59%
Xara Designer Pro X-365 — First Look
SmartShapes
The idea of SmartShapes is not particularly new for Xara. For almost as far back as I can
remember, you could double click the corner of a rectangle with the Rectangle Tool and
round the corners. Double clicking any point of a QuickShape star with the QuickShape
Tool toggles between a pointed and a rounded tip. And more recently, double clicking
almost any object, switches to the appropriate tool to edit the object.
But in the 365 version products, SmartShapes have gotten the equivalent of a college
degree. I have already covered SmartShape photos and Smart Photo Grids in the Photo
Editing section. We touched upon SmartCharts and SmartShape rectangles in the Online
Content Catalog section. But since I have an entire page devoted to SmartShapes we’ll
revisit these and more.
It is probably a good idea to point out that the circles and dashed lines, rotation arrows,
etc. are what you see when you edit a SmartShape or SmartChart. They disappear when
you are done editing. And to edit any of these shapes, either select the shape with the
QuickShape Tool, our simply double click in the shape with the Selector Tool.
New SmartShapes
Spiral can also
show the number of
sides. Drag this
handle to make a
smooth spiral or
any number of
sides.
Variable Corners
Create a rectangle with one or more rounded corners + 3 corner styles
[My Navigation buttons were made with a Variable Corners rectangle.]
SmartCharts One of the most productive use of the new SmartShapes is SmartCharts.
These come in several configurations and dare I say, are as easy as pie to edit. Drag the
ends of the segments and the values change accordingly. Or change the value with the
text tool and the bar extends or contracts to fit the new value. You can adjust the
height or width of the bars. And it’s a snap to add or remove bars. Shown below are
Percentage Rings, some of the other SmartCharts.
Percentage Rings
59%
Text Panels - Just add your own text. They expand or contract automatically.
SmartShape API for Developers Coming Soon! If you’re a developer Xara will soon be
releasing an API plug-in so you can start adding your own SmartShapes, or just
enhancing the existing SmartShapes. Xara is expected to release the source code of
most of the SmartShapes they’ve created soon. If you’re interested in learning more
about this, email them at smartshapes@xara.com and they’ll make sure you get
information when the API is launched to the outside world
Odds and Ends I tried to consolidate everything into six pages but there are a few
items that were not quite part of the other six headings so I’ll try to touch on them here
and then wrap up this review.
Object Naming in the Page & Layer Gallery Now you can select objects on layers in
the Page & Layer Gallery and apply names.
One benefit of this is it is easier to find and
identify objects on the page that are often nested in a group of objects.
Import and Export Improvements Updates and improvements have been made to the
Photoshop .psd filters. Xara layers now map to Photoshop layers and vice versa. The
PDF import filter has been improved to provide better justification and line spacing as
well as simplification of clip-viewed objects. Bullet and number list import has also
been improved. And there have been numerous small improvments to Word and RTF
import and export and improvements to the .svg import filters.
And there you have it! Lots of updates, and new and improved features. And with the
365 Update Service, new features and enhancements and content will be popping into
the Online Content Catalog as it is added. No more waiting until next year!
The Wrap Up I always like to end these First Look reviews with the reminder that Xara
is one of the best values in graphics products. Seasoned designers will find all the tools
and features needed to create the highest quality professional work, from stunning
print to fantastic websites, expert photo editing, illustration, and quality presentations.
It is all there and so much more.
Users who cannot draw a straight line even with the Straight Line Tool will appreciate
the wealth of art, symbol library, configurable SmartShapes and SmartCharts, free high
quality stock photos, design and website templates and professionally designed entire
websites that you can customize and modify to your heart’s content. And lest we forget,
ease of use. If I have failed to convince you, no problem. Click Here to download your
own FREE fully functional 30-day trial copy today. And a reminder, you will find timely,
helpful encouragement and support from our members at TalkGraphics.com.
