I really enjoy all of the plugins and they have really opened up many new and exciting possibilities with Xara X. I have other graphics programs to be sure and I try 'giving them a try' but usually end up back with Xara X to 'get it done'. I've never considered plugins until Xara Xtreme's release. Now I wish I had started using them sooner. Anyway, I have two questions about plugins when used within Xara Xtreme:

1. Many of the Eye Candy 4000 and Xen2fex plugins prefer that areas are selected using a selection tool. Is there a way to do this in Xara Xtreme? Example: apply the Glass plugin to a sphere that is over a picture to get the desired effect. (there are workarounds of course that take several steps but aren't performed like the Plugin manual describes).

2. What determines the size of the area around a selection when it is 'brought into a plugin' and how can it be adjusted? Example: apply Fire plugin to text and allowing long flames to continue onward without being cut off.

Thank you for any help and/or information.