At 09:17 AM 12/02/2010, you wrote:
> >> Thanks for all the answers, I will give some a quick try. For some I
> >> don't think they can create scalable images, but maybe I am wrong.
>
> > Please report back.
A couple of other suggestions...

I really like Adobe Illustrator, but it's a steep learning curve and
not cheap. Searching for "open source alternative" will come up with
several suggestions such as inkscape and some for Linux (haven't
tried so I won't  comment).

Mayura Draw (Win) is not quite free, but it's very cheap and it looks
a lot like native Postscript to me in its paradigm. I tried it a few
years ago and it is quite snappy performance wise, not sure if it
has all the features you'd need.

Also, maybe consider Google's Sketchup (Win).




>OK, here is some 'report back'.
>
>Graphviz :
>seems to be a script-to-graphs translator, but the graphs look to
>restricted for what I need. I can't imagine how for instance to draw a
>picture clarifying a switch bounce.
>
>Intellicad:
>following the free download link did not lead to a download page.
>intellicad itself is a bit expensive for what I want at $240.
>
>serif draw plus:
>seems like it might do the job (.eps files are specifically mentioned).
>But at GBP 80 it will first have to wait for the free alternatives to fail.
>
>open office draw:
>seems like it can do all the drawing, but eps is not a native format, so
>   I end up having one open office file and one eps file (for each
>drawing), and I must export to eps each time I change the drawing. And I
>   don't see how I can have one master file for a bunch of eps drawings
>(like I can do in eagle with a bit of ULP).
>
>microsoft office:
>I have done a lot of drawing in word, but I found it a PITA. Also I see
>now way to save as vector format (but if it were easy and reliable to
>store inside a word document I would not have needed that).
>
>microsoft viso:
>looks nice, but too expensive.
>
>portable apps dia:
>wow, unlike open office draw I could actually make a simple drawing in
>60 seconds! otherwise the same nitpicking as OOD: editing and exporting
>to .eps are separate steps. maybe the python interface can cure this
>problem, but it insisted on python 2.3, which is a bit outdated. I
>already have 2.5 and 3.0 in my PC, I am not sure I want yet another one.
>
>Conclusion: For simple drawings I'll stick to eagle, mainly because I
>like to have one master source document, from which I can export a bunch
>of .eps files with one command. For more complex drawings I'll try dia.
>
>--
>
>Wouter van Ooijen
>
>-- -------------------------------------------
>Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
>consultancy, development, PICmicro products
>docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
>View/change your membership options at
>http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com



-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist