IntelliDraw is a shape based vector illustration tool that enables you to dynamically control shapes using numeric, rule based, or relationship based parameters.
IntelliDraw gets its name from its “smart” tools that automate drawing functions. However, IntelliDraw also flows text over linked columns, giving it basic page-layout capability. It creates multipage documents from editable master pages, produces animated effects, and incorporates QuickTime support, making it a highly competent presentation tool as well.
Foremost among IntelliDraw’s innovative tools are the Symmetrigon and Connectigon. The Symmetrigon produces perfectly symmetrical objects by establishing an axis and mirroring the shape being drawn. The Connectigon builds elastic objects that attach to the control handles of standard objects and automatically reshape themselves when the standard objects are edited or moved.
IntelliDraw also has connectors that can lock objects to each other at specific distances and angles, or stretch to retain the connection when objects are moved.
You can align and distribute objects on the page with organizing frames that will maintain the relationships you establish, as well as automatically reconfigure the layout if objects are subsequently added or deleted from the frame. In addition, objects can be dynamically linked so that if you alter the dimensions of one, the others rescale automatically.
IntelliDraw includes a shape-blending function that connects individual shapes into flowing forms. For example, several airfoil shapes could produce a representation of an aircraft wing.
With IntelliDraw 2.0 you can also produce polymorphic shape blends. However, polymorphic blends are not just static combinations. IntelliDraw 2.0 can meld multiple shapes over a sequence of user-defined steps to produce an editable composite that retains all the steps of its transformation. A slider control attached to the blended shape itself lets you step through the stages of morphing. And fills applied to the original objects are also blended in sequence for chameleon-like effects. When combined with IntelliDraw’s animation function, polymorphic blending can produce complex sequences, such as transforming a flower from bud to blossom.
IntelliDraw 2.0 offers new warping and perspective effects that, for example, easily let you reshape an object’s duplicate into a distorted shadow. However, apply the shadow’s fill before you distort the object. After warping, a fill affects only the bounding area around the shape, not the shape itself. IntelliDraw 2.0 can handle simple drafting chores. You can distribute a group of objects along a path defined by another object. Or you can attach a series of duplicate objects to another object. For example, on an illustration of a machine part, you could quickly position screw holes along a circle. And IntelliDraw 2.0 provides associative dimensioning tools that recalibrate themselves when the dimensioned object is edited and remain attached when the object is moved.
IntelliDraw 2.0 still relies on its polyshape tool to produce Beziers, and they still behave differently than in other illustration programs. However, IntelliDraw’s Béziers are easy to create and manipulate. And the program now lets you split and rejoin curved segments, making its Béziers more appealing to graphic artists.
General text handling has been improved with better controls for kerning and for justifying character and word spacing. A spelling checker and hyphenation dictionary have been added as well. Also, IntelliDraw 2.0 can place text along a curve. Text is applied as an object group along the selected path and remains editable after placement.
IntelliDraw 2.0 also introduces IDraw templates, a nicely implemented rendition of object libraries. IDraw templates can be anything from page masters for presentation documents to clip art objects. You can open as many libraries as memory permits, each with its own dragand-drop, multiple-thumbnail window, and save user-created objects to new IDraw template libraries.
IntelliDraw is not perfect. It still lacks a pen tool for graphic artists, and curved objects with offline control points don’t mesh properly with Connectigon shapes. But such criticisms are relatively minor.
IntelliDraw 2.0 works well, does a great job of automating drawing tasks, and is straightforward in character. Despite its breadth of features, the program always feels approachable. All in all, IntelliDraw 2.0 is a wonderful generalpurpose graphics package.
Martinez, Carlos Domingo. (September 1994). IntelliDraw 2.0. Macworld. (pg. 59).
Aldus Corporation
Applications
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2015-08-29 / 
2023-06-20 / 
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aldus_intelliDraw_dc42.sit
Emulating this? It could probably run under: 
Basilisk II
