Vectoraster 8 version history

Version 8.4.8 Released 2023-01-03

Changes and improvements

• Optimized Randomization distortion.
• Improved generation and rendering progress updates for long processes.
• Updated manual and bundled sample files.
• Improved conversion of legacy source measurement exponent parameters when importing Vectoraster 7 files.

• Fixes a bug with dynamic distortion strength parameters in rasters with raster offset.
• Fixes initial loading preview image incorrect aspect for zoomed in rasters.
• Fixes source color/light filterers not being applied when the document legacy blur setting was enabled.
• Fixes an issue with converting some dynamic distrortion strength settings from legacy Vectoraster 7 files.
• Fixes an issue with importing legacy Vectoraster 7 files with invalid incremental step parameters.
• Fixes an issue with importing use source color mix parameters from legacy Vectoraster 7 files.
• Fixes an issue with converting separate Y spacing in alternating grid legacy Vectoraster 7 files.

Version 8.4.7 Released 2022-10-17

Changes and improvements:

• Fixed missing Print permission in sandbox entitlements.
• Fixed drag highlight outline being shown on file areas even if the dragged file was not in a supported format.
• Fixed incorrect disk write protection warning in the technical log.

Version 8.4.6 Released 2022-09-26

• Improved SVG custom point shape path mode imports.
• Application Sandbox for improved security and future macOS compatibility.
• Updated Sparkle version checking and updates library.

Version 8.4.5 Released 2022-08-11

• Added three new dithering raster patterns: Burkes, Atkinson and Bayer 4x4.
• Added support for exporting animations as animated GIFs.
• Added new preferences setting for default in/out easing type of new added keyframes.
• Fixed using trackpad pinch gestures to zoom in the preview.
• Fixed some issues with the export progress bar during repeated animation exports.
• Character point shape baseline pivot option is no longer turned on by default.

Patternodes 3 is now released, find out more at lostminds.com/patternodes3.

Version 8.4.2 Released 2022-05-18

• Fixes an issue where exporting large rasters to SVG or CSV format failed.

Patternodes 3 is now released, find out more at lostminds.com/patternodes3.

Version 8.4.1 Released 2022-03-28

• Changed preferences interface so changes are applied immediately.
• Fixed an issue with exporting animations to numbered PNG or JPEG files.
• Interface performance improvements.
• Changed the default video export codec to H264.
• Added some improved error messages for export issues.

Patternodes 3 is now released, find out more at lostminds.com/patternodes3.

Version 8.4.0 Released 2022-02-28

• Video source layers allowing you to apply raster effect to video and export the animated result.
• Greatly improved video export rendering performance.
• The YouTube videos links now correctly lead to the Vectoraster 8 videos playlist.
• Fixes the display raster / source slider opacity not updating the preview.
• Fixes an issue with the export progress panel hiding when the application was inactive.
• Smoother handling of remotely deployed license unlocking, not showing the trial mode notice while the license is verified.

Patternodes 3 is now released, find out more at lostminds.com/patternodes3.

Version 8.3.3 Released 2022-02-11

• New macOS 11-style application icon.
• Improvements to SVG custom point shape parsing.
• Fixes some issues with UI panel animations.
• Fixes to some dark mode UI issues.
• Fixes holes still appearing in exports if exporting immediately after unlocking the full version.
• Updated to Sparkle 2.0 version checking and updating library.

Patternodes 3 is now released (hence the new matching Vectoraster icon) find out more at lostminds.com/patternodes3.

Version 8.3.2 Released 2021-12-16

• New Unsharp mask sharpening filter available for all source layers.
• Fixes an issue where the Export dialogue could become unresponsive on macOS 12.1 when opening it a second time.
• Handle loading or setting invalid animation duration or framerate better.

Patternodes 3 is now in beta testing, find out more at lostminds.com/patternodes3.

Version 8.3.1 Released 2021-11-03

• Added support for drag and drop importing new source image layers.
• Fixed preview drag editing of position for distortions in rotated and offset rasters.
• Fixed the animation keyframe value field not updating the raster after changes.
• Fixed undo/redo of editing animation duration, framerate and loop settings.
• Fixed animation framerate setting not loading correctly from saved files.
• Fixed bug where raster would stop drawing after turning both point fill and storke off, even if they were turned on again.
• Updated sample files.

Version 8.3.0 Released 2021-09-29

• New source-based text modes. Pick point text characters dynamically based on source layers. Paint by numbers or ASCII-art!
• New word text modes. Use a set of words instead of just characters as point shapes. Make word clouds or generate data-driven labels!
  See some examples at youtube.com/watch?v=pxtN4h6cY4s
• Some changes for more consistent handling of fonts for text raster points and text source layers.
• Fix a bug where changing the document random seed wouldn't update the seed for all random properties.
• Fix a bug where the document random seed wouldn't be properly loaded from saved files.
• Performance improvements.

Version 8.2.5 Released 2021-09-13

• You can now edit animation keyframes while the animation is running.
• You can now quickly revert values being edited by pressing Esc.
• Disabling a parameter that has an active animation track now also disables the animation track and adds a warning icon to it.
• Removing a source layer or pattern distortion that has animated parameters now also properly removes these animation tracks.
• Fixed a bug where removing the last source layer could leave an orphaned source settings panel.
• Fixed couple of issues in v8.2.3 and 8.2.4 with using source layer color for point stroke or fill.
• Changes to visibility toggle buttons for source layers and animation tracks to reduce interface clutter.

