Many graphics professionals consider both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator vital parts of their electronic palette. Historically, the two applications have served different functions — Photoshop for pixel-based images, Illustrator for vector- and path-based graphics and text. This division of labor isn't always convenient, and many graphic artists have complained about Photoshop’s lack of path-based text tools.
There’s no need to complain anymore, because Extensis has stepped in to fill a void in Photoshop’s feature list. PhotoGraphics is a powerful but easy-to-use Photoshop plug-in that both veterans and novices will like.
PhotoGraphics is very well rounded for a first-generation product. Its interface super-imposes itself on top of Photoshop’s, essentially acting as a separate application launch- ing within Photoshop. The interface looks and acts like any other Extensis plug-in — polished, accessible, and highly capable.
PhotoGraphics can perform a variety of tasks, but primary among them is creating and editing geometrical shapes and Bezier curves. Its simple toolbar allows you to draw rectangles, ovals, polygons, stars, and more. Other tools let you resize or rotate the shapes. The Pen tool, for example, works much as it does in Illus- trator and enables you to create complex Bezier curves with minimal effort. The comprehensive manual spends five pages discussing how to create various curves, points, and comers. However, once you deselect a shape or a Bezier curve in PhotoGraphics, you essentially lose the ability to edit it beyond resizing or rotating it: You can’t move a point on a Bezier curve, and you can’t change the indentation on a star.
Graphics professionals have the ability to create multiple text blocks on any path, with complete independent control over placement and formatting for each block. Options include settings to adjust kerning, baseline, character width, style, alignment, horizontal and vertical scaling, aliasing, and more. All of these options preview in real time. If you can’t get your text to look just right, it probably isn’t PhotoGraphics’ fault.
Extending the idea of an application within an application, PhotoGraphics sup- ports layers within itself, allowing you to position your drawings properly, as well as add object-level antialiasing and opacity. It also provides extra workspace for inspired sketching and doodling and comes with other perks that hard-core users will find practical, including keyboard shortcuts for everything, plus a well-written and helpful manual in the form of an Acrobat (PDF) file.
Perhaps PhotoGraphics’ niftiest trick is its ability to save what it calls “drawings” within the Photoshop file. Saving a drawing in a file allows you to open, reedit, and apply that drawing later. You can open and edit only one drawing at a time, but you can get around this limitation by compositing drawings on different layers. What’s even cooler? The program can save drawings in a wide variety of formats other than PSD, including MBP, EPS, JPEG, PDF, PICT, PNG, Scitex, Targa, TIFF, and many more. Email your colleagues a PICT file, and they’ll be able to open the drawings tucked inside!
At about $150, PhotoGraphics is reasonably priced, and it’s endowed with great features that may encourage you to ditch Illustrator altogether if you use it only for simple tasks. PhotoGraphics is mature and powerful for a version 1.0 release, although the inability to reedit deselected shapes and Bezier curves means it falls a little short of Freakin' Awesome.
Barzeski, Erik J. (June 1999). PhotoGraphics 1.0. MacAddict. (pg. 68).
Extensis Corporation
Applications
out of 10 (0 vote)
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2014-10-20 / 
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e-photographics-1.img.sit
Emulating this? It could probably run under: 
SheepShaver
