Release 4: "Prodigious Electromancer"

This is going to be a good one. I've made some animations for you to demonstrate the new features.

Template Editor works! Read on past the release info to learn what features are working now.

Release Info

Release Name: "Prodigious Electromancer"

Release Series: Alpha 4 (buggy, only tested in Chrome)

New Feature Overview:

• template editing
• shape, text, and image layers
• make playing cards, or components of any arbitrary dimensions
• output as a PDF for Letter, A4, or any arbitrary paper size
• HTTPS via CDN

Public Available? Yes

Link: https://beta.editor.paperize.io

Details:

Layer-based Template Editing: Familiar if you've used Adobe-style tools, layers let us separate our visual elements and control which order they are rendered in.

Live PDF Rendering: I can't understate the raw importance of seeing live PDF output while using the editor.

As you work, the preview window re-renders the real PDF, so you get instant feedback to your layout decisions, allowing you to iterate fast and effectively.

3 layers types to use (so far):

Shape Layers: As seen above, we've got rectangles! Not seen above, we've got stroke and fill options! Coming soon: Circles, ellipses, and rounded rectangles

Image Layers: Images can be the same on every item (backgrounds and layout elements), or dynamically driven from the spreadsheet data (card art, faction colors, etc). They can be "fit" or "filled" into the dimensions you set, and they can be horizontally and vertically aligned. 

Text Layers: Like images, text can also be static or dynamic, but it can also be both: text templates are very useful for labeling your fields before you've iterated a high-quality visual template. Coming soon: custom fonts and automatic "shrink-to-fit" when text overflows the dimensions set for it.

PDF Layout: Make components of any arbitrary dimensions (not just poker-sized playing cards anymore.) Also set your paper dimensions and printer margins and Paperize will pack in the components optimally for you and your setup. Coming soon: multi-page components, more layout control options.

Still Serverless: No servers were harmed in the production of this Alpha. And no browsers were tracked!

Refer to my previous posts to learn more about what Paperize won't do, as well as exactly what "serverless" means (Patrons-only.)

Next Release:

All in all, this was a huge release!

Up next:

• custom fonts
• "shink-to-fit" for text layers
• circles, ellipses, rounded rectangles
• specify dimensions in inches or millimeters
• cut lines and multi-page components
• bonus: I'm having a baby any day now!