A different, and perhaps preferable program to make scientific plates is the program Canvas. Drawing programs are fundamentally different from painting programs (Photoshop) in that objects on the page are either mathematical descriptions of (for example) arrows, text, or lines rather than a collection of pixels. Additionally, drawing programs can import bitmapped images from common image programs (e.g., Photoshop) at their native resolution.

Object resolution is dependent on the printer. Image resolution is the resolution of each image within the drawing. That is, each individual image may have a different resolution. The advantages of using a drawing program are:

• Each object will be printed at the highest resolution possible.
• Aliasing is unlikely when printed on standard high-resolution printers.
• File size can be substantially smaller, since white areas are not pixels.
• Individual objects (lines, text) can be edited at any time after creation.
• The attributes of an object (thickness, font) may be changed at any time.
• Arrangement of objects on the page can be changed easily.

Drawing programs are excellent at making technical diagrams and cartoons. This was their original function. With the advent of Canvas version 5, this program has become useful at manipulating bitmap (raster) images as well.

Note: ALL versions prior to Canvas 5 will irrevocably destroy the LUT of a bitmap image. Don't use previous versions to make plates.

The following is a short tutorial for Canvas.

• Making technical diagrams
  • Lines
  • Text
  • Colors
• Making a scientific plate for publication