Version 8.2.4 Released 2021-07-20

• Fixes an issue with opening files with raster distortions in v 8.2.3.
• Fixes some interface button alignments on macOS 11.

Version 8.2.3 Released 2021-07-15

• Adding a new source image layer now opens a browse dialogue right away.
• Added a new Import source image menu item to quickly create a new source image layer.
• Improvemed handling of imported source image sizes when replacing a layer image.
• Added a new separate scale source layers option when changing the document artboard size.
• Improvements to tabbing between value fields and opening/closing interface panels.
• Document window size and position is now saved in VRaster files.
• Improved labels and tooltips to help make isometric raster patterns using the same spacing toggle.
• Improved interface panel animation performace.

Version 8.2.2 Released 2021-04-20

• Improved performance and stability during animation exports.
• Better previews of the animation during the animation export process.
• Better raster pattern panel previews when using large artboard sizes.
• Source layer actions button now show on hover as well as selection of the layer.
• Fix missing VRaster document icons on older versions of macOS (again).

Version 8.2.1 Released 2021-04-12

• Fixed source invert filter not working after the 8.2.0 update.
• Fix preview not updating correctly when a source layer is removed.
• Better raster pattern preview for varied density rasters.
• Fix text source layers not updating on the first click when changing font in the font panel.
• Adjustment of some dark mode text label colors.

Version 8.2.0 Released 2021-03-30

• New dithering raster patterns. Dynamic source based Floyd-Steinberg, Stucki and Sierra error diffusion dithering patterns and new Bayer 8x8 ordered dithering pattern.
• Improved support for imported SVG and EPS of custom point shapes exported from Affinity software.
• Added support for even-odd fill mode in imported of custom point shapes.
• Fixes an issue with document icons for some macOS 11 users.
• Fixed live raster updates while dragging sliders for some source parameters.
• Better handling of problems when importing custom vector point shapes from EPS/PDF/SVG files.
• Removed some redundant screen printing export settings.
• Some interface optimization.

Version 8.1.3 Released 2021-03-09

• Added button to re-center offset source layers.
• The artboard size dialogue now has added presets for current image source sizes as well as original sizes.
• Performance improvements for raster distortions and gradient source layers.
• Clarified and corrected a number of tooltips and help messages.
• Updates to the manual.
• Some small macOS 11 interface adjustments.
• Updated Sparkle version checking library.

Version 8.1.2 Released 2020-12-28

• Improved calculation progress updates for long regeneration processes.
• Improved handling of warnings when incompatible raster settings are selected so no raster can be rendered.
• Fixed some number formatting issues with export size fields when using comma as a thousands separator.
• Value fields should now correctly show comma as the decimal separator based on your system settings.
• Fixes a double regeneration bug after changing the artboard size.
• Removed a redundant search field from the Help menu

Version 8.1.1 Released 2020-12-22

• Optimized file loading.
• Fixes a bug with changing sizes in the export dialogue when using points or inches as the length units.
• Fixes a bug with auto-resampling of large source images causing them to be used at the wrong size in v8.1.0.
• Fixed a bug where images sources wouldn't properly update when toggling auto-resampling on/off.

Version 8.1.0 Released 2020-12-14

• SVG vector graphics export
• New Simple line point shape, simple short line with just stroke and no fill useful for stippling, plotting and etching applications
• Improved CSV-export that now includes point fill color RGBA components in the exported data.
• New export option to use preview raster opacity when exporting, to let you export the raster semi-transparent on top of the sources.
• Improved appearance of composited source layer previews while live editing source parameters.
• Fix preview rendering when raster preview opacity was lower than source preview opacity.
• Interface adjustments for macOS 11 (Big Sur).
• Update to Finder preview quick look component for VRaster files.

Version 8.0.5 Released 2020-11-19

• 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.

Version 8.0.4 Released 2020-11-11

• 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.

Version 8.0.3 Released 2020-10-23

• 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.

Version 8.0.2 Released 2020-10-01

• 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.

Version 8.0.1 Released 2020-09-21

• 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.

Version 8.0.0 Released 2020-09-01

Main changes and new features

• Animation support. Animate raster and source 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Additional changes and improvements

• Many improvements and changes to the interface to make it more compact and responsive.
• Measure mode (Darkness, Alpha or RGB/CMYK channels) is now set per parameter instead of per source, so different parameters can measure different channels from the same source.
• New shortcut in the parameter function menu to quickly swap min/max values, inverting any dynamic parameter.
• New simplified way of quickly setting point fill or stroke color based on sources.
• Sources - Raster display slider. Easily change preview display to show your sources, raster or both depending on what you're working with.
• New settings for default new document size and source layer.
• Improved source layer filtering, with blur, brightness, contrast and saturation adjustment for each source.
• New helpful warning messages explaining why certain combinations of parameter settings result in nothing being drawn.
• Moved and clarified settings for removing raster points based on size and/or variable chance.
• You can now use middle mouse button to drag and pan when zoomed in, including when drag editing other parameters.
• Export settings are now saved per file, so you can quickly reuse the settings you used last in a file.
• Separate vertical spacing is now more consistently used in different raster patterns.
• Offset and rotation of the random raster pattern is now consistent with offset and rotation of the other raster patterns.
• Variable raster pattern distortions can now be point index based as well as source based.
• Smoother new document handling, and a new setting not to open a new document at startup.
• CSV export now includes point rotation data and uses the user set length units.
• Improved memory management.