Welcome to Canvas™ 6. This document provides installation instructions and notes about this Canvas release.
For information on using Canvas, you can refer to the Help system in Canvas by choosing Help > Contents.
For all the information you need to get the most out of Canvas, be sure to refer to the printed Canvas documentation:
• The Getting Started guide provides an overview of Canvas. The Guide's tutorial lessons introduce many Canvas features, including customizing the interface and using new transparency effects.
• The Canvas User's Guide documents how to do everything in Canvas, including drawing, text editing, page layout, painting, image editing, presentations, and web page design.
• The Color Printing Guide explains how to use Canvas when you produce documents for commercial printing, with information about printing issues, color calibration, and producing color separations.
• The Clip Art and URW™ Type Library is a guide to the professional font library and clip art collection included with Canvas on CD-ROM.
If you need additional help, refer to the end of this document for information about contacting Deneba Software.
Installing Canvas
Before you install Canvas, please verify that your system meets the minimum requirements for running Canvas:
• PowerPC™ processor
• Mac System 7.5 or later
• CD-ROM drive
• 16 MB RAM available to Canvas; 32 MB RAM recommended
• 50 MB disk space available
• 8-bit color video display; 24-bit color display recommended
To install from CD-ROM
Before installation, quit any applications that are running on your Mac.
To begin installation, double-click the Canvas™ 6 Install icon on the Canvas installation CD-ROM.
The Canvas setup program displays instructions and options for you to select. On the Software License Agreement screen, read the license agreement and indicate your acceptance of the license agreement by clicking Accept.
You can select a location for installing Canvas and choose other installation options in the installer dialog box.
• Choose Easy Install to install all Canvas items.
• Choose Custom Install to select the items to install.
After you make your selections, click Install to begin installation
Choosing a default color space
The installer asks you to choose color presets for your typical work. You can choose RGB or CMYK color presets. The installer screen explains typical uses for each type. Canvas loads the color presets you specify into the Inks palette. Your choice also affects colors in the Strokes palette, the Color Dropper tool mode, and the default printer calibration setting. However, your choice does not limit your ability to use any color system that Canvas supports. You can choose either color option during installation, and then change color settings at any time in Canvas.
Personalizing Canvas
The first time you launch Canvas, you're asked to enter a user name, company name, and serial number for Canvas. Type the serial number exactly as it appears on your Canvas Official Ownership Certificate. The serial number appears under the title and on the mail-in registration card.
Remember to register!
Be sure to register your copy of Canvas! You can mail the registration card or visit the Deneba web site (www.deneba.com) to register. Registration is important because you must be registered to receive technical support. As a registered user, you can also receive special discounts on upgrades and other offers.
Release notes
This section describes new features, changes, and corrections since the printing of the Canvas documentation.
AutoCAD DWG file import
A new DWG import filter lets you import native AutoCAD (r14) files into Canvas. This filter scales an AutoCAD drawing to a document size of 8.5 by 11 inches. To use this filter, choose File > Open or File > Place and select AutoCAD DWG format in the directory dialog box.
DXF file import
A new DXF import filter provides improved accuracy for opening DXF files in Canvas. This filter scales a DXF file to a document size of 8.5 by 11 inches. It’s not necessary to set a scaling factor, so the DXF Import Options dialog box (described in the User’s Guide), does not appear when you open a DXF file. However, export options for DXF files remain the same.
Printing
By default, Canvas uses JPEG compression for printing images. This can reduce the amount of data sent to a printer. However, a network printer with a print spooler might report an I/O error if data arrives too quickly. If this happens, select Images: ASCII or Level 2 ASCII in the Print dialog box and try printing again. The Images setting affects printing of images and rendered transparency effects only.
Sprite tool
The Sprite tool provides another way to apply and edit transparency masks. Using this tool is similar to using commands (New Mask and Edit Mask) or the Transparency palette for working with transparency masks.
The Sprite tool is located in the Effects toolbar. To apply a channel mask to an object, click the object with the Sprite tool. To edit an object's channel mask or vector mask, click the object with the Sprite tool. (If the mask was created from a vector object, a message tells you that the mask can't be edited.)
Font submenu display
Canvas can display the actual appearance of your fonts in the Font submenu. Canvas does this when the option "Use WYSIWYG Font Menu" is selected in the Preferences dialog box. However, this feature can conflict with some fonts utilities, especially earlier versions of Adobe Type Reunion. If you use this utility and experience problems with the Font submenu in Canvas, you can disable the WYSIWYG font display in Canvas. To do this, choose File > Preferences. On the Type tab, deselect "Use WYSIWYG Font Menu." When this option is deselected, Canvas uses the standard menu typeface to display font names in the Font submenu.
Twirl filter
The twirl dialog box has a new option labeled "No Anti-alias." This option works similar to the "No Anti-alias" option in the Spherize dialog box. When the option is selected, the Twirl filter does not apply anti-aliasing to the image.
Brush shapes
You can select a brush shape preview as the pointer for painting tools. This option is available in the Preferences dialog box and the context menu during painting. However, Canvas doesn't display the outline of very small or very large brushes at some magnification levels. If a brush preview can't be displayed, the painting tool icon appears as the pointer.
Printing transparencies
The default Render setting is "Transparent & Overlapped" in the Print dialog box. This setting can avoid a color change between rendered and non-rendered areas when printing on some non-PostScript printers. If obvious color changes don't appear in documents you print, choose Render: Transparent Areas in the Print dialog box for faster printing.
Color and transparency effects
Canvas uses RGB color values as the default for "compositing" (previewing) transparency effects. RGB compositing is the default whether you choose RGB or CMYK presets during installation. However, if you assign CMYK colors and certain transfer modes to objects, RGB compositing could be inaccurate. To change the compositing mode, choose File > Preferences. On the Display tab, choose CMYK in the Screen Compositing menu. If you don't produce CMYK color separations for commercial printing, you don't need to change the default setting.
Contacting Deneba
We work continually to improve our products and satisfy the needs of our customers. We appreciate your feedback and suggestions. If you have comments or need additional information or assistance, please contact Deneba by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail:
Mail:
Deneba Software
Customer Support Department
7400 S.W. 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33173
Phone: 305-596-5644
Fax: 305-273-9069
E-mail: You can send e-mail to Deneba Software at: support@deneba.com
Web site: For technical support, product information, software updates, how-to pages, tips, and company information, be sure to visit the Deneba web site at www.deneba.com
