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For this example I simply created a basic text object, applying the font style I wanted. Xara X provides you a "font gallery" allowing you to see what all your installed fonts actually look like. To change the font style of a selected text object, just drag and drop the style you like from the font gallery onto the object. It is so intuitive, by just doing it once you will have learned the technique! With the text object selected, I had only to click on it again to be presented with special selection "handles" that let me drag to skew the text object for a slight perspective effect. I had already created the pencil in Xara for the clipart collection I am building (coming soon!). A simple copy and paste put it into the same document as the skewed words I had just created. I rotated the pencil and dragged it (the numerous objects which make it up had been "grouped") over onto the text. Notice how the pencil's shadow is transparent. To finish the graphic, I then added the "designstop.com" label to the pencil - I simply dragged its rotation handle to match the angle of the pencil. Before I go on to the next example I want to point out that using Xara I was able to create an image map as I exported the gif. Put your mouse over the "designstop.com" on the pencil and you'll find it is a link! I only defined one link for the image. Xara lets you create as many as you want. It is so easy in Xara X to create image maps that if that was all the program could do it would still be a bargain!
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This is an animation I created for my linking to DesignStop.Com page. I've included it here because it clearly shows that Xara X will allow you to fit text onto a curved line. I find it amazing that even after it is fitted to a line - both the text and the line remain fully editable. You can easily reshape the line and the text will change with it. You can still change what the text says, change its font, its fill, or apply some degree of transparency to some or all of the letters - Amazing! The animation was created in Xara X too! I think it is quite effective for an animation that has only two frames!
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The above example illustrates some of the flexibility Xara X provides with regards to text. The red word "Xara" was simply typed using a font that looks like stencil lettering. I filled it with red and then applied a fractal plasma transparency to give it the look of uneven spray paint. For fun I thought I'd make the imaginary stencil. It is kind-a hard to describe fully how I made it - there were several steps. Basically I made a rounded edge shape. A rectangle with elliptical fill - red fading to white - was overlaid and then grouped with the round-edged shape. A copy of the "Xara" text was overlaid and then subtracted from the group behind. Xara X literally subtracts one from the other - putting a hole in the group the same shape as the text. The hole is no longer editable as text - it isn't text : it's a hole! Notice the soft shadow behind the stencil - shadows are easy in Xara X. The program has a very flexible and easy to use shadow tool. When the shadow was positioned nicely I typed the line of text below and grouped the completed stencil. As a group it can be rotated, repositioned or resized while maintaining the relationships of all its parts. I rotated it and dragged it over the edge of the "painted" text. To finish up I exported it as a jpeg. --- You see, it was fairly complicated even if not really all that difficult.
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I included this text-based graphic to prove it is possible to create highly effective web graphics very simply in Xara X. For this one I simply typed each line of text as a separate object so I could apply different linear fills to each. Anyone, regardless of design skills, can make attractive text-based graphics using Xara X.
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I should note a very important feature of Xara X. Use it and you'll fall in love with this one : It automatically anti-aliases your graphics. What this does is it visually smoothes out the edges of your graphics and thereby eliminates those nasty "jaggies" so common in nonprofessionally created web graphics. Although the font used above is intentionally "rough", anti-aliasing significantly helped make the small text more legible. You'll find it greatly helps your graphics have a more polished, professional look. As the above example illustrates, even simple graphics when anti-aliased can be very effective graphics. The pros insist on anti-aliased images, you should too. I hope these examples have helped you see how great Xara X is. It is a ideal graphics tool for the beginner or the seasoned professional who wants to finally experience truly well-designed graphics software. Download the free trial version (see below) and experience graphic nirvana!
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| DesignStop.Com, Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, Alcove Consulting | ||||
