they get more and more bland
i think with the whole windows 8 microsoft rebrand everybodys going for flat linear iconography
shame
i loved the original xara splash screens
Printable View
they get more and more bland
i think with the whole windows 8 microsoft rebrand everybodys going for flat linear iconography
shame
i loved the original xara splash screens
It looks good.
I guess this is the current trend of what is deemed professional looking. It is a bit bland and not very exciting but I don't dislike it and it does represent the all-in-one "suite" of programs well. Unfortunately I think colourful exciting splash screens are out of fashion with 'the professional look' at the moment. I think they should have matched the progam icon to the splash screen look though, the old brown one seems disconnected from the blue colour theme in the splashscreen.
Blah, it is. Windows 8 style doesn't say "professional" to me at all. It says "ugly and uninspired". And I'm not just referring to the Xara splash screen, which at least is only blah.
Well I suppose this begs the question of whether we should have a mini-contest for bragging rights to come up with a better X9 splash screen using the new software.
My complaint with the DPX9 splash screen is it is not consistent with the other three products in the suite. What is the point of having a suite of products if it does not look like a suite?
As you can tell from my avatar, I love the flat graphics in Windows 8. The colors are bright, not dreary, and the graphic are crisp and clean. Again, the problem I have is very few software companies have followed the Windows 8 design theme so you have a hodgepodge of styles. What those who like extra vowels in their words would call a dog's breakfast.
LOL .. dog's dinner!
I'm more of a 3D bling kinda guy. So not into the new splash screen. Not into W8 either. All flat, square and boxey.
A stick of celery is bright, crisp, and clean, too.
And about as appetizing as the New (Flat) Black.
-g
Unless you're a BIG fan of celery then its scrummy! - Who really cares what the splash page looks like! - I use the brief moment whilst Xara loads to take a healthy sip of Tea and then its down to work. Now I'm not really a professional "Creative Designer" more of a "gifted amateur" but I have in various positions in my previous life (before retirement) been surrounded by many "creative" types and the one thing I discovered was - put 100 "Professional Designers" in a room and you will get 101 (not a typo) "correct ways to do the job" and they, like programmers will almost never finish the job as they are discovering new things/methods/trends and as a project manager you had to lay down tight deadlines and lots of guidance and to always remember that the most important thing in any web site/leaflet/brochure is Content, Content and Content - with layout and design secondary to that (boy I can feel the flack already!!!) That said for someone who struggles to draw a straight line with a ruler I am in awe of some of the images that people create with Xara.
We've been through this before with splash screens.
If it bothers you for the few seconds it shows, then change it..
Create your own 486x300 pixel image, save it as a .bmp and (re)place it here:
\Xara\Xara Designer Pro X9\bitmaps
Cool. Do we need to have a splash screen contest?
This will work for now. You have to change the file permissions for the Bitmaps folder to replace the current image.
No, this is not a setting in the registry.
XaReg can only edit the Xara registry settings.
Gary, what inspiration does the RAF give you when working in Designer Pro X9 ;))
at the heart of everything that xara does is its drawing suite of tools
you cannot create anything in any of xara's products without them
it would have been nice to see some of that functionality represented
i bet some people aren't even aware of that
write some text
convert to editable shapes
draw a freehand blob
blend
add a highlight, an fx or a contour
play with colours
voilą
melted cheese
or in the case of some people
humbug
Pete, I was extending my avatar so the colors seemed appropriate. :)
He might not be drawing from the Royal Air Force for inspiration. We have a department store chain here in the USA:
Attachment 97108
This is an unfortunate by-product of making an identifying graphic a little too simple.
-g
Actually, it was Pete who asked the question OG, and I just explained in my last post the reason for the icon.
In Britain we have a habit of painting targets on our military equipment. We used to have crosses on our troops too, but they decided to stop doing that.
I’m glad that the idea of a contest has been made here, because evidently there are artists who use this program (and non-artists, and amateur artists) who are either irritated by the current splash screen, or have vocalized what they feel it fails to meet or provide.
Geoff, to answer your rhetorical question (I hate when people do this, don’t you? :)) of "who cares about the splash screen", The Xara Group and MAGIX don’t care what the splash screen looks like, or it wouldn’t have been so unimaginatively drawn.
There is absolutely no excuse for bringing one more bland piece of artwork into the world; we have an abundance of mediocrity in ads, logos, commercial art, fine art, and other things graphical. Part of the reason is Lazy Thinking, while another is the prevailing need Not To Offend, to be PC in everything you design, to not take a risk, in the final result to seek the Lowest Common Denominator for public art.
If anyone needs a concrete reason why not to birth one more bland thing, it could be because McDonald's fast food chain has already done it. and owns the Bland Market.
The current splash screen doesn’t even have the math right, not the way I count programs. Is it really four programs in one? That is to say it’s Page & Layout Designer, Web Designer, Graphic & Photo Designer, and it’s also itself? Man, I’d love to bill a client using this math!
