Review: Bohemian Coding Sketch

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.rev_stuff.sketch-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>As the need for resolution-independent graphics increases,designers are looking for alternatives to the weighty, pricey Adobe Illustratorand its web oriented cousin, Fireworks. </P><br /><P>Sketch seemingly aims to supplant both,but at a fraction of the cost. </P><br /><P>Sketch’s sparse interface is surprisinglyflexible, cleverly utilising pop-up hints and an inspector that disappears whennot in use. </P><br /><P>The workspace is ‘infinite’, but optional rulers and a fantasticgrid (along with Option-hovering to access distances between objects) are availablefor working on structured documents (websites, print adverts). </P><br /><P>Tools and effectsare fewer than in Illustrator, but the shapes and boolean operations are sufficient,and the ability to define symbols and text styles is a time-saver. But Sketchbetrays its ‘version 1’ status with occasional instability. </P><br /><P>The lack ofnine-slice scaling limits Sketch’s scope for interface design, and its inabilityto import editable EPS files is disappointing (although we found EPS export toIllustrator more successful). </P><br /><P>It’s worth remembering Sketch’s focus and lowprice – Illustrator CS5 costs over 15 times more. This release is a bit buggy,but it’s also in many ways brilliant, with tons of potential.</P><br /><P>So while Sketchdoesn’t get our highest rating, we urge anyone who regularly works with vectorsto at least check it out.</P>

Review: Bohemian Coding Sketch

As the need for resolution-independent graphics increases,designers are looking for alternatives to the weighty, pricey Adobe Illustratorand...

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