Xara Xtreme for Fine Arts

**Gilles C** · 01 December 2005, 05:22 PM

Hi all!

I like to paint both on a computer (not a lot of experience) and on real canvas.

And when I see a program like this one http://www.artellmedia.com/ , I am wondering if I can use Xara to do the same kind of things, or if I should get a separate program to do it.

I did not have very good results until now with Xara to help me with my real life paintings, and it may be because I don't know how to use it enough.

But I would like to know if someone on this forum can help me get the info I am tring to find for that specific use.

What I tried to do in the past weeks is use the bitmap tracer to make an b/w outline so that I could draw it on a canvas. And then separate the colors to help me find the colors of the objects and the shadows, etc...

But it didn't work very well until now. There are so many settings to try that I just can't find what I need to do.

Thanks,

Gilles

**sallybode** · 02 December 2005, 04:08 AM

I think what you are looking for is a pixel based drawing program. Photoshop, Painter, PaintShopPro are all examples of pixel drawing/painting program. Yes they can do other things, may have some vector tools.

Xara is an illustration program, and it can do a lot of what a pixel based drawing program can do, but it is working much different from tools that you use by hand to achieve blending techniques.

Xara does wonderful things and can with the plugins render very convincing paintings, but they are not done in the painterly approach you are thinking of.

Illustration programs are used from drawing parts from technical illustration to brochure layout, diagrams, web graphics, cartooning, car renderings, architectural renderings, perspective, magazine covers and where graphics need to be scalable and perfectly in focus no matter what size like Logos.

Pixel based editors are primarily used for photoretouch and composition, web graphics, print for posters, magazines, brochures, paintings. As you can see there are areas of overlap of function.

Xara can do more functions in the realm that used to be solely dominated by programs like Photoshop because it can do soft edges. Now Xara can do that and Xara has the capacity of making its own brushes.

Xara is fast when using its own native tools. Complex brushes or filters/plugins can make Xara move very slowly. You have to learn where these boundaries are and use Xara for what it does best. If you have to use a lot of complexity in an area. Make it as its own drawing, make a bitmap copy and put it in your final drawing for that part in order to keep moving.

Check these out:

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=18693

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=18989

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=18597

**rpc9943** · 02 December 2005, 12:37 PM

painters should check out the free ARTRAGE, google it. free natural media, a kind of "lite" corel painter

RonC

**AndFarr** · 02 December 2005, 02:30 PM

I am also a real-world artistic painter, and my suggestion is the new version of Corel Painter Essentials . I've only used the trial version, but it seems to be arranged in a logical and usable fashion, and not too expensive.
Check it out at: http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satelli...&trkid=unleash

-AF

**MerryOtter** · 02 December 2005, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by rpc9943

painters should check out the free ARTRAGE, google it. free natural media, a kind of "lite" corel painter

Oh I REALLY like this app. Finally, a successor to Dabbler! Thanks for recommending it, Ron!

**sallybode** · 02 December 2005, 03:14 PM

Have to check that one out. Thanks.

**Gilles C** · 03 December 2005, 04:44 AM

Thanks for the answers guys.

As was mentionned, I may be trying to use the wrong tool for the job.

I already have problems learning how to use Xara, so I was trying to keep the learning to what I already have (Xara... and a few other drawing programs).

But I will take a look at Artrage (thanks for mentioning it) because it is freeware and that I already paid for more programs that I use.

Corel Painter Essentials could have been an option, but if I was willing to to buy another program, the one I mentionned in my first post would be what I need.

Added: I tried Artrage, and it is a very nive program to try and use. I'll try it for a while. But Corel Essentials would be too costly in the end.

Thanks again.

Gilles

**Mike Bailey** · 03 December 2005, 08:17 PM

If your looking for a real nice paint program, give this a spin.

http://www.download.com/Deep-Paint/3...-10398243.html

This is a nifty eyedropper program for sampling color.
http://www.prall.net/tools/colorcop/