The splash screen is eminently "beige", it’s marginally more interesting than the wallpaper in a physician’s waiting room, just a little more tasty than the tapioca served to a hospital patient who we shouldn’t get too excited.
It’s quite lazy in its concept. First, to frame and crop the desktop icon for some of the programs (but not the Big D for Designer Pro?), and second, to have made these icons so generic in the first place that they get lost in Microsoft desktop icons and others that have an uninspired design sense.
Honest to Gosh, Xara and Magix: is this truly more than a few shapes casually thrown together?
Attachment 97109
Only by using some intuition—which is helping the artwork I see... and I shouldn’t have to do that—can I make out a plus sign which could mean “more than” or “and”, perhaps a 35 mm slide frame, and a graph or part of a mountain range which with a lot of work might translate into “photograph”.
At least this is my literal interpretation. I can't perform an artistic interpretation because there's a paucity of evidence in front of me.
Art is a medium or self-expression, and this splash screen, for some people that first look at the program, looks like an expression of a committee, an ambiguous yawn, lacking spirit, interest, and excitement.
I will not say that it’s not Art, because the DaDaism Movement in the early 20th Century was a testament to the truth that you can’t kill Art, but this splash screen is very, very poor art.
My Best (usually),
Gary
P.S. I don't care for the splash screen.
The Xara Group and MAGIX don’t care what the splash screen looks like, or it wouldn’t have been so unimaginatively drawn.
I think that's pretty disrespectful.
I like the splash screen design and I like the icons shown upon it and the flat style. I think it was skilfully done.
Some may consider it bland, but I do not and while it is never going to win an award (even for blandness), it is not without merit or skill.
I respect the views of those who dislike the splash screen, and even flat styling in general, but those views can be expressed without denigrating those of an opposite view, or in terms of implying a lack of talent, skill or effort.
I am disappointed.
@Paul—
I expressed an opinion—as others express opinions—probably without a lot of regard for hurting someone else's feelings, and if I've done so (I probably have), please let me offer that I myself am very disappointed in the quality of work that is presented in the splash screen and I'm certain the creators have more talent than is being displayed, and (your) talent is being hidden from the light by TPTB who have made callous and artistically insensitive decisions over the art to be presented. My post did get attention, so I feel mostly regretful, but not 100%.
Paul, I value your opinion, and at the same time disagree with it, but as my comments come across as disrespect, and you're disappointed by what you see is disrespect, I'd be dishonest to myself, and a suck-up to try to back-pedal and do what politicians here in the States do—"clarify" something that's offensive by side-stepping and squirming. I mean what I wrote, artist to artist: when I mess up publicly with a design, I take it on the chin, and do not expect anyone to come to my defense.
It's called accountability, Paul, I'm sorry. I'm calling a spade a spade, and if I owned the company, and was in a position where I'm sandwiched two competing vector drawing program giants for sales, I'd make damned sure that every pixel of my program shouted that it's the best program you can buy.
I use Xara for what it does, and I used to use it for what it does plus the "fit and finish" of an outstanding, unique program.
I feel I'm witnessing a game of "take away", that minimiro's artwork made far better splash screen material than version 7, 8, and 9, and I'm disappointed in it.
I guess I'm limited to expressing something here that necessarily is disrespectful and hurts someone's feelings because I'm lacking in diplomacy.
I myself will make an effort to not be so casual and lazy about expressing myself in the future.
Deal?
Respectfully,
Gary
I just installed X9 yesterday, and just now I did exactly what I did with every version since 7. Unimaginative, yes, but I prefer to think of it as simple and elegant.
-- Ben
Attachment 97111
good man! :-)
I think what bothers me about this "calling a spade a spade" business, is that it implies some kind of viewpoint that is better than the alternative viewpoint and doesn't take into account that another perspective is equally valid.
The splash screen is on-trend. Many people (like me) like the simplicity of the flat icons and like their simplicity. I have cutlery at home that I love to use - it has subtle rounded edges with very simple basic forms. It has no decoration or embellishment. To my eyes ( and those of the designer, no doubt ) it is beautiful. When I first bought it (without my wife seeing it), she hated it because it lacks any form of embellishment. Now she loves it. At a casual glance most people may evaluate it as plain and boring.
You can show me some cutlery, in silver or gold, with all kinds of fancy embossing or artwork, but chances are I'll hate it and prefer what I have now. Our cutlery is simple, the design subtle.
My point is that it takes good design to make something simple with a good aesthetic.
Some people like the simple aesthetic, some like things fancy and embellished. I recognise that the embellished stuff takes design talent and skill and I applaud their work, but it's not always to my taste.
Because it's not to my taste I don't need to describe the designers as untalented or lazy because they didn't seek to refine their forms, but instead decided to embellish.
In short, your silver embossed spade with a flowery motif, is no better a spade than my simple flat form without the fancy bits.
I don't agree with your views here at all Gary - it's not just about a splash screen, it's about attributing a lack of talent to a different design aesthetic.
