Background fills

[ajreed]

Seems almost too trivial to post, but having used XaraX for many years, and now using Xtreme I got for Christmas, this little problem is bugging me.

Open new document, open fills gallery, select a fill, click Background - and it just imports the fill into the current layer.

XaraX - open new doc, open fill gallery, select fill, click Background and it floods the background layer with the selected fill (tiled) also creating the background layer if non existed. Which is what I expected Xtreme to do - but it doesn't - why?

Thanks - Im sure its something stupid - but I cant see it.

Alan.

[handrawn]

if you have moved from xaraX straight to xtreme 4 you are going to notice quite a few of changes - and the way fills are organised is one

there are threads covering various aspects of this of course, but they are scattered around and not coordinated

might be an idea to road test the program and make a list of all the things that you find different that need clarifying

[ajreed]

Just a further observation - using the bitmap gallery instead of the fill gallery and all works as expected, the selected bitmap floods the background layer creating the background layer if one did not exist. Seems the problem exists just with the fills gallery.

Also - how do you create a background layer? Ok filling it using a bitmap is one way, is there another?

[gwpriester]

Hi Alan

I believe the background layer exists automatically.

You can apply a bitmap fill to the background which you know. You can also hold down the Ctrl key and drag a color onto the background (right click and select Default Page Background) to return to the white page.

What you might want to do is simply create a rectangle the size of your page and apply any fill you want. This will be in essence the bottom or background layer, but unlike the actual background layer found in the Layer Gallery, you can edit the fill applied to a rectangle.

[ajreed]

Ok Gary thanks for that - by your reply I assume that unlike XaraX1, Xtreme can't auto create the background layer by filling with a fill, only by filling with a bitmap. Not sure what the distinction is, but thanks for your input.

I know I could always create a rectangle the size of the page but somehow this seems like a workaround. I could always create a new layer, drag it to be a background layer and fill it and knock off its select handle, but again that seems like a workaround, compared to the ease which XaraX1 could auto-create it.

Anyhow - I have submitted a ticket on this to Xara and await with interest if they can shed further light on this peculiar difference.

Thanks again for your input,

[iamtheblues]

...I could always create a new layer, drag it to be a background layer and fill it and knock off its select handle, but again that seems like a workaround, compared to the ease which XaraX1 could auto-create it.

Whilst we appreciate your quest for the truth, I don't think Messrs. Xara will be to interested in what you (or anyone else) has to say regarding the changes since Xara X1. It really is a question of accepting that Xara has moved on and accepting the changes. Have a read of this thread about workarounds and I'm sure you'll agree that there is little point in wanting things to be the way they were (or the way that you would rather they were), and accept the way that they are.
Saludos,
Bob.