However, Graphite is more than an old product with a new name, according to the company. Additions include a new navigator palette that lets users click through multiple sheets or layers, as well as full support for multiple sheet printing. Also new is a preview symbol panel with more than 30,000 mechanical and CAD symbols, plus the capability for users to create additional intelligent parametric symbols from any geometry.
According to Ashlar president Robert Bou, the new product names and capabilities reflect Ashlar' commitment to designers. For example, he says that some ID folk were turned off by the word "Solids" in the product formerly named Vellum Solids. And, "We wanted to improve workflow issues and eliminate design barriers."
The Graphite program runs on Windows 98/ME/NT/2000 and Mac OS 9.x operating systems. It costs $995. (Ashlar Vellum; www.ashlar-vellum.com) -JD