Say you don't like the Splash screen because of the aesthetic, but please don't say that not following your preferred design aesthetic implies lack of talent or value.
Paul?
I did so in my reply to yours earlier:
I'm certain the creators have more talent than is being displayed, and (your) talent is being hidden from the light by TPTB who have made callous and artistically insensitive decisions over the art to be presented. My post did get attention, so I feel mostly regretful, but not 100%.
It is my opinion that within the design aesthetic, the splash screen doesn't work as hard as it could. I understand the Minimalist and "Flat" approach, can and have used it, and remember it from the 1960s. I tendered an opinion within context, I don't care for this trend of artistic expression, and I would be critical if the splash screen used a different motif...and looked half-basked. Or "ugly", which were another member's words, not mine.
When I have an idea that needs to be expressed graphically, I consider an appropriate expression of art, and have used Minimalist ("simple") treatments when an idea needs to be presented forthright and/or modestly, and have used more complex, photorealistic approaches when an idea needs to feel large and majestic and proud.
My error if I was being truly disrespectful the artist and not being critical the art. I meant to lecture the purveyor of the art because I'm a fellow artist and felt what I dais needed to be said, and I sincerely make no pretense to being Royalty or The Final Word on the merits or art or the talents of the artist.
Paul, when one considers an opinion expressed by another member here, it's important not to judge, as one is claiming the offending party is judging.
I cannot say that I have not been offensive in any post here because 1.) it's possibly that I've done this but inadvertently, and 2.) although most of us speak the same language here, there are significant cultural differences between the US and the UK, and our cultures use different tones sometimes, which can be misinterpreted...mostly because we are typing and not speaking face to face.
I did not post without deliberation, I'm a Moderator and I certainly see myself as sucking at being one if I'm starting fires instead of quelling them, and I definitely feel partially misunderstood by you, Paul. At least once I did not imply what you felt I was, and more than once I struck a dissonant chord with you—you've picked out certain words and phases—that I intended as much more casual and with a heap less malice—than you've responded with.
Whatever anyone cares to see it as: snarky, condescending, disingenuous, haughty, or constructive (and brusque) criticism, I put it out here not because of ego or because I enjoy being a troll, or because I have lots of idle time and enjoy seeing the number of posts I've made go up, but because I care about the product and those at Xara I've had the honor of meeting.
-g
Irrespective of aesthetics, (and I prefer simple, like Paul) Gary does have a point about the last of the four icons. For an icon to be successful it has to be understandable and that last one isn't to me at least. What does it mean?
]I have made my own splash screen and I like it and have used it on the last two versions. Mine would not be for everyone because it has my name in the design. I also designed icons for 7,8 9 one of which I posted and since made a little better. They allh stand out from the crowd on the desktop and simplistic in their design, So I respectively suggest if you don't like the splash screen, make your own. Same goes for the icon. Or if you like it you may use mine. I am not suggesting that these are great or even good art this is just what I did.
Attachment 97118 Attachment 97119 Attachment 97120
When I have worked in agencies ( or companies in general ), the aim is rarely to produce the very best artwork/software possible, but to produce the best artwork/software possible given a time-constraint of some kind. Very often those constraints are such that the usual niceties are ignored and with all kinds of pressures on a designer/developer, the most important thing is to get something that meets with approval from your boss/their boss/the client rather than produce your best possible work. Failing to produce your best possible work under these circumstances doesn't imply any form of laziness. It's just one task to do amongst many. If your boss doesn't want the best splash screen ever, you won't have time to spend on it.
A splash screen is hardly hugely important to a bit of software. It has a value - it gives you information - it has to be in tune with the brand and have some form of coherence with the software itself, but that's about it. I'm not a splash screen aficionado - you can tell. My shining moment was once submitting a bug report because a splash screen showed a clock face where the position of the hands was an impossibility on a functional clock. Tech support didn't get the point. TG would have been outraged by that splash screen (on a product costing thousands of dollars).
Lets cut some slack to the designer, because they didn't develop a splash screen to hold up as some great artwork to be dissected by the mob, they did it as they saw fit given a set of time constraints.
As you know, I think they did a good job.
Perhaps if the discussion wasn't so focused on the ability and slovenliness of the designer, they might even have participated in the discussion and given us some insight/feedback.
TG is the only place I've ever seen such a debate about a splash screen.
I can envision two scenarios where the splash screen wouldn't have rated such a reaction.
(1) P&LD would not have been broke out as a separate application. It would have been perceived differently had it been only in the XDP release. It would have felt differently, perceived differently.
(2) Actual advancement and enhancement in drawing tools.
For the record, the splash screen is an utterly uninspired look, doesn't convey the application properly (flat or not), and as has been mentioned, I have no idea what the right-hand icon represents. On the other hand, as has been demonstrated since time began, one can change it.
Mike
Mike you're right. I suspect the splash screen wouldn't be getting too much attention if there was some fabulous feature to talk about.
I smiled at your comment about the splash screen being uninspiring. I doubt that 'inspirational' was part of the brief!
Paul