Logoist 2.5
Unleash your inner artist
£21.99 Developer Synium Software, syniumsoftware.com
Requires OS X 10.9 or higher
When compared head-to-head with apps such as Adobe Illustrator, Logoist’s lack of options and simplistic approach may make high-end users bristle. It certainly isn’t as complete as Adobe’s app or other, sophisticated alternatives such as the excellent Affinity Designer (see page 44). But what Logoist does offer is a fun and enjoyable way to create vector images, using the features it has in an interesting and different way.
All on show
With its three-column layout, everything is on show in Logoist. Your layers palette sits on the left, properties on the right, with the image in the centre.
This can be annoying, since you lose space for your artwork, and familiar elements such as colour selection are hidden away in panels (replaced with presets and suggestions). But when you get your head around this new way of working, the functions on show are actually handled in a pretty useful, albeit simplistic, way. In Layers, for example, each shape and path is given its own layer (even when grouped), so items can be moved around and found within large nests easily. In the properties inspectors you can use the colour presets to build up layers of effects from fills to gradients to shadows (and so on) on your paths and shapes and see them in a stack. That means you can then edit or delete them as you work.
The main priority for any vector app is paths and indeed Logoist has a smart and simple set of path tools. Its use of nice big colour-coded anchor points makes them easy to use, although the way some of the editing options are handled (combined with some unfamiliar keyboard shortcuts) can appear confusing initially for those familiar with Adobe apps.
An emphasis on presets certainly helps Logoist appeal to a more beginner-friendly audience
An emphasis on presets certainly helps Logoist appeal to a more beginner-friendly audience. Added to this new 2.5 version are several new pieces of pre-created artwork and logos, so you can start tinkering with existing images rather than being confronted with a blank canvas and load of confusing tools.
Yosemite makeover
This new iteration also features a smart OS X Yosemite makeover, a new colour scheme selector (which lets you create a palette of complementary colours for your work) and some smart snapping and grid options.
Although these improvements aren’t as significant as the leap from version 1 to 2, this latest verison helps bring more functionality to what is a thoroughly enjoyable app.
Good value for money
Use tools in interesting ways
Small workspace for artwork
Adobe users will need to adapt
A cheap, enjoyable and beginnerfriendly, albeit somewhat limited, way to create smart vector artwork.