Serif DrawPlus SE is Serif's entry in the less-crowded market of free vector-based graphics editors. As with other free Serif applications, DrawPlus SE is a cut down version of a paid-for software package and, as such, is lacking a number of features which appear in the menus and toolbars, but don't actually function.
Despite those missing features, DrawPlus SE does offer enough power to serve as a good introduction to vector-based graphics editors and can be a useful tool for home users seeking a vector application to complement their favorite pixel-based graphics editor and desktop publishing software.
Highlights of DrawPlus SE
DrawPlus SE is a well-presented application with a user-friendly interface. Users of other Serif applications will recognize a family resemblance in the overall look and feel of the interface, and that's no bad thing as Serif does seem to understand the art of making tools and information easily accessible to their users.
Some of the key features of DrawPlus SE include:
- Well-presented user interface
- Easily accessible help information and tutorials to speed new users along
- Reasonable range of tools for beginner and intermediate vector-line graphics editor users
- Change alignment and angle of individual letters within editable text
- Flexible transparency and gradient effects
- Preset Effects palette with controls to achieve visual effects very quickly
- Gallery palette with preloaded clip art objects categorized into logical groups for easy access
Why Use DrawPlus SE?
DrawPlus SE is aimed at home users rather than those looking for a free alternative to Adobe Illustrator, and, indeed, it is only licensed for personal use. The Effects and Gallery palettes offer quick and easy access to various objects and visual effects that can make it easy for inexperienced users to produce striking results very quickly.
If you're already using a pixel-based image editor, you may not see the point of using a vector-based graphics editor also, however vector graphics can be infinitely resized without loss of quality, which can be vital in scenarios such as producing a logo that may have to be printed on a business card and reproduced as the main graphic on a poster.
It is arguably also easier to work on complete design projects, such as posters and leaflets, in a vector-based application like DrawPlus SE, though it should be noted that tools for text editing are quite limited.
The Limitations of DrawPlus SE
One of the first things I noticed with DrawPlus SE is a point that seems to affect all the free Serif applications that I've tried, namely the lack of keyboard shortcuts for the tools palette. I do try to use shortcuts in all applications as they can really speed up my work flow, but for an application that targets home users this may not be an issue for most.
What may be a more obvious shortcoming for all users is the way that various tools and features have been disabled within DrawPlus SE's user interface, though without any visual cue. As a result, users should be prepared for the frustration of clicking on a tool or feature only to have a new window open announcing that the feature has been disabled and that users must upgrade to the paid version to access the feature.
There are also limited options for saving work for use outside of DrawPlus SE, with no option to produce PDFs and just a few export options, including JPG, GIF and PNG.
System Requirements
The Serif website just lists Windows XP or Vista under the requirements for running DrawPlus SE. I've used the software on an average spec laptop with 2GB RAM and have found it generally responsive and experienced no unexpected glitches.
Support and Training
To new users, Serif DrawPlus SE could seem a bit overwhelming and alien, but Serif have done an excellent job of incorporating features to make the learning curve as shallow as possible. There is a pop out palette that displays information on how to use a particular tool every time that a tool is selected and there are also links to short 'How To' articles here.
The Help menu gives access to the comprehensive help files that cover just about everything that a DrawPlus SE user could ever need to know, plus access to tutorials and one click links to the DrawPlus community site and Serif forums.
Serif DrawPlus SE can be downloaded for free from the Free Serif Software website.