You want a web page, but you don't want to learn HTML, and you don't want to juggle a separate image editor just to add a drop shadow to a button. Actual Drawing Deluxe from PY Software is built for that: you drag and drop page content onto a canvas, and the program turns it into web-ready files.
Quick facts
- Publisher: PY Software
- Type: Shareware visual web page editor
- Platforms: Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT/2000, Windows XP
- Price: $99.00 for the Deluxe single user license
Key features
Build pages by dragging and dropping, with no HTML
You place text, images and shapes where you want them. The program handles the page code, so you never have to write it.
Edit images without a third-party editor
You can add a shadow, make an image glow, or draw it with opacity or as a transparent image. Other tools let you flip, rotate, resize, adjust colors, blur, sharpen, dilate, erode or emboss.
Make custom rollover buttons
Built-in tools prepare rollover buttons for your navigation without extra software.
Design your own page backgrounds and edit them later
The page background tool lets you combine your own text strings, images and shapes into a background, and you can change it at any time.
Build a whole site from a few elements
Containers with Actual Drawing files are the feature the vendor calls the most powerful. They let you assemble an entire site from a few reusable elements.
Get optimized GIF and JPEG output and publish by FTP
All graphical content is converted into web-compatible GIF or JPEG images with optimized size. The built-in FTP tool publishes the site. You also get tools to design form elements and a spell checker.
Deluxe-only extras
Compared with the standard edition, Deluxe adds search engine submission, frame-based pages, a batch processor, a web album and a broken links check-up.
Who it's for
It suits you if you want to lay out personal or small-business web pages visually and keep image effects, rollover buttons and publishing in one program. Because it works like a drawing program, it fits people who think in layout rather than code.
Pros and cons
- Pro: No HTML knowledge needed.
- Pro: Image effects and rollover buttons are built in.
- Pro: Single user, site and world-wide licenses are offered.
- Con: This listing covers an early Windows-only release, with support listed up to Windows XP.
- Con: The standard edition is cheaper, but it leaves out search engine submission, frame-based pages, the batch processor, the web album and the broken links check.
FAQs
Do I need to know HTML?
No. You drag and drop page content, and the program produces the web files.
What's the difference between Standard and Deluxe?
Deluxe adds search engine submission, frame-based pages, the batch processor, the web album and the broken links check.
Can I use it on more than one computer?
The single user license covers one computer. Site and world-wide licenses are sold for organizations.
Does it publish the site for me?
Yes. It includes an FTP tool for uploading your pages.
System requirements
Supported systems: Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT/2000 and Windows XP.