-
When do we, like all good paying customers, begin to ask for more? I say, why not now?
Wishlist Items:
I want a real color wheel, you know, like in grade school, RYB so I can pick complementary color sets
I want to customize the interface to set my own shortcuts (I want to set my onw shortcuts)
I want an alignment that is relative (like CorelDraw) wher the first object is aligned relative to the last.
I want to ungroup a "grouped object" although it has a shadow within it
I want to select the default setting that controls outlines and the dimesnions of an object. Currently, if you create an object with 1 pt line thickness, and you enter 100 pixels, the outline value is part of the 100 pixels. If you modify the image and turnoff the outline, then the dimesions is reduced. I am not sure what the options could be, but it can be terribly annoying to micromanage this when you draw something.
I guess this is why it is a wishlist. This off the top. Any one else?
Milt
-
When do we, like all good paying customers, begin to ask for more? I say, why not now?
Wishlist Items:
I want a real color wheel, you know, like in grade school, RYB so I can pick complementary color sets
I want to customize the interface to set my own shortcuts (I want to set my onw shortcuts)
I want an alignment that is relative (like CorelDraw) wher the first object is aligned relative to the last.
I want to ungroup a "grouped object" although it has a shadow within it
I want to select the default setting that controls outlines and the dimesnions of an object. Currently, if you create an object with 1 pt line thickness, and you enter 100 pixels, the outline value is part of the 100 pixels. If you modify the image and turnoff the outline, then the dimesions is reduced. I am not sure what the options could be, but it can be terribly annoying to micromanage this when you draw something.
I guess this is why it is a wishlist. This off the top. Any one else?
Milt
-
I am afraid to express my whish list in this fourm , XaraXens will attack me [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]
I had some comments regarding improving the interface and i was almost kick out and cast out of this forum forever [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
I am not going to post anything unless i see Gary whish list, then i will know that i will not be attacked by XaraXens [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
-
Ajiscool - Have no fear! The other thread you refer to had no attacks - your complaints about the interface just led others to remark their approval of that same design. Likewise in this thread it is legitimate for someone to state things they'd like to see changed. It is just as legitimate for someone else to disagree.
All users are individuals and none of us think alike or have the same expectations or preferences. It will ultimately be up to Xara Ltd. to decide what product features they choose to incorporate or change based on their understanding of the products users - current and their targeted new user market. Sounds difficult to me.
Regards, Ross
<a href=http://www.designstop.com/>DesignStop.Com</a>
-
Surely it is healthy to express ones wishes for the future? Clearly we have to bear in mind Xara's need to keep the file size down, and to recognise that an excess of tools leads to the clutter we all want to avoid. However discussing wishes can only be beneficial.
Here's the list of things in XX I have missed:
Import/Export text in RTF format
Wrap against a path or object
Cut-out shadow on shadow tool
Twirl (rotational shear) on transform options
Copy and paste all attributes including bevel & shadow
8-points mold envelope (like everyone else)
PDF and SVG export
ALT field on image maps
64 colour depth option for GIF export
A simple means of repeating a group of actions
So lets see yours, AjIsCoool!
Tony
PS Ross just got in before me - it might help X to decide if we express our wishes on this forum. I agree with Ross that it must be daunting task for X, who are already working on the next releaseI'm sure.
-
My list is simple...
1. I want the text attribute buttons included on the font gallery (so I don't have to keep switching back and forth).
2. I want Xara to Default to the last text and attributes used, so I don't have to keep changing it back,
3. A default font would be good, but hold last used would be better for me.
And, hey, if it isn't too much trouble, an artistic talent button would be nice.
http://www.deltamoon.addr.com/deltaplate.gif
-
1. Abilty to customize default atrributes: color, font etc.
2. Ability to create Styles
3. More user-friendly brush dialog boxes (sliders without a live preview box bother me...)
4. Plug-in capabilities to harness the creative energies of all those Xarians out there.
5. Floating toolbars?
-
Tony
64 colour (or any other number) GIFs are already possible by entering the value in the Max colours box on the export dialog. For a technique to make the same GIF even more compact, see the new thread I started ("Make your GIFs even smaller").
Regards - Sean
-
Repeat an action: Corel's Control R, apply to duplicate.
Support for multiple pages.
John
-
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>64 colour (or any other number) GIFs are already possible by entering the value in the Max colours box on the export dialog. For a technique to make the same GIF even more compact, see the new thread I started ("Make your GIFs even smaller"). <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi Sean,
Reducing the number of colours doesn't seem to have much effect on file size (in my case, anyway). I should like to be able to set the colour depth on the drop down list. At the moment I export at the higher depth,import my graphic into Photoshop and set the lower depth there. It works a treat. I shall have a look at your thread. Maybe its a simpler way round, in which case thanks in advance.
