Xara Designer Pro 6 New Features Part 1 of 3

Please visit http://xhris.digitalred.net for more useful Xara resources. (Headline new features also covered by Gary P. here: http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/workbook83/ )

This video (part 1 of 3) summarises most of the new features in Xara 6. There are a lot of subtle features that really enhance work flow in this version, but aren't necessarily easy to spot because they aren't as obvious as say a new tool on the toolbar.

In the video, I work through each feature and demonstrate how to use it. I hope people find it useful. A hyperlinked, clickable time index is below to help navigation:

(Erratum: In GNOMRA attributes section, there are actually THREE classes of object attributes: closed shapes, lines, and TEXT--I forgot to mention text.)

0:00--0:41: UI changes
0:41--3:17: Content aware zooming and related improvements
3:17--8:15: Clone tool
8:15--10:29: Editing specific parts of photos
10:29--11:16: EXIF dialogue
11:16--13:19: Optimise all JPEGs
13:19--14:00: Perspective correction
14:00--17:30: New JPEG photo editing work flow
17:30--18:42: 1:1 photo resizing
18:42--20:05: Trace assistant
20:05--24:03: Curves tool
24:03--26:27: Text tool improvements
26:27--32:11: GNOMRA attribute rules improvements (inheriting attributes)

Part 2 contents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4
0.00--10:31: Opacity masks (custom transparency shapes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4
10.31--12:46: Straight line tool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=10m31s
12.46--15:03: Solid Drag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=12m46s
15.03--16:14: Real time blends http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=15m03s
16.14--17:48: Pressure sensitivity and graphics table support improvements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=16m14s
17.48--18:49: Bezier curve node handle symmetry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=17m48s
18.49--20:40: Sketch mode http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=18m49s
20.40--21:54: Perimeter and area calculations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=20m40s
21.54--25:49: Page and layer gallery improvements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=21m54s
25.49--27:40: 'Enhance' transparency type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=25m49s
27.40--30:03: Automatic document backups and silent close mode http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=27m40s
30.03--32:13: Blending photo attributes, no more device independent bitmaps, crash logging, clipview UI changes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=30m03s
32:13--34:17: Enhanced pasting rules on layers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=32m13s
34:17--34:59: Info popups control http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxxYHyhdH4#t=34m17s

Part 3 content: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8
0.00--0:36: Live text repelling improvements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8
0.36--6:31: Reduced resolution photo import http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=0m36s
6.31--13:58: Navbar tool http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=6m31s
13.58-18:51: Theme colour import http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=13m58s
18.51--19:50: Widget support http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=18m51s
19.50--20:19: HTML paste-in placeholder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=19m50s
20.19--22:34: Auto document files upload http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=20m19s
22.34--24:34: Incremental file uploads to webspace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=22m34s
24.34--26:15: Saving FTP details in Xara files http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=24m34s
26.15--31:04: Photo popup improvements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=26m15s
31.04--33:20: Auto replace of photo galleries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=31m04s
33.20--33:52: Improved justified text support http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=33m20s
33.52--34:18: MP4 player support http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=33m52s
34.18--35:38: Page background colour support improvements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=34m18s
35.38--36:40: Single page preview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=35m38s
36.40--38:38: Object text anchors http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=36m40s
38.38--42:05: HTML export text improvements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=38m38s
42.05--42:55: Exporting invisible layers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=42m05s
42.55--43:34: Page clipping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=42m55s
43.34--45:26: Using locked layers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=43m34s
45.26--49:26: Advanced layer control http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=45m26s
49.26--51:52: Making layers fade in and out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=49m26s
51.52--52:17: Miscellaneous tips and tricks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3OTrgU4GT8#t=51m52s

Category:

Education

Tags:

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• GNOMRA
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• attributes
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[trader4561]

I want to add an image banner with slides that change but dont want to use flash so they can appear on Mac's etc. Can you advise if webdesigner 6 can do this please? Or is it only flash friendly.

Thanks

[XaraXhris]

@trader4561 I suppose you could use an animated gif. You'll have to check on Xara's website if it supports animation creation (I'm pretty sure it does), but Designer does do for sure.

[trader4561]

@XaraXhris

Many thanks for the very speedy reply. However I am a little confused by your reply. You say you'll have to check if it supports animation creation but then add designer does do for sure?

Does this mean there is another programme better than webdesigner 6 or? I am new to all the different offerings so please advise.

Many thanks

[XaraXhris]

@trader4561 Actually things changed for V6 slightly. Web Designer has the latest web features but limited drawing tools, Photo and Graphic Designer has limited web features but better drawing features (most, but not all drawing features though), Designer Pro is the flagship product with the same latest web features and the entire set of advanced drawing tools. More info about this is on xara dot com.

[UNITY8project]

Can you put a search button into the site? I can´t find it--- Thanks

[XaraXhris]

@UNITY8project There is no official support in Xara to insert a dedicated search function into a website. There may be third-party add-ins that allow you this functionality, but I'm not aware of any at the moment.

[Jen1249L4D]

@HunnyBeeF realy thats wht i said

[HunnyBeeF]

XARA NEEDS AN ERASE TOOL!!!

[MrHOGARES]

I'M GOING TO BUY THIS PROGRAM-YOU SOLD ME, BRO

[PurpleBulbous]

@snarkishly

At the press of 3 keys, you have the style of the old interface. Don't let that be a stumbling block to getting the latest version of a great program...

Peace

[snarkishly]

Xara X/Xtreme has been my app of choice for donkey's years, it's perfect for creating web graphics, mock ups, etc without all the fuss and bloat of Illustrator. But for the first time I'm hesitant to upgrade, I know it's stupid but I just don't like the dark interface. I'll try the demo and see if it's something I could get used to but I suspect I'll just stick with the last version.