Any advice please ;) Adobe Illustrator v11 or Xara X ?????

[ashpurple]

I have not used either of the two software packages before. Each have good raves for professionalism but I am not sure which one I should start learning. Are they a muchness of the same thing with avid CorelDraw users swung to using Xara X ? Does one favour a particular style that the other does not have ? Would it be pointless in buying both packages if they are so much the same with regards to raw artwork creation. (I am a CorelDraw user who has just upgraded from v10 to v11). http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[ashpurple]

Richard, I see what you mean. There has been a lot of work gone into your Angel. Just a moment or two studying her tells a story of then many techniques you have made....or rather trying to work out how you did it LOL http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif One thing I am itching to ask....... Do you use a Digitising Pad and pen ???? Or is it purely using a mouse for your creation. I find that one does not have the same control sometimes with a mouse that a pen may have for doing 'Paintley' Artwork (Now you have me saying it LOL 'P a i n t l e y' . I once used one when creating more professional Graphics years ago but do not have one now. It is most frustrating when trying to obtain one, it usually means paying ££££'s and that is for a small one at that.

I know what you mean by cutting around things away from the background. That is why I have recently got hold of Knockout v2. Samples of it's use is most amazing for cutting out for example frizzy hair. It comes with a good video demonstration but to be honest I have not had the time to practice it. I have discovered another problem. To access is, you simply go into 'EFFECTS' on both Photoshop and also PhotPaint (Corel) and it opens. I have just this week loaded the new (for me), CorelDraw v11 but it is not in the 'EFFECTS' button as it is with the Photopaint?????? It is only a guess, but I think that I may have to reload it after loading CorelDrw v11 and it magically appears. This is what happened with v10.

Thanks Richard and well done with Devine Creation. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[alexbozhenov]

Hello Ashely,

I'm not the best in English, but I fully agree with Gary.

Publishing - Illustrator.
All other - XaraX is the best.

I'm use Illustrator, CorelDraw and Xarax.

90% of job - in XaraX, then if needed, export to Illustrator or Corel for finishing...

I don't like Corel Draw, I think it is a monster http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

XaraX more frendly and easy to understand even with my poor English http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Be happy! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

===============
alexander



email

ALBO Design

[Clements]

Xara's a far greater value and easier to learn.

HOWEVER, it depends upon what you want to USE it for. What do you intend to depict or design? Xara has limited vector export filters, but eps, ai., or cmx should cover many needs.

What I would do is go to www.xaraxone.com and download or look at as many of Gary Priester's tutorials as you can to get an idea of the practicality of Xara. Also, visit the featured artist area for what talented artist can do with program.

If I was you (assuming you had the same needs as I) I would get Xara. By the way, Corel 7, I believe, "borrowed" the design of some of the interactive tool interfaces from CorelXara so Xara should be easy for you to pick up and use. You can trade the vector shapes easily between Draw and Xara via the CMX format.

[gwpriester]

Ashely

I did not really address CorelDRAW as your question was between Xara and Illustrator.

Much of Corel's interactive on-screen controls and transparency, and Property bar were directly "inspired" by Xara. Corel even licensed Xara for a while until it became apparent that this was just a move to stall the success of Xara.

If you have used CorelDRAW then you will find Xara familar, although I think you will find Xara much more responsive and more fun to work with.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


Click to make The Xara Xone #1

<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>

[RAMWolff44]

typing from work here..

I have a Wacom Intuos 6 X 8, I use it as much as the mouse. You just learn that some things are better with the mouse and some are better with the tablet. I bought it through Gateway and for all I know I'm still paying it off. I bought so much from them and owe them so much, still to this day that I have no idea at this point!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

A too have KnockOut and I was not very impressed with the learning curve so there is sits!! Nuff said!!

Glad I could be of help. Like a said, if you have the need for both apps in one then seriously look at PhotoImpact!!