Tony
-
Thanks Ross for your support and for reminded us about the freedom of expressing our feelings toward our lovely product [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Tonylondon here is my whishes:
1- The Blend menu should have attach to path (like corel) ready when blend is active.
2- Dockable dialog boxes
3- Extrude effects with ablity to rotate in 3d world ( would be nice to Bevel and Extrude together)
4- Animation, to produce a vector animation (swf)
5- To have an open format to support Illustrator vector plugins ( i don't no if it is possible thou)
7- If the answer is no to 5- then should have effects menu like CorelDraw.
6- Offcourse all your points applys to my whish list, setting defaults on fonts and ....etc, copying properties(bevel, shadow, fills...etc and ability to create Styles is a must
Note: stability is fine with me but speed in zooming mode get really slower than Draw, where it is in the normal mode XaraX is the fastest illustrator app, strange [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img]
More will come....
-
Milt
There are two or three free color wheels in the XaraXone Shareware Page that will do what you are asking.
AJ You are always welcome to your opinion, (and most welcome in these conferences--you are the official delagate in Kuwait :-) do not feel intimidated if people do not agree with you.
Gary
Gary Priester
Moderator Person
<a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~garypriester">
Be it ever so humble...</a>
-
Well, I don't want to make this list more long than it is already, but there are a few things (Very few) that I have said "Aww shoot, wish I had this".
#1. Being able to turn shapes created with the FreeHand or ShapeEditor tools into molds. this would be a highly usefull tool, especially for them Logo creators out there!
#2. I second the being able to "twirl" shapes. Kind of like the quickshape stars, only like a spiral.
#3. And MOST of all, MULTIPLE TRANSPARENCY SETTINGS. Just like the Fill Tool's ability to create multiple colors on a linear, elliptical, etc. fill, I would LOOOVVEE tha ability to make one part of a linear transparency 90% and another part 52% and another part 100% etc. etc. etc.!!!!!
Steve Newport
-
I have many others, but in regards to Steve's:
#3. ABSOLUTEY!!!
3a. Also, if Xara could revisit the idea of Group Transpancy.
#1. YES!!!.
1a. Also, the ability to symetrical "stretch" or deform opposite mold "points(nodes)".
1b. Covert mold shape to an editable shapes directly from the Info Bar [to avoid the 2-step process of Convert To Editable Shape > Ungroup, which, incidentally, seems to produce an extra point (node) which lays on top of another point].
1c. Create a mold, perhaps via an eye dropper tool in the Mold Info Bar, from a shape and then applies that mold to the selected object.
-
I still want multiple pages.
Sheffield Abella
sheff@sheff.com
www.sheff.com
-
Allow shift-click to function as 'select' when using the Shape Editor tool with nothing selected. People who have right click set this way would especially benefit.
Integrate the zoom menu with the status bar (current scale always visible), and eliminate dependence on zoom as a discrete tool, instead of as a display mode for tool use. As is, marquee zoom is the only way to quickly and accurately zoom, which means switching tools, and you can only marquee zoom one direction, you know. In a scalable graphics program zoom is as important as nudge, so: add a modifier key to reduce the zoom factor to ten percent. And how about a key for zoom to 100%?
Add basic scripting. Repetitive actions like setting all nodes to cusp, or converting/ungrouping/breaking apart an object could be changed from drudgery to a breeze. I'd also welcome user assigned hot keys and more single character hotkeys, a la 'B' and 'Z'.
I rarely need to use the Bezier controls. This means the most common impact of the Bezier tangent lines and control knobs is clutter, making the quality of a line harder to judge, and editing with the Shape Editor more difficult. I often can't tell the difference between an inactive node and a Bezier knob of an active one -- they're the same size, shape, orientation -- and who knows from color. I'd appreciate a Bezier flag display toggle, wouldn't you?
There is an inner set of control handles for grouped objects that allow a choice of free or locked aspect scaling, but I don't see them for other objects. I would prefer this arrangement for all scaling, rather than a separate aspect-lock infobar button -- which is not only more remote on the screen, but from one's intentions and beliefs. Also a flat inner/outer relationship is better suited for fatigue resistant operation than buttons which require three dimensional thinking.
Do something with the Layer Gallery. My idea is to have a button for each layer, in the space to the left of the check boxes, that would automaticly set a consistent starting point: select that layer as current, set view and edit for that layer, and deselect view and edit for all other layers. I may need to hire someone to do this for me when I flare my nostrils and give my special nod... Also I'd be more inclined to give layers names that still made sense if I could edit by double clicking instead of going through properties.
Lose the splash screen, and find a long-process meter, functional escape key, and attempted crash file saved to Xara's program folder.