![[BACK TO TOP]](index_html_files/1914.png)
![PREVIOUS PAGE]](index_html_files/1967.png)
59%
Xara Designer Pro X-365 — First Look
SmartShapes
The idea of SmartShapes is not particularly
new for Xara. For almost as far back as I can
remember, you could double click the
corner of a rectangle with the Rectangle
Tool and round the corners. Double clicking
any point of a QuickShape star with the
QuickShape Tool toggles between a pointed
and a rounded tip. And more recently,
double clicking almost any object, switches
to the appropriate tool to edit the object.
But in the 365 version products,
SmartShapes have gotten the equivalent of
a college degree. I have already covered
SmartShape photos and Smart Photo Grids
in the Photo Editing section. We touched
upon SmartCharts and SmartShape
rectangles in the Online Content Catalog
section. But since I have an entire page
devoted to SmartShapes we’ll revisit these
and more.
It is probably a good idea to point out that
the circles and dashed lines, rotation
arrows, etc. are what you see when you edit
a SmartShape or SmartChart. They
disappear when you are done editing. And
to edit any of these shapes, either select
the shape with the QuickShape Tool, our
simply double click in the shape with the
Selector Tool.
New
SmartShapes
Spiral can also
show the number
of sides. Drag
this handle to
make a smooth
spiral or any
number of sides.
Variable Corners
Create a rectangle with one or more rounded
corners + 3 corner styles
My navigation buttons were made with a
variable corners rectangle.
SmartCharts One of the most productive
use of the new SmartShapes is
SmartCharts. These come in several
configurations and dare I say, are as easy as
pie to edit. Drag the ends of the segments
and the values change accordingly. Or
change the value with the text tool and the
bar extends or contracts to fit the new
value. You can adjust the height or width of
the bars. And it’s a snap to add or remove
bars. Shown below are Percentage Rings,
some of the other SmartCharts.
Percentage Rings
59%
Text Panels - Just add your own text. They expand
or contract automatically.
SmartShape API for Developers Coming
Soon! If you’re a developer Xara will soon be
releasing an API plug-in so you can start
adding your own SmartShapes, or just
enhancing the existing SmartShapes. Xara is
expected to release the source code of most
of the SmartShapes they’ve created soon. If
you’re interested in learning more about
this, email them at smartshapes@xara.com
and they’ll make sure you get information
when the API is launched to the outside
world
Odds and Ends I tried to consolidate
everything into six pages but there are a
few items that were not quite part of the
other six headings so I’ll try to touch on
them here and then wrap up this review.
Object Naming in the Page & Layer
Gallery Now you can select objects on
layers in the Page & Layer Gallery and apply
names.
One benefit of this is it is easier to
find and identify objects on the page that
are often nested in a group of objects.
Import and Export Improvements
Updates and improvements have been
made to the Photoshop .psd filters. Xara
layers now map to Photoshop layers and
vice versa. The PDF import filter has been
improved to provide better justification and
line spacing as well as simplification of
clip-viewed objects. Bullet and number list
import has also been improved. And there
have been numerous small improvements
to Word and RTF import and export and
improvements to the .svg import filters.
And there you have it! Lots of updates, and
new and improved features. And with the
365 Update Service, new features and
enhancements and content will be popping
into the Online Content Catalog as it is
added. No more waiting until next year!
The Wrap Up I always like to end these
First Look reviews with the reminder that
Xara is one of the best values in graphics
products. Seasoned designers will find all
the tools and features needed to create the
highest quality professional work, from
stunning print to fantastic websites, expert
photo editing, illustration, and quality
presentations. It is all there and so much
more.
Users who cannot draw a straight line even
with the Straight Line Tool will appreciate
the wealth of art, symbol library, Smart-
Shapes and SmartCharts, free high quality
stock photos, design and website templates
and professionally designed entire websites
that you can customize and modify to your
heart’s content. And lest we forget, ease of
use. If I have failed to convince you, no
problem. Click Here to download your own
FREE fully functional 30-day trial copy
today. And a reminder, you will find timely,
helpful encouragement and support from
our members at TalkGraphics.com.
![[BACK TO TOP]](index_html_files/1943.png)
![PREVIOUS PAGE]](index_html_files/1982.png)