Have fun! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

---Wolff On The Prowl---

[RAMWolff44]

http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

No I don't think it's the end of CorelDraw at all.

In my experience and what I know from this whole thing is that Corel aquired Xara and renamed it CorelXara (I still have my copy just for old times sake http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif ) and then in that time, during the merger of the two, Corel took (stole, whatever http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif ) Xara's model and made it their own. So that's why Gary says that if you decide to go with Draw there is some familiarity but the ease of use is not there and it's klunky and will cause hair loss (because you will be pulling it out of your head tying to get taske done!!)

I think their other application called Corel Designer is also a take off of Xara but it a whopping $469.00 http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/eek.gif More for technical drawing .

So as you can see, for ease of use and a bargain too XaraX is the way to go. There are other vector or vector based apps out there that are a little cheaper but they DO NOT deliver what XaraX can deliver!!

I may not have the story completely straight but I'm sure that Gary will come through and set it right, but I know I'm not that far off.

Anyway, enjoy, these are the forums to beat all forums!! Family type of atmosphere, that's what it's become to many of us. There are lurkers that pop in from time to time to ask questions and then there are those members that pop in that are a little more stand offish but friendly just the same, answer questions and give their opinions in some of the OT (off topic) or on topic subjects. We are even blessed with the occasional visit from a member from Xara Ltd. from time to time (but don't hold your breath dear!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif ) We use the Test Forum for our 'General Chat' forum (jokes and what not).

It's all good, enjoy and have fun Ashley! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Richard http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

---Wolff On The Prowl---

[ashpurple]

Thanks all for your advice. It is amazing what you can do with Xara X for the price compared to the price of Coreldraw. I have Photoshop v7 but not quite as familiar to it as Photopaint. (I still have not used the masking yet). One of the things that I do find helpful is how CorelPhotoPaint kicks in if you want to work on a bitmap picture from CorelDraw and then when finished and you exit CorelPhotopaint, the changes have been made in CorelDraw where the original artwork is being created. Now using Xara X if you wanted to do similar, would you use Photoshop or CorelPhotopaint ?

Secondly, I have also got hold of Knockout v2 but have not used it yet. However, it works within the EFFECTS button both in CorelDraw v10 and Photoshop v7. Loading the new CorelDraw v11, Knockout v2 is not there. Is it a case of reloading Knockout again so CorelDraw v11 picks it up? (I have tried to arm myself with the software I need and not as yet started to use or learn them all as each takes many hours of practice). One step at a time http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[masque]

I agree with all thats been said above. You can't beat xara, I've tried. Produce an image in xara and then try to reproduce it in illustrator or coreldraw and not only will it take three times as long the end result will be a pale shadow of what can be achieved in xara.
I am largley involved in illustration and if I use a computer I have to use xara as my patience is short.
Check out the galleries and Artists of the Month in XaraXone. You just could not do it with the imitators and pretenders.

derek

[ashpurple]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by John S. Clements:
Xara's a far greater value and easier to learn.

HOWEVER, it depends upon what you want to USE it for. What do you intend to depict or design? Xara has limited vector export filters, but eps, ai., or cmx should cover many needs.

What I would do is go to http://www.xaraxone.com and download or look at as many of Gary Priester's tutorials as you can to get an idea of the practicality of Xara. Also, visit the featured artist area for what talented artist can do with program.

If I was you (assuming you had the same needs as I) I would get Xara. By the way, Corel 7, I believe, "borrowed" the design of some of the interactive tool interfaces from CorelXara so Xara should be easy for you to pick up and use. You can trade the vector shapes easily between Draw and Xara via the CMX format.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My main area is the CorelDraw which suits my needs, however, I need to branch more into Multimedia and eventually Web Design. There is a need to start this road off by learning Flash, not only for general interest but for a niche within a department at work I am trying to enevtually transfer to in the future.

I will take your advice and was most in awe with Gary Priester's web-site and Links to which he is someone to look up to.

Thank you

Ashley
http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif