Features Guide

Overview
MultiAd Creator Professional version 8.5 excels in producing advertising, marketing and promotional documents through a full set of design and productivity features. It combines premium page-layout capabilities with drawing, illustration and image-manipulation tools so you can assemble your documents quickly and professionally. With Creator, you dont have to switch between three or more applications to complete a single page and its intuitive enough to be used right out of the box. The more you use Creator, the easier it will become to automate your everyday tasks. Creator is one of the few programs on the market that is fully scriptable for Mac OS and Windows. This means you can script frequently used actions and commands, giving you a dynamic set of time-saving tools.

8.5

Version 8.5 Highlights

MultiAd has completely rewritten the graphic engine for Creator Professional 8.5, providing many benefits including the ability to open InDesign Interchange files and soft shadows that output in CMYK and RGB. Other key improvements for 8.5 include: Adobe Photoshop and PNG images with transparencies supported Variable opacity can be set for solid colors on an elements frame, fill, and shadow New options in Make Matrix to make each new box the same size as the original, make all elements fit within the bounds of the original and new order options for text box linking Border Editor (Mac only) now built into Creator and can create CMYK color borders Copy/paste element specslets the user choose which attributes to paste Find/Change dialog box can find and change element attributes Full support for OpenType font features Compatibility with the newest operating systems Drag-and-click measurement tool for distance, point locations and the angle between any two points Automatic CMYK-RGB conversions so users can place any color format and Creator will automatically adjust it for the intended output Many shortcuts, keystrokes and feature options to improve productivity, such as changing element sizes by percentages, setting custom key equivalents and using proportional resizing as a default

Key Equivalent Changes

Several key equivalents have changed: Mac: command-` / PC: control-` now cycles through open windows instead of to hiding palettes, which has changed to Mac: command-option-` / PC: control-shift-` Mac: command-shift-S / PC: control-shift-S now lets you Save As instead of opening the Shadow Options dialog box. Shadow Options is now Mac: command-option-shift-S / PC: control-alt-shift-S (Mac only) When placing files, command-A now selects all items in the list and command-L adds the selected item(s) to the Files palette You can change any key equivalent yourself by selecting Mac: Creator > Key Equivalents / PC: View > Customize > Keyboard.

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New Features
New Graphic Engine Features
InDesign Interchange Files
Open and edit InDesign Interchange files.

Text box linking sequences added to Make Matrix

In the Make Matrix dialog box, you have four choices for the order in which text boxes are linked.

Soft shadows output in CMYK or RGB

Generate soft shadows in CMYK or RGB for web or print use.

Copy/paste element formatting

Using Edit > Copy Element Specs (Mac: command-controloption-G / PC: control-alt-shift-G), you can copy an elements formatting. Then, using Edit > Paste Element Specs (Mac: command-control-option-shift -D / PC: control-alt-shift-D), you can open a dialog box and decide which attributes to apply to another element.

Transparencies supported
You can place native files that use transparencies even in a CMYK workflow.

Automatic CMYK RGB conversions

You can place both RGB and CMYK files in Creator regardless of the intended output needs. Creator automatically does the color conversion for you.

Text to path option to keep original

Using Element > Convert Text to Path, a dialog box will appear, giving you the option to delete the original element by checking the box. To keep the original, uncheck the box. The new path will appear exactly on top of the original.

Support for new graphic files

You can place PNG, AI, TGA and PCX graphic files in addition to previously accepted graphic formats.

Change element sizes by percentage

You can change the size of any element on a page by entering a percent (i.e., 50%) in the Height and/or Width field of the Specifications palette and/or the elements Info dialog box (General panel), as well as changing the size of pages by a percentage in the Page Manager window.

Export as PNG
You can export files as a PNG in addition to previously supported formats.

Color management support options

A new color management option has been added to all platforms. Color Sync is also still available for Mac users.

Center in container without scaling

You can set the preference of a container to automatically center the item placed in it without any scaling using the Container panel of the elements Info dialog box, selecting Elements > Container Scale Method, or holding down the X key while dropping an element into a container to override the default setting.

New Element Features

Variable opacity for solid colors and gradients
Set opacity on an elements frame, fill, and shadow. Gradients can also have variable opacity on each color step. New controls have been added next to all sets of color and shade controls.

