Vectoraster is a graphics design app for creating custom vector halftones or animated raster effects based on imported images or dynamic elements like gradients, text or noise fields.
The halftone patterns and point shapes can be changed and varied across the pattern to produce many different styles. The resulting effect is always shown, with the preview updating in real time as you change parameters. The result can then easily be exported as vectors to EPS or PDF files, as images to JPEG, PNG or TIFF, or simply copied and pasted into most graphics software.
With Vectoraster 8 you can now also animate all these effects to create transitions, video backgrounds or other effects to use in your motion design projects. The result can be exported either as MOV or MPEG4 video files or a sequence of frame pdf or image files.
Inspiration
There is a collection of projects that could work as inspiration for what you could use Vectoraster for here on Behance:
"To sum it all up, Vectoraster is a highly customizable OS X application that helps you create vector-based raster patterns with just a couple of mouse clicks."
Recent news and updates for Vectoraster 8. Follow us on Twitter @lostminds_sw for more news and updates
2020-11-25
Purchase processing problems
Due to technical problems at our payment handling provider paddle.com it's currently not possible to purchase licenses for Vectoraster or Patternodes.
Paddle has acknowleged the problems and are saying that they are working on a solution, you can follow the status of this at their status page. Or you can simply come back a little later here and see if the purchase links have started working again. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope this will be resolved swiftly.
Update: The problems have now been resolved and purchasing should work as usual again.
2020-11-19
Vectoraster 8.0.5 update released
Another Vectoraster 8 has been released. This time with another set of smaller improvements across the app, from interface tweaks to performance and SVG importing. The new version is also built as a universal binary so it should run natively on both existing Intel macs and the new Apple Silicone macs.
Vectoraster 8.0.5 changes
Apple Silicon native support.
Improved performance when updating and compositing source layers.
Improved SVG path importing, with support for matrix() group transforms often used by Affinity Designer.
New presets menu in the artboard size change dialogue to quickly change to a preset or source image size.
Fixes some interface panel animation glitches when enabling/disabling the Use source color fill/stroke settings.
Exporting without changing any document export settings no longer marks the document as needing to be saved.
Update to Sparkle updating library.
Download the new version and try it out today, or update in the app.
2020-11-11
Vectoraster 8.0.4 update released
Another small update to Vectoraster 8 has now been released, with some more fixes and little improvements.
Vectoraster 8.0.4 changes
Fixes a bug where trying to add a new Bulge pattern distortion would instead add a Randomize distortion.
Some layout changes to the raster spacing controls when using separate X/Y spacing.
Added item in Help menu for the new system for feedback and voting on future development.
More helpful error messages when entering incorrect license information.
New method for logging technical warnings without relying on system log.
Download the new version and try it out today, or update in the app.
2020-11-06
New development feature feedback system
We get a lot of feedback and great ideas from you users. This is always very useful, as it helps us understand how the software is used and how we can make it better.
To make it easier to send feedback we've now set up a new simple system for this to help guide the future development of our applications. Basically it's just a simple list, linked from each product page, with ideas for future features. In this list you can then just click to vote on the features you think would be most useful to you.
If you're interested you can also sign up with your e-mail, and if you do we'll notify you if any of the features you've voted for are implemented.
Another small update to Vectoraster 8 has now been released, making it easier to copy and paste in images to use as source layers.
Vectoraster 8.0.3 changes
Added new Paste replace source image Edit menu item to quickly replace the selected source layer image.
Added keyboard shortcuts for the paste source image menu items.
Fixed an issue with JPEG exports sometimes failing and causing problems with other exports after this.
Made the raster-sources display slider more responsive to quick changes.
Download the new version and try it out today, or update in the app.
2020-10-01
Vectoraster 8.0.2 update released
Another small update to Vectoraster 8 has now been released. This time the focus is on a number of smaller improvements and fixes, mostly releated to working with the new animation timeline in different ways.
Vectoraster 8.0.2 changes
Improved editing animation keyframe values when using drag editing in the preview.
Fixes an issue where enabling disabled animation tracks would not refresh the preview in some cases.
Optimized rendering of composited source layer preview.
Tweaks to preview zoom adjustments when opening/closing the animation panel.
Fixes a 1px preview edge alignment issue at some zoom levels.
Download the new version and try it out today, or update in the app.
2020-09-21
Vectoraster 8.0.1 update released
The launch of the big Vectoraster 8 update has been very smooth so far, so this first post-release update doesn't contain any big changes or critical fixes. But all the same, a couple of little things have been fixed and changed.
Vectoraster 8.0.1 changes
Setting a Gradient or Image source layer size height or width to a negative value now mirrors it.
The progress bar for longer generation processes is now more prominent with a point counter along with rendering percent.
Better handling when entering invalid math expressions in value fields.
Adjustments to rendering of some interface elements.
Correctly (don't) render Text source layers with zero size.
Download the new version and try it out today, or update in the app.
2020-09-01
Vectoraster 8 released!
A new major update of the macOS graphics application Vectoraster has now been released. Vectoraster is a tool for creating custom vector and halftones and raster patterns based on images or gradients. Vectoraster 8 adds new dimension with keyframe animation support, letting you animate all raster parameters and source layers.
Vectoraster is built with designers in mind, giving you detailed control over the raster pattern, point shapes and how the points vary, all while giving you a real-time view of the result as you change parameters. When you're done you just copy or export the result as vector graphics or a pixel image, or animations to video file or image file sequence.
Main new features in Vectoraster 8
Animation support. Animate raster parameters and export the result to video or a sequence of frame files.
New source layers model. Sources are now more like layers in other graphics software and can be moved, scaled and rotated individually and blended together.
Improved preview drag editing. Edit source layers, gradients, distortions or raster pattern parameters by dragging graphical handles in the preview.
Advanced noise sources. New dynamic noise layers generating perlin or billowing noise you can then apply to any parameter across the raster.
Secondary point transformations. You can now apply two separate dynamic scaling or rotations to raster points, for example adding randomization to a source-based value.
Apply file raster settings. You can now quickly apply all raster settings from a different VRaster file, while retaining the sources in the current file.
Dark Mode interface support. Interface now adapts to system interface mode, and lets you switch between dark mode and light mode.
The next generation of Vectoraster, Vectoraster 8, is now in beta testing. There is no set release date yet, but most major features are now implemented and the plan is to test and improve the new version during the summer for release sometime after that. You can check it out below and sign up for a release notification or if you want to help out beta testing.
Some of the main planned new features in Vectoraster 8:
Animation support. Animate raster parameters and export the result to video.
New source layers model. Sources are now more like layers in other graphics software and can be moved, scaled and rotated individually and blended together.
Improved preview drag editing. Edit source layers, gradients, distortions or raster pattern parameters by dragging graphical handles in the preview.
Advanced noise sources. New dynamic noise layers generating perlin or billowing noise you can then apply to any parameter across the raster.
Secondary point transformations. You can now apply two separate dynamic scaling or rotations to raster points, for example adding randomization to a source-based value.
Dark Mode interface support. Interface now adapts to system interface mode, and lets you switch between dark mode and light mode.
Vectoraster 8 will require macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) to run.
Purchase process
The online purchase process is handled quickly and securely by Paddle.com.
After you complete your purchase you will immediately be given access to your license codes and information on how to unlock the full version of your software. You will also be sent two e-mails from Paddle to the address you've specified. One receipt for your records and one titled "Your <Product> Paddle.com Order" containing your license code and unlocking information.
