ACD Canvas

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ACD Canvas is a graphics, publishing, and imaging product from ACD Systems for personal computers. The current version is Canvas X.

Canvas provides tools for creating and editing vector and raster graphics. It is used for illustration, page layout, animation, presentations, and publications in printed and Web formats.

Canvas was first developed by Deneba Systems, Inc. of Miami, Florida for Apple's Macintosh computers. With Version 3.5, Deneba released a version with file-format compatibility for Macintosh and Windows computers.

Deneba Systems was later acquired by ACD Systems, which has continued Canvas development in the former Deneba offices in Miami.

Canvas X application window showing an open document, the toolbox and Presets palette.

From its inception, Canvas differed from other graphics applications because it combined tools and file formats for both vector (line art) graphics, and raster (photographic and other pixel-based) images, along with word-processing and page-layout features. Reviewers often referred to Canvas as a "Swiss Army knife" application because of its broad range of capabilities. Canvas also emphasized technical drawing in addition to artistic illustration features.

Canvas is available in standard and extended versions. The optional Scientific Imaging module provides enhanced input-output filters for file formats commonly used in science and engineering visualization. The GIS module provides tools for use in mapping and GIS-based data analysis.

Canvas has been less well-known in the consumer market than programs marketed by larger companies, such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and CorelDRAW!. It has been better known in academic and commercial enterprises, with a customer base that includes Boeing, NASA, universities, school districts, publishing companies and advertising agencies. Canvas has been translated into multiple languages, including German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese.

Full and demonstration versions of Canvas X can be downloaded from the ACD Systems website (see link below).