformation then deselect the shape. Select the shape again then click Spline-Curve to make the transformation handles appear. When you grab a handle to make a transformation change, the shape reverts back to its default shape without transformation! The only way to get around this is to 'Edit > Undo' which reapplies the transformation to the shape but also allows you to grab the transform handles and tweak the shape's appearance.
To the developers of ArtText - keep up the great work! I love this application and look forward to future developments, features and updates!