Proportional resizing option

Individual elements can be set to automatically resize proportionally. There is a checkbox to turn on this feature in several places: the Specifications Palette, the elements Info dialog box on the General panel, Elements > Element Resizes Proportionally and/or the Default Element Settings dialog box. When proportional resizing is turned on, you can overrule it by holding down the shift key. You can also set the default for all elements to resize proportionally using the Edit Default Element Settings dialog box, available by selecting Elements > Default Element Settings

Use original element size in Make Matrix

In the Make Matrix dialog box, select the radio button Use original size for each duplicate to make each new box the same size as the original. To make all elements fit within the bounds of the original, select the Use original bounds for matrixradio button.

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New Features
(Mac: command-option-shift-E / PC: control-shift-alt-E). Border Editor) and allows you to create CMYK color borders (CMYK bitmap files). To learn more about the Border Editor, access the Border Editor User Guide PDF Unmask graphic option located in the Creator Utilities Folder created during the When you want to unmask a graphic, select Elements > Unmask Graphic and a dialog box will open, giving you the program install. option to check a box to delete the container after unmasking the graphic. If you dont check the box, you will New Text Features still have access to both the graphic and the mask as Global text wrap for any text block separate elements. Any element can now be set to be a global text wrap for any text block. Select any element and choose Arrange -> Wrap Save default element settings with document Text to set its global wrap. Text blocks can ignore global Now when you change the default element settings, they wraps if they wish. Activate a text block and choose Format will be saved with the document and accessible any time -> Text Block Settings and turn on Ignore global wraps. the document is opened. To open the dialog box and set your preferences, select Elements > Default Element Settings (Mac: option-shift-command-E / PC: control-shift- Break imported text based on non-text delimiters When importing text and selecting the Break Text radio alt-E). button, the Break Text dialog box will open. When breaking text based on a delimiter, you can now use the popup menu Find/change elements to select special characters like return, tab, en space, etc. The Find/Change dialog box (Edit > Find/Change) has a second tab where you can find and/or change elements based on a variety of conditions, such as fill, shadow, preview type, etc.

Change the default measurement for text wrap

In the Creator Preferences dialog box (Mac: Creator > Preferences / PC: Edit > Preferences) in the Text panel, you can set the default text wrap distance.

Key equivalent for new increment to change the frame weight (Mac only)
Mac users have a new keyboard shortcut to adjust the weight of a frame by .1 pt. To Thicken Frame Less, use command-control-shift-. and, to Thin Frame Less,use command-control-shift-, (users previously could use keyboard shortcuts to make 1 pt and 5 pt increment changes).

Import .doc files

You can import text using Microsoft Word .doc files in addition to previously supported text formats. Drag and drop the file into the document, use the Files palette or select File > Import Text (Mac: command-J / PC: control-J).

Spell check accessibility

Document > Check Selection (Mac: command-option-L / PC: control-alt-L) will check the spelling in a selected text box whether or not you are using the Text tool.

Scale border thickness

You can adjust the thickness of placed Creator borders using the Horizontal and/or Vertical Scale field on the Specifications palette and/or in the Border Info dialog box (Border panel) without changing the dimensions. The Horizontal Scale field controls the thickness of the side sections. The Vertical Scale field controls the thickness of the top and bottom sections.

Select Character or Paragraph Runs (Mac only)

You can select a character run by right clicking in a text box to open the contextual menu and choosing the Select Character Run option. This will select a contiguous grouping of characters that all use exactly the same character formatting. You can also choose Select Paragraph Run, which is a contiguous grouping of paragraphs that use

Border Editor CMYK integration (Mac only)

The Border Editor is now integrated into Creator (File >

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New Features
exactly the same paragraph formatting. These options are helpful in finding renegade character runs, like one that has a very small difference from the rest that isnt visible to the human eye, or if a space between two equal character runs uses a different font or color, etc.

Open embedded group from the contextual menu

When you have highlighted the embedded group item you want to edit (such as an element inside a text box), you can right-click to open the contextual menu and select Open Embedded Group to edit the element.

New Document Features

Output color space
When exporting your file as a PDF or EPS, or when printing, you can select CMYK, RGB or both for the Output Color Space.

Dragging text tabs shows onscreen line

When you click and drag a tab while editing text, a line will appear on screen to help line up the tab appropriately.

