Key features

This is a list of the most important changes/enhancements compared to regular Blender:

  • Workspace and interface optimised for DTP use
  • Nearly 100% accurate realtime preview - including alpha, images, textures
  • Versatile snapping features:
    • Interactive snapping to other objects during transforms, both to boundboxes and centers, including visualization of snapping axes, inside and outside editmode
    • Interactive absolute grid snapping (as opposed to relative snapping using CTRL, which is still available) during transform
  • Range of standard DTP primitives like Box, Circle, Line, Rounded Box, Arrow, Image
  • User-definable primitives are added easily
  • Automatic generation of procedural outlines for any kind of object, with adjustable thickness, fill, and shape
  • Automatic generation of procedural soft drop-shadows for any kind of object, with adjustable smoothness, alpha, and colour
  • Outlines and shadows are dynamic and will interactively adapt to object modifications
  • Immense flexibility for all kinds of fills, utilising the full power of Blender's material system
  • Easy, free, interactive layering (front/behind) of objects without the need for a static amount of layers
  • Versatile text objects (partly ported to official Blender), with features like:
    • Multiple freely positionable text frames / columns with continuous text flow, with optional baseline grid
    • Per-character manual kerning
    • Left/Right/Justify/Force-Justify (Flush) modes
    • Adjustable Tracking / Leading
    • Per-character fills (materials), weight/slant, underlining
    • Adjustable underline position/thickness
  • Print size adjustable in mm, resolution adjustable in DPI, with automatic calculation of optional 'bleed' area
  • Print resolution saved to all file formats that support it (JPEG, PNG, BMP)
  • Grouping of any number of objects into a group which can be manipulated as a single object, edited in place, and appended into other projects
  • Grouping of objects into named layers with visualization in a Layer manager, with easy per-layer locking, visual selection of entire layer, visual moving of content between layers, and automatic naming of layers
  • Guides with snapping
  • Any object type (including text) freely deformable using arbitrary 2D grids (Blender's lattice functionality, enhanced to work with text)
  • "Page" functionality using Blender's frame concept - any object can easily be told to exist only on a certain page or range of pages (frames)
  • "Export All" function which will export all pages (frames) as seperate images (former ANIM button)
  • Almost all transforms and editing are interactive with instant, fast feedback using Blender's OpenGL functionality
  • Built-in templates for frequently needed sizes, including cut guides (A3-A6, CD Booklet, CD Tray, Maxi CD, Website layout)
  • Adjusting float numbuts interactively updates the 3d view while sliding the mouse