Quark updates DesignPad with improved interface, options
updated 05:16 pm EST, Wed November 21, 2012
Now supports Retina displays
Quark has released a significant update of DesignPad, its graphic design tool for the iPad. The app uses a grid-based system, and is meant mainly for simple or preliminary designs, pushing more complex work over to QuarkXPress. The v1.1.0 upgrade introduces Retina display support, and makes a number of additions and changes to interface options.
Some basic additions include the ability to save to the Photo Library, or share using iOS 6's native Facebook integration. Users can also take advantage of a Save As feature to create duplicate layouts, effectively serving as templates. A tutorial with animated arrows has been devised for newcomers, and over 100 font choices have been added; to make these easier to see, the font list can now be expanded to see all variants.
Any box shape can be newly changed to a beveled rect, inset rect, rounded rect, polygon, star, oval, speech bubble, or thought bubble. Box and bubble angles can be controlled, and polygon/star orientations adjusted relative to content. Similarly, the inner radius of stars can be tweaked, and corners on rounded rectangles can be toggled on and off.
Drop shadows can also be toggled. When dealing with text, new options allow line spacing and justification.
DesignPad is a free download, and requires iOS 4.3 or later.
