Gallery Request: Can XaraXtreme learn from DrawPlus X2?

[Robert H]

DrawPlus X2 has some really cool features that I'd love to see in Xara. Xara's galleries are one of its weakest points and really detracts from an otherwise excellent program. The work flow of DrawPlus Galleries is the best I've seen for any app. Features include:

• (A) All the galleries can be shown/hidden by clicking on the little teal arrow button next to the scroll bar. In addition, and this is really cool, when the galleries are hidden/collapsed, moving the mouse to the screen side expands it allowing you access to any gallery tab. Moving out of the gallery area automatically collapses it again, adding lots of screen space for your work, yet giving you instant access to a gallery when you need it.
• (B) Multiple galleries can be added together to form a single tab group. Drag to rearrange within the Galleries. Drag them onto the main drawing area and when done, double clicking its title bar parks it back into the tab group.
• (C) Many galleries (like Brushes) are organized by category. A drop down tree list is used for selecting a category. These galleries allow adding a category and/or folder and to rename or delete them.
• (D) At the end of each tab group there is an arrow that serves as a context menu for the currently displayed gallery tab, having additional actions.

[Robert H]

DrawPlus X2 has an Effects Gallery that I would love to see in Xara. This gallery contains effects/styles that can be applied to any drawing object. An effect can include texture, shadow, bevel, fill, line, transparency, extrude, etc.

• (A) The Effects gallery tab shows a small thumbnail of each effect/style that can be applied to a drawing object. The first thumbnail in each category removes all effects from the drawing object.
• (B) The Effects within the gallery are organized by categories which are selected using a drop down tree list. This is so much cleaner, more organized, requires less space and with better work flow than Xara's stacked lists of categories.
• (C) The Context Menu for the Effects gallery allow you to create your own Folders and Categories. You can also Rename or Delete them for use in storing your custom effects/styles.
• (D) To save a style that you create on a new drawing object for future reuse, right click the object and select "Add to Studio > Effect". I'd like to see this become drag and drop.
  
  This stuff works really well. An addition I'd love to see in Xara would be a series of check boxes in the gallery that would allow the selective application of one or more effects. For example, just the shadow and texture could be applied to a drawing object, but not the bevel and transparency of an effect/style.

[Robert H]

I'd really like to see a Swatches Gallery in Xara. The Swatches Gallery Tab contains gradient fills, color fills and bitmap fills that you can apply to a drawing object. It combines Xara's Fill and Color Galleries but adds gradients and is much better organization.

If a drawing object is selected, clicking on the swatch will apply it, otherwise you can drag and drop the swatch on an object. In addition you can create your own swatches, add them to existing categories, or create your own palettes, gradients or bitmap swatches. There is a Palette Manager for modifying, saving and loading palettes and a Gradient Editor for creating gradients. User bitmaps can also be added.

[Robert H]

DrawPlus X2 has some interesting object and group creation and selection functions. These small work flow and interface changes enhances the user experience and gives the application an added feeling of quality and precision. They would make worthy additions to Xara.

(A) When an object is created, like this rectangle, the dimensions are continually displayed as you drag, giving very precise object size information.
In addition when you change the size of an existing object these dimensions are constantly updated (see C. below)

(B) When selecting objects, a transparent rectangle (the color of the current layer) is displayed. A cool effect that adds a touch of class to the app.

(D) When several objects are selected a Group Button appears. Pressing it will create an object group.

(E) The Group Button then changes into an Ungroup Button. Press to ungroup. Very intuitive and close to the action, as opposed to a toolbar button. Also when you select an object, it becomes immediately obvious (by the presence of the Ungroup Button) that the object is a group, without referring to the toolbar. It is also displayed in the Layer Gallery.

[Robert H]

I'd like to see the following in Xara. When an object is selected in DrawPlus X2, there is a circle in the center of the object, which is its rotation point. This rotation point can be repositioned, by dragging, anywhere inside or outside the object. Double clicking the rotation point will return it to the center of the object.

Moving the mouse just outside a selection corner node changes the cursor and allows object rotation. The angle of rotation is continually displayed in the rotation circle while the object is rotating. Hovering over a rotated object will display its size and rotation angle in the status bar. Holding the shift key rotates the object in 15 degree increments. Moving the mouse just past a corner selection node and double clicking when the cursor changes, will return the object to its zero degree rotation orientation. Cool, useful and easy to do.

[zaphodeist]

The rotation point Xara has got

[Robert H]

In addition see my April 6th thread:

New Fill Gallery Proposal/Design

Thanks for viewing

[Robert H]

The rotation point Xara has got

Thanks John, I was more interested in the angle aspect and the ability to return the object to it's original rotation position. And returning the rotation point to the center of the object. You also do not have to go to the rotate mode to access the rotation point.

[steve.ledger]

Robert I have moved your thread to 'Graphics Chat' as it is more a showcase for DrawPlus X2 than directly related to Xara Xtreme.

I'd not be surprised if some these suggested Xara Galleries enhancements are already being considered for the future.
Perhaps we'll hear from Xara at some stage.

[zaphodeist]

Thought you must have noticed the rotation point really You've certainly pointed out some good, intuitive features that would be of use to all users of Xara.