Web-Based Vector Editing by Aviary

Let me just say at the outset, I think it's a mistake to compare Aviary's new Raven Web-based vector-editing app to Adobe Illustrator, as everyone's going to do when they first see it. But let me also say this at the outset: Raven is freaking cool.



NYC-based startup Aviary already has some experience with online imaging—the company's Phoenix app works like a stripped-down, Web-based version of Photoshop. In fact, Phoenix and a competing online app called Splashup look and feel more like Photoshop than Adobe's own online image editor, Photoshop Express. (Aviary founder Michael Galpert told me this was probably because Adobe didn't want Express to be used as a replacement for Photoshop Elements—a role Aviary would be more than happy to fill, I'm sure).

The new Raven app, which will be available as a free public beta on Monday, is an extension of what Aviary did with Phoenix. It's look-and-feel approximates the Illustrator experience, albeit in a much simpler, stripped-down way.

I haven't spent a ton of time with it yet, but I drew some simple paintbrush lines, played with the fill gradients, and explored the menus and tools, and the interface felt quick and intuitive. And the most important command, ctrl-Z, works great!

You can import SVG files or export your creations as SVG or bitmap files, or you can save them to Aviary's online gallery, where others can view them and make their own additions.

As I said, I think it's a mistake to compare an online app like Raven to Illustrator. But I don't mean that in a bad way—Illustrator is complex to the point of being unusable by mere mortals, with a price to match. If a friend were to ask me which software to use to create, say, a simple logo, my first question would be "Do you have much experience with digital imaging and graphics?" If the answer is no—or even a tentative yes—I'd be a bad friend if I told them to plunk down the cash for Adobe Illustrator. Especially since the tools they need might be easily accessible in Raven, and they're free, too.

Aviary put this demo video together showing what you can do with Raven. It's definitely worth watching.