Gallery Request: Can XaraXtreme learn from DrawPlus X2?

[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]

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.

[Robert H]

Thanks Steve...

The posts were not meant to showcase DrawPlus but as requests for additions to Xara with graphic displays as to how another app accomplishes these features. I like Xara much better but would like to see these additional functions. So I think it would be better in the original forum. Thanks.

[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.

[Robert H]

Thanks for viewing and your reply John.

[ss-kalm]

...... returning the rotation point to the center of the object.

If you deselect and then reselect, the rotation point does return to the centre of the object