When I first saw Aviary I called it an incredibly ambitious art project. Aviary is creating a online creativity ecosystem that consists of a Flash based graphics suite tied to a marketplace where artists can sell their creations.
For the suite, the New York based team of 12 has been developing over 14 graphics tools ranging from pattern generators to vector based graphic editors. They’ve now put the finishing touches on two of their main programs (image editor Phoenix and pattern maker Peacock) and are letting in TechCrunch readers in to play around with them.
I’ve been really impressed after playing around with the tools. While by no means a Photoshop master, the image editor Pheonix has all the functionality I’ve come to expect from Adobe’s image editor (drawing, smudging, layers, filters, etc.). Founder Avi Muchnick says it has the most important functionality of Photoshop 6 and is not meant to be a total replacement (see other online photo editors as well and even Adobe’s soon).
Instead it’s meant to do the majority of what you want to do with an image editor, but also benefit from easy integration with the other online tools. For instance, you can use their pattern generator, Peacock, to make textures for an image you’re editing in Phoenix. If you share the pattern publicly anyone else can do it too (eventually you’ll be able to sell it).
Public files can also be commented on by other users, and preserve a version history that lets anyone to go back and branch your work in a different direction. All the files generated with the tools are saved as .egg files on Aviary’s servers, making them easy to share and track the intellectual property rights of files generated from scratch or uploaded to the system.
Here’s a link to what people have already created on the platform. Here’s an example of the many directions one image can be edited. Below is an example of the suite in action.
Aviary is giving away 100 invites to TechCrunch readers who sign up for an early bird invite here. They’ll be handing them out by tracking referrals, so you need to click through the link. You can also share/put your name down on a waiting list for invites at InviteShare.
“Founder Avi Muchnick says it has all the functionality of Photoshop 6, although it’s not meant to be a replacement (see other online photo editors as well and even Adobe’s soon).”
Sorry, I think this got confused.
It doesn’t have all the functionality of Photoshop 6, but the most important features and tools of it (as picked by Worth1000 artists).
OMG, the video was just wrong.
I’m not in very good mood today. I have friends cussing techcrunch and slamming my white door real hard. I’m computer. looking for updates…. nervously…Upsetting… Checking out startups.
I feel like “A Mighty Heart” the movie. I want to scream if Techcrunch attacks startups. I’m doing my best to run away from techcrunch.
great timing for attacking spears….
Sorry Avi, changed it around
Wow I think there is someone desperately trying to link techcrunch = danger for startups! Talk about being a super famous blog! Keep it going techcrunch! Only the famous have detractors!
Awesome news. I haven’t expected they’ll release their tools so soon!
An interisitng point is the Aviary guys are the people/brains behing the successful worth1000 site. Great AVI and team…
wtf is that video.
Adobe is being delayed with their online editing tools, announced almost a year ago. Good timing Aviary, great set of tools. But screwing with Britney? Take it further. How about Hillary?
Great going guys…its a real winner.
that is an amazing RIA without playing with it im assuming it’s a flash/flex app. Man Im a silverlight enthusiast, were way off being able to create RIA’s like that (maybe version 3 if were lucky)
Well done to the aviary team truly a great product!
Yeah, signed up for a beta invite through TechCrunch last summer via the July 2007 post…still have heard nothing from this company. I just submitted again..maybe I’ll get picked this time around.
Webonics, I’ll make sure you get one today.
i wish michael would get a design to update invite share. the noncontrasting dark/black colors makes my head hurt.
I’m in the same boat as webonics, but I signed up again anyways. Fingers crossed this time as I REALLY wanna give Hummingbird a go. Quick sidenote, is Hummingbird anything like 3ds max?
The video attempts to make fun of Britney Spears, while she’s LOCKED UP in a psychiatric hospital. She’s a woman w/ serious issues, trying to get help. And Aviary is drumming-up PR for themselves by attempting to exploit her. That’s a revolting marketing decision.
Shame on you.
I am a bit skeptical about production quality work being done on such tools (still waiting for the invite). Anybody who makes living off publishing (and I am talking print here) can attest to the demanding workflows, need for accurate outputs and huge file sizes.
I work for Quark (www.quark.com), a leading software development company in publishing industry. I have developed a couple of proof-of-concepts to illustrate the power of web (collaborative nature, data availability) and got no real traction. As I mentioned before time and output are of utmost importance to publishing workflows and any alternative to heavy duty desktop tool needs to address that.
Having said that I am not trying to take away credit from Aviary – I think its great and refreshing to see such an initiative. May be it will appeal to a different set of user base.
Good luck
Avi, can accept my application also please? I want to try it very much. Thanks.
I am looking forward to testing Myna, Roc, and Penguin — the first two for music editing / production, and the latter to write lyrics.
Hi i want try this please accept my request too Avi,
Regards,
Hari
In the very early 80’s there was a hair band called Aviary that I really liked. I had an LP that for some reason I lost. And could never find it again. Anybody knows where I can find them?? Seriously.
OK OK OK … the tools look very cool, but come on Nick, couldn’t you pick something besides this video? The woman is having serious problems, including deciding what to do with $700K/week she makes
Other than Google (obviously), go to http://www.bradlove.com to find more information about the band Aviary.
Sure Hari, webonics – I actually am not sure what your email address is – can you send it to aviary (-a-) worth1000.com and reference this thread. Hari, do that too.
I’m interested too!
It’s cool! please invite me!