Adobe Streamline 4.0 Upgrade [Old Version]

by Adobe

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00004S60P
• Item model number: 26020012
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 10, 2002
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,525 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Streamline 4.0 Upgrade is an excellent bridge between the worlds of freehand drawing and resolution-independent graphics. At its heart, the software is basically a conversion utility, a tool for importing bitmapped (raster) images and exporting them as vector-based line art. But it's a disservice to the application to downplay what is so simply stated.

The value of Streamline becomes apparent after the first conversion--it quickens the heart to see a hand-drawn, bitmapped image imported into a program like Adobe Illustrator, where one can tweak the curve and width of any line, and scale it up until it fills a billboard.

The process starts with a drawing or image being scanned in or photographed with a digital camera and saved out from a program like Adobe Photoshop. It is then opened in Streamline (it works with many file types, including native Photoshop), where the image is converted to vector lines.

The options for conversion are numerous: control point density, smoothness, line width, stroke or fill, curve smoothing. Additionally, areas of the original image can be selectively converted, with each area using different conversion settings--some for smoother, thicker lines, some for rougher, more edgy lines, and variations thereof. Also, Streamline 4.0 now features a "convert to" command, for converting a roughly drawn shape into a standard shape; for example, a crude egg shape on a cocktail napkin could be converted to a perfect circle, or four rough strokes into a smooth, even rectangle. Streamline 4.0 also supports converting colors to vector-based areas of color. One can specify the number of colors to use and which color palette would best match. Adobe-standard keyboard shortcuts improve one's efficiency with the application, and being able to drag and drop across applications is a handy feature that anyone can grow to love.

Freehand drawing on a computer is not as easy or straightforward as taking pencil to paper--a natural quality is lacking, a texture more felt than seen. But graphics software offers features not found in "real-life" art, like the ability to scale an image up and down without losing the sharpness of a line. For any serious digital artist, this upgrade is a must-have. It is one of those tools that is used the least, but appreciated the most. --Mike Caputo--This text refers to the Mac version of this software.

Amazon.com Product Description

This program delivers maximum control for converting images to line art. Adobe Streamline 4.0 software instantly converts scanned black-and-white or color raster images into editable Adobe PostScript line art. Just scan any sketch, and Streamline automatically creates a file that you can drag and drop into Adobe Illustrator to complete your design.

You'll find Adobe Streamline 4.0 is the perfect companion to drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator and Macromedia Freehand, whether you're a designer or user of graphics software. Streamline works seamlessly with the Adobe family of graphics software: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PageMaker, and Adobe Photoshop--so it's simple to integrate converted bitmap images into the production process. Complete compatibility between the Macintosh and Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 versions means you can choose the platform for your best work and move files freely between systems.