XiVector

Build a design you can keep shaping

A strong visual identity starts with a few deliberate decisions: the bend of a line, the space around a mark, the relationship between a title and an illustration. XiVector is the XiKey™ project for keeping those decisions editable as a design grows from an initial sketch into a family of outputs.

It is intended for independent illustrators, identity designers and small teams exploring vector workflows. The capabilities below come from the checked VectorCraft 0.10.0 source foundation, not from a verified shipping XiVector package. XiVector is registered as a planned Alpha product; Alpha is free today. Build state, Product status, Alpha policy.

Draw, organise, then develop the look

Drawing and structure. Start with the Pen, refine Bézier handles with Direct Selection, then combine or subtract forms with Pathfinder. Smart Guides and alignment help arrange a consistent set of elements. Layers, groups and clipping masks keep their relationships manageable. Shape Builder offers another way to assemble silhouettes, although its region detection still has known gaps. Drawing foundation and limits, feature assessment.

Colour and lettering. Gradients, mesh shading, live blends and radial repeats let you explore depth and rhythm. Editable appearance settings retain fills, strokes and effects such as Outer Glow. Point text, area text and type on a path give lettering a place in the composition, with character and paragraph styles for consistency. Advanced typography and the raster-effect collection remain incomplete. Type scope, effect scope.

Variants and handoff. Keep related sizes on separate artboards, trace raster artwork into paths when appropriate, and export vector or raster versions. SVG and PDF are practical interchange formats; PNG, JPEG and WebP cover raster delivery. AI exchange is partial: exported AI contains PDF-compatible artwork, without Illustrator's private editing data. Always inspect the receiving file. Trace evidence, format scope.

Three projects to explore during evaluation

Conservation: wayfinding for a biodiversity park

Develop a family of trail symbols, habitat markers and directional arrows. Use simple paths and shared spacing to make the family feel coherent, then compare the same symbol at a visitor-map size and a sign size on different artboards. Review contrast and legibility in a printed proof. If the signs use Arabic and English, evaluate the mixed-script output separately; the XiKey Arabic controls are still in development.

Manufacturing: a bicycle component brand mark

Begin with a compact silhouette built from curves and Pathfinder cuts. Compare a single-colour mark with a shaded presentation version, and place each on a separate artboard so the small engraving candidate stays easy to inspect. Export an SVG or PDF for discussion with the manufacturer. That handoff is artwork for review, not a guarantee of machine-ready cutting or engraving data.

Games: a tabletop token sheet

Build one token family with layered emblems, repeatable shapes and lettering, then organise variants into a sheet. Try colour changes and live repeats while the source remains editable. Export a PDF and check a physical proof for dimensions, labels and visibility before committing to a print run.

These are proposed trial projects, not claims that XiVector has completed a production delivery in these domains. Their tools are grounded in the checked upstream feature list.

A workflow with useful checkpoints

1. Define the output sizes and create the corresponding artboards. Keep an untouched copy of any imported original.
2. Build the geometry first: paths, alignment, groups and clipping. Refine a few representative details before expanding the design.
3. Add colour and type. Check small sizes, font availability and any mixed-script text rather than assuming an import will preserve every live attribute.
4. Save an editable native .vectorcraft document and export the required SVG, PDF or raster versions. Open the handoff in its intended viewer and proof it.

For repeated tasks, the upstream headless CLI, JSON control channel and MCP server can drive editing and export. This is a documented automation foundation; it does not establish a finished XiKey AI assistant. Automation reference.

The XiKey additions, with their actual status

In progress for XiVector: Arabic interface and one-click EN ⇄ ع switching; an Arabic font dialog grouped by style; XiKey splash, About and message dialogs; kashida, tashkeel, Arabic digit controls and Hijri dates; signed updates through XiLauncher. XiPhoto has a working bilingual pilot, but these integrations have not been confirmed as shipped in XiVector.

Planned: Classic and Modern workspace layouts, Retina scaling, the Islamic geometric pattern generator, and sandboxed add-ons managed through XiLauncher. The future pattern generator is a separate XiKey addition, beyond the upstream radial-repeat tools. XiKey status, XiKey roadmap; status scope checked 14 October 2026.

Alpha means evaluate before depending on it

The upstream is Alpha and records gaps in real Illustrator file exchange, advanced 3D and Materials, generative AI and interaction fidelity. XiVector packaging and release validation remain pending. Use copies for evaluation and keep a proven workflow for deadline-critical handoffs. Upstream status, known gaps, XiKey progress.

The store's current policy makes Alpha free, with paid plans beginning at Beta. Its listed future XiVector price is US$39/year or US$4.99/month before tax. Adobe Illustrator's US individual plan was US$22.99/month, annual commitment billed monthly, when checked on 14 October 2026. The comparison includes Adobe's stronger areas so you can judge suitability, not just price. XiKey pricing policy, official Adobe US pricing.

Sources and credit

Source review: VectorCraft 0.10.0 @ a3357121fb436e03ed6f9a42f1591abd7d4a4cfc, checked 14 October 2026 (2026-10-14). Reviewed the README and desktop platform targets, linked feature/format/gap documentation, source paths recorded in product.json, and v0.10.0 release notes. These are source observations, not XiVector binary tests. XiKey hardware minimums and installer availability remain unverified.

XiVector is based on VectorCraft by the ArtCraft team (MIT OR Apache-2.0).

XiKey is a trademark of Pioneer Local Development Co. Ltd.