Slip the old brown dude a plate of sardines. He's not remembering user defaults, and seems morbidly fixated on scrollbars and the color black. And he doesn't start the program maximized; is he tired, uncertain? 'There now, up we go...'
There have been a couple dozen suggestions for interface improvement on this forum which, hope against hope, haven't fallen into the void. Things like: where appropriate use radio buttons in preference to drop down menus, and graphic symbols in preference to words ... use a shadow only on the icon for the shadow tool, not the transparency tool, duh ... hey there's an icon for transparency and a redundant transparency check box on the Gif export dialog ... add nudge to sliders, puh-lease ... etc ...
Perhaps people don't appreciate that design choices like naming two sliders with different functions 'smoothing' is problematic -- or for that matter notice that 'smoothing jr' ('simplify' or 'node reduction') is an on/off switch -- but I believe everyone eventually benefits from attention to interface refinement whether they realize it or not. If these sorts of observations seem petty and meddlesom, hire an interface consultant for a few days for a fresh view. (Consultant: 'Yeah, gave it the once over -- nothing wrong here boyo, it's smokein'! Leaves the competition in the dust!!).
One other thing, how about a new forum category called Bugs & Wishes to create a more efficient venue for input and monitoring. Xara's developers might also find it use full. Bugs: suspected, known, non-bugs, incompatibilities, fix history, work-arounds, issues to be solved, issues on the shelf. Wishes: users' needs and suggestions for improvements.
Assimilate, Ignore, Enjoy!
Ed Nadie
-
It's already the greatest -- how to make it better?
** Bigger or settable sliders. On Brightness & Contrast, why can't I just grab the slider box and widen it to suit me? Otherwise give me a sensitivity setting or something.
And why can't I grab the tiny preview windows and make them bigger if I want?
**Customizable toolbars so I can make a button for Brightness & Contrast and so on.
**All-round improved export for printing, especially TIFF images.
**Easier ways to import and export between other major graphics programs - until that's sorted the so many artists won't consider making XX part of their toolkit.
**Oh, yes and an autogel button Pleeeeze.
Bill
Stuck in a tropical island paradise!
-
Xara's native file format already supports multiple pages and even more complicated document structure. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any support within the program as yet.
My personal hatred is directed towards Xara's arrow heads. They're pretty much unusable for serious dimensioning because they're added to the length of the line but invisible while you're adjusting it. You often need several attempts to get the point where you want it.
Regards - Sean
-
1) It would be very helpful to be able to move between frames using the keyboard, i.e. the arrow keys.
2) An automatic way to renumber the frames.
3) An Onion Skin feature would be helpful.
Just my $.02 worth.
-
SVG file handling (im/Export)
Simplify EPS export (now I have to convert lines to shapes and text to shapes to have a succesful export)
Better template handling, I want to have templates which has Arial as default text, black as default fill, or Verdana and green as defaults
-
1 Attachment(s)
Sheffield, you CAN have multiple pages!
Steve Newport
-
Two most _Critical_ things in my book:
* Align to object selected last
* Calculation of measurements from upper left instead of lower left
Vote YES!:
* Specify default typeface/text size. (Hold last font spec used could be good, too.)
* User-defined hotkeys
* Assign hotkey or toolbar icon for any command (single keystrokes are especially good)
* Symmetrically "stretch" or deform opposite mold points(nodes)
* Better zoom options (hotkeys, right/left click)
* Option to save rotation point position with object and copy/apply with other attributes
* Lean, clean, uncluttered interface
Vote Yes:
* Styles
* Move between animation frames using arrow keys
* Automatic way to renumber animation frames
Vote NO!:
* No dockers. They take up too much space.
* Same goes for radio buttons.
* As for icons -- they're only good if what they stand for is patently clear. And what's clear to one person isn't necessarily clear to someone else.
* Start program maximized (although could be an option)
-
I agree that the pointy-tip of arrowheads need to be on the end-point(node) of the curve segment.
ALSO, the existing "sizes" of arrowheads aren't that useful (too often the line width has to be changed to an undersireable width to get the arrowhead the correct size). ***What about a profile slider to adjust the sizing as a percentage of the line width??? Could arrowhead profile be saved with the document????
Ditto for the dash spacing of dashed lines.
-
Arrow head size can be adjusted via the registry key:<blockquote>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Xara\Xa raX\Version 3.0\Options\Displays</blockquote>Change the values of ArrowScale1...4.
I may misunderstand the problem, but Xara always starts how I leave it, unless I minimise it and shut down from the Windows Taskbar (or just quit Windows). Please explain this problem further.
Regards - Sean
-
I'm a bit hesitant to list wishlist features since I've only been playing with xara for a short time, but there are a few things which I think could be extremely beneficial...
