TypeStyler
has been available on the Macintosh since the late 1980s. At one time
it was distributed by Broderbund Software, but it was returned to its
creator, David Stillman and his company, Strider Software (located in
Menominee, Michigan) in the early 1990s.
TypeStyler
has always been a first class tool for working with type. TypeStyler 3
has been improved over earlier versions of the program. Added into version
3 are effects like glows, bevels, embossing, bump maps, transparency
soft shadows and blurs.
TypeStyler’s interface is fairly simple, but very powerful. When
creating type effects, the possibilities are almost endless and the program
is very forgiving as you experiment. If you choose the type tool and drag
a box the size you want to make, up comes the type dialog box. Type in
the letters or words you will work with. When choosing a font, the font
style is shown to aid you in your selection. At this point you can choose
a shape from the built in shapes in the Shape Library or the built in
styles in the Style Library. In either of these libraries, you can go
through a pop up menu that illustrates the effect when you click on its
name or you can scroll through the effects on a panel. There is even an
automatic scrolling option that displays each shape or style for a second
and then moves on to the next. When you see the one you like, just click
on the panel and it stops. There are more than 40 shapes and more than
70 styles that ship with TypeStyler 3. The Style Library comes with metals,
woods, shadows, gloss, blur, bevels, and other impressive effects.
You
can make changes to these built in effects in the Style Workshop. Changes
can be made to the fill, outline and inline of the object or its shadow.
A cast shadow can be created with the click of a button. Also simple to
create are gradient effects, emboss, chisel, pillow emboss, picture fills,
bump maps, glints, blur or noise. Under the Special menu are special fill
and wacky shapes which naturally can be edited to suit your project. It
is also very easy to copy the attributes of text or a shape and paste
these attributes to another text or shape. The LBMG logo that accompanies
this review was all done using TypeStyler 3 in about 20 minutes.
Also
improved in TypeStyler 3 are its web effects. It comes with many rollovers
and animation effects that are easily edited with TypeStyler’s libraries
and workshop. TypeStyler allows you to preview in different web browsers
to show how it will look on the web. There is also an export page to the
web option that makes it html.
There are comprehensive export capabilities: (native Photoshop w/layers,
native Illustrator, GIF, JPEG, EPS, PICT). Import capabilities include:
PICT, JPEG, EPS, GIF and native Photoshop and Illustrator documents can
be dragged and dropped into TypeStyler 3. Spot colors or 4 color process
are both supported in TypeStyler 3.
TypeStyler comes with 110 extra fonts to add to your collection and use
with the program. It comes with its manual in PDF format if downloaded
form the web, or with a printed manual if purchased with shipment from
Strider Software. Their website is at http://www.typestyler.com.
You can download the 20 mb file off their website which is a full functioning
60 day tryout version of their product. Prices are: New users of TypeStyler:
(Complete package includes CD, fonts, templates, and Users Guide) $149.95.
Upgrade from a previous version of TypeStyler: (Complete package includes
CD, fonts, templates, and Users Guide) $89.95. New users of TypeStyler
as an online purchase and download. (Includes TypeStyler application and
electronic documentation only) $119.95.
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