Custom Alphas Module

[Manaburn]

It'd be great if you added a feature where we could imput our own custom alphas. Sort of like the Pattern Brush in Painter.

[Karl DD]

Actually we have been discussing something like this. Keep in mind everything is Vector, so it has to be shape based with hard edges.
What were talking about was some kind of brush that sprayed out random shapes from a folder of vectors.

Is this sort of what you mean?

[Rezeroth]

I agree with Manaburn on that.. it'll be cool to have that so its sorta like custom brushes for Photoshop and Oainter that way ppl could be a lot more creative with the software. A lil more DIY i think... It might make the software bigger in size though but i think its worth looking into. my 2 cents..software is great so far though CHEERS!!

[kollatt]

i think this is a brilliant suggestion, and could definitely be a good answer to the shape language issue. maybe alchemy could have a custom vector inventory that samples images. it would give a very open ended solution to an already powerful shape tool. i think the key would be keeping it different from other software that uses alpha images. maybe combining two images at once? i dunno..

[Karl DD]

In some format or another this is definitely on the cards for the next version.
The other thing that springs to mind is a way to submit/receive new shapes from the Alchemy server.
Assuming most people have broadband, this could be an interesting way to introduce different brush shapes, and build up a kind of community shape library.

[Manaburn]

Wish I had gotten back to look at this sooner. I just DLed the latest and have not even checked it out yet. I hope you keep the idea of having a shareable library for the comunity in your plans for upcoming releases. It would be cool to share the library's of shapes we had gathered with others and vice versa.

[Karl DD]

Definitely.
We have started building that module and are hoping to get some help towards making the server side.

Karl

[NDean]

In some format or another this is definitely on the cards for the next version.
The other thing that springs to mind is a way to submit/receive new shapes from the Alchemy server.
Assuming most people have broadband, this could be an interesting way to introduce different brush shapes, and build up a kind of community shape library.

You mentioned broadband and building up a community. This is a rather different idea but I thought I'd plonk it here as it links with the community idea.
Why not have like a chatroom with a canvas people can share, like a mass alchemy creation over the internet.

[blue_fox]

In some format or another this is definitely on the cards for the next version.
The other thing that springs to mind is a way to submit/receive new shapes from the Alchemy server.
Assuming most people have broadband, this could be an interesting way to introduce different brush shapes, and build up a kind of community shape library.

You mentioned broadband and building up a community. This is a rather different idea but I thought I'd plonk it here as it links with the community idea.
Why not have like a chatroom with a canvas people can share, like a mass alchemy creation over the internet.

I kind of like that idea.

[Karl DD]

I think this could be interesting but there a few things to consider.
Right now the canvas size is set, with no zooming scrolling - so space would be pretty tight.
There are also quite a few such applications like this around.

Chat I am not sure about because of the distraction factor - we really want Alchemy to be a fast, free, and frenzied shape/idea creation zone.