Preview changes via dialog boxes

Apply buttons (Preview on PC) in all dialog boxes allow you to apply/preview changes to the element(s), even when you are multiple dialog boxes deep, e.g., accessing the Fill Gradient dialog box from the Element Info dialog box.

Measurement tool
The ruler icon in the Tools palette allows you to access the new Measurement tool. Once selected, click and drag to measure. The Specifications palette shows the distance, point locations and angle of the line.

Set custom key equivalents

Open the Key Equivalents dialog box (Mac: Creator > Preferences> Key Equivalents / PC: View > Customize > Keyboard) to view the default key equivalents, change the defaults and/or set new ones.

Easily open non-document file types

You can open non-document Creator Professional file types, like document sizes, styles, colors, borders, etc., when you already have a document open by doubleclicking on the file.

Rotate element shortcuts

Two icons have been added to the Arrangement palette, allowing you to rotate elements either clockwise or counterclockwise 90 degrees. You can also rotate them by selecting Arrange > Rotate 90 CW (Mac: command-numpad2 / PC: control-shift-F8) or Arrange > Rotate 90CCW (Mac: command-numpad1 / PC: control-shift-F7).

Color space column added to the File Utilities dialog box

There is a column for Color Space in the File Utilities dialog box (Document > File Utilities).

Volume column added to the File Utilities dialog box (Mac only)
There is a column for Volume in the File Utilities dialog box (Document > File Utilities). All columns in the File Utilities dialog box are moveable and hideable (Mac only).

Add To List shortcut when placing files (Mac only)

When using the Place Graphic and/or Import Text dialog boxes, command-L is the new shortcut to add a file to the Files palette. Command-A now selects all items in the list.

Change page sizes by percentage

You can change the size of a page using the Page Manager dialog box by entering a percentage (i.e., 50%) in the Height and/or Width field.

Workspace color preferences expanded

Using the Workspace Colors panel of the Creator Preferences dialog box (Mac: Creator > Preferences / PC: Edit > Preferences), you can now also choose a color and opacity for invisibles and the active text frame.

Drag from CMDI to Finder (Mac only)

You can drag a file found through the CMDI palette (View > CMDI) and save it to your computer by dragging it into a Finder window or onto your desktop. This allows the file to be edited before placing it into Creator if needed.

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New Features
Preference to zoom window automatically
Using the General panel of the Creator Preferences dialog box (Mac: Creator > Preferences / PC: Edit > Preferences), you can check the Zoom window when opening or creating new documents box.

New Font Management Features

OpenType feature support
There is a new palette (Mac: View > Typography / PC: Format > Typography) that allows you to turn OpenType font features on and off.

New options in View menu (Mac only)

From the view menu you can now zoom the active window size (command-/), minimize the window and cycle through the windows (command-` or command-shift-` to reverse cycle). NOTE: Mac: command-` key equivalent used to be for hiding palettes, which is now Mac: command-option-`.

Preview text using custom phrases

Using the Choose Font dialog box, you can edit all three sample text phrases by clicking the Sample Text popup and selecting Edit Samples. The Choose Font dialog box is accessible via several methods when using the text tool: right-clicking on a text box and selecting Choose Font, Format > Choose Font or Font > Choose Font.

Copy and paste from Finder (Mac only)

When you copy a file from Finder and tell it to paste into your document, a dialog box will open asking if you want to place as text, an image or the actual file.

Change default font in file conversions

When opening a file saved using Creator Classic, you can set the file conversion preference to use a specified default font. To set the default, select Mac: Creator > Preferences / PC: Edit > Preferences to open the Creator Preferences dialog box, then select the File Conversion panel.

Change graphicslocation source

When you have graphics saved in multiple locations, the Graphics Folder dialog box (Document > Graphics Folder) allows you to tell Creator to use a graphic with the same file name from another location instead.

Copy and paste font list

From the Replace Fonts and File Utilities dialog boxes, select the fonts/file names you wish to copy and use Mac: command-C / PC: control-C to copy the list. You can then paste the list as text.

Export resolution option for stand-in graphics

When exporting EPS or PDF files, you can set the resolution for stand-in graphics. Stand-ins are generated for soft shadows and for graphics with transparency.

PDF output is version 1.4

Previously output was version 1.3.

Designed using Creator Professional v8.5.

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