Inkscape, the Open Source vector graphics solution I use for most of my web design now, has added dynamic blur into their latest release. Combining alpha transparency, gradients, and now dynamic blur, it is quickly becoming my favorite graphic design application. (Primarily because it is fairly simple yet powerful, which is rarely the case for vector tools.) click for larger Just a small disclaimer: If you view this page in Internet Explorer 6 then you will see a gray background because IE6 does not support transparent PNG files. If you browse with something that does support alpha transparency in PNGs, then it just blends with the background. (In fact, there is a slight transparency in the background gradient, so if you pull it into a desktop publishing app that supports it you can see the background through the graphic.) I would prefer if it would dither the drop-shadow a bit, but that's a little much to ask at this point considering this is the first time vector blurs have been enabled in this software. It is also interesting to note that the original version (which can be resized without any loss) is 50KB.
Shiney! I should look at vector stuff at some point but always get put off by Illustrator's interface. I know that with a bit of time I'll love it, same as I do Photoshop, but don't know if I have the will, tbh. This might be worth a look instead.
Hmmm I have it installed to play aruond with, but the last couple of times I used it, it crashed on me. Put it down to still being beta software... Does it work for everyone else though?
When this particular version was in beta I had it crash at least once every minute or two. Since it has been released (0.45, so still not a full 1.0 release, but not bad) it has been running just fine for me.