1. Multipage capability. Granted you can open multiple documents, but getting them to print to a PDF is a bit of a task, no?
2. An object hierarchy. The names palette is useful if you give your objects names, but if not, there is no real convienet way to navigate through the objects in your illustration. Plus it would make object selection even easier.
3. An option to apply transparency on the core object, but not affecting any effects. For example, applying a bevel to a shape, and having the transparency not effect the bevel, just the inside object. Or having option to have the transparency affect the fill and not the stroke.
4. A print preview, unless there is one and I'm just not finding it.
5. Paste attributes (shadow, bevel, transparency, etc...)
6. EPS Import. I've got a whole slew of EPS clipart from when I subscribed to Dynamic Graphics Designer's CLub, but I cannot pull any of them into Xara.
7. Gradient transparencies.
8. Bitmap selections for applying plugins
-
How about a magic wand to select and then turn that selection into a shape. Edit the shape, give it feathering, transparency, etc. Then turning that shape back into a selection and applying the plugin.
That would be cool if it was do able. Usually I create a shape for a certain area of a bitmap, clone both of them, intersect, then apply the plugin to the resultant object. Then from there, you can apply transparency and feathering.
Other than that, I agree with everything else.
Sheffield Abella
sheff@sheff.com
www.sheff.com
-
Asp 'L' checker wood be nice so that ewe can make shore your tie ping is rite and thier are know miss takes.
Eric [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
-
What I want for Christmas is a feature equivalent to Illustrator 9‘s “pixel preview” so Xara doesn’t have to re-render shadows, bevels, and feathered objects every time you zoom in (a painfully slow process if you haven’t noticed).
-
XaraX's Inheritance function for Named linked colors is great! BUT: it works in a strictly mathematical way, and our perception of color does NOT work mathematically. More specficially, when an orange color with, say, a Value of 50 is changed to a deep blue color, the Value of 50 does *not* represent the same *perceived* tonal value, since deep blue is intrinsically much darker than orange. Therefore, the tonal value of those parts of an illustration which uses this named color (and its children) is thrown off: it becomes too dark. The same principle applies to all colors which differ in perceptual value, of course.
Therefore, we need an extra checkbox for the color Inheritance: "Maintain Perceptual Color Values".
Am I right - or am I right?
K
-
And finally they admit all the shortcomings. Well, was that so hard?
-
But we're still convinced that Xara is the best out there.
BTW Xara does have a two page view. To get his go to:
File / Page Options
In the dialogue box that pops up, click the "Double Page Spread" option at the bottom of the screen.
Despite this, I agree that Xara needs a multiple page option.
Michael Ward
http://LeighCenturions.net
-
Michael,
Thanks for that tip, I never knew it was there.
Sheff
Sheffield Abella
sheff@sheff.com
www.sheff.com
-
CMYK
cu
FLySOLO
ps: focus on what xara is best: illustration
i use flash for flash and fireworks and dreamweaver for web. but the main artwork concept fine drawing are done in xara.
-
I would like xara to look and the disk you are about to save to and see if it is full and warn me before it startws to save and then locks up. this is particularly an issue if you use zip disks as once the disk is full it locks up and you cannot get out except by contol/alt/del and end task which trashes the file you were saving to so you loose what you were trying to save and the old file too. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]
Also I would like to ad my vote for a way to save a font with a file or to save it witha template so I dont have to change frome times roman 50 time a day to my prefered font.
Also when doing blend xara creates intermediate colors even if that colors already exist so you can end up with hundreds of colors to sort through. deleting these color (Black14 for instance) can case crashes when saving.
Please do not add a bunch of dckers and other dialog boxes as they seem to add complexity out of proportion to the improved functionality. Xara's strength is its intuative interface. Beware of creeping elegance!
John D
-
I've not been able to reproduce this. Can you give a more detailed example?
Regards - Sean
-
Ever since Xara Studio I've wished for an option to print an image tiled over many pages.
For example I'd like to be able to scale up to A0 and print over several sheets of A4, with crop marks and bleeds for aligning the pages together.
I had software on the Amiga donkeys years ago that did this with ease...
Stu.
-
1 Attachment(s)
You can print multiple pages of your page on just one sheet, with the print command. RTFM!
-
Mine are simple.
An airbrush & a pressure sensitive rubber.
or make the feather slider easier to use.
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
-
XaraX is great. I purchased Xara 3d and Webstyle2 and I'm proud of that too. These are two other great programs.
What I'd like to see the most with the new XaraX is better support for 3D and Webstyle.
While using XaraX, I want to freely exchage data between these other two programs and have hooks/connections into the other packages in order to use these as one integrated package.
Keep selling these as seperate items like now but just make X better at supporting the features and funcionality of the other two by allowing better data flow between apps.
The BEST is good enough!
