Xara Designer Pro vs Serif DrawPlus

[M.U.D.]

Hi,

I've recently learned about DrawPlus.
It would be interesting to hear from people with experience using both Xara and DrawPlus. How do the two programs compare (is there any comparison?)?

Regards,
MUD

[gwpriester]

I moved this to the Off Topic Chat. You'll probably get more responses here.

[SCALEBACK666]

Me? I've got Serif DrawPlus 6.0/PagePluss 11 (Xara PGD7'll always be my favourite though). In a way, Drawplus somehow reminds me of a more detailed version of MSPAINT (The staff who work on MSPAINT[I only use this if I have to these days] really should have a look at the software we use on here (at least I can combine XPDG7/Paintshop Pro X5). Would you believe me if I told you I got Serif DrawPlus 6.0 (for some reason it says Graphic Design Studio on the CD Case) and PagePlus for a tenner (thats £10.00) each?)
BTW if anybody can get hold of it I can't strongly recommend 3D Powertext enough. Believe me it's great!
On the subject of alternatives i can also reccomednd Broderbund Printmaster 12 (it was playing with text art that made me want to extend into graphics) seeing as the word art on MSWORD didn't work anymore last time I used it (long story but I've come from word art to graphics and I'm glad I did).
Thanks for broadeing my horizons, Xara and I'm glad i got XPDG when I had a chance.

[iamtheblues]

You should be aware of several important factors before making your choice. You cannot really compare Designer Pro with DrawPlus. The price difference alone tells you that Designer Pro is the better product. Better to compare Drawplus with Xara Photo & Graphic Designer MX 2013 at roughly 70 pounds, they are of a similar price. Drawplus is a reasonable program, but the latest version Drawplus 5 has many bugs in it, which have not all been addressed since its release. The software is overdue a new release (V.6) so it would be advisable to wait and see. As Serif do not operate a system of try before you buy, I'd advise that you download a fully functioning month's trial of Xara Photo & Graphic Designer MX 2013 and give it a try. In my opinion it is the better program by some distance.
Bob.

[handrawn]

I have both drawplus 5 and xara designer pro X

if you want to work in vector the xara products are far better IMO

if you want brushes then drawplus is more flexible and a lot easier to use for these, although they are in the main bitmap based - they were the reason I bought drawplus, along with its's equivalent of the xara shape builder and eraser tool

[at the time I bought drawplus5 xara did not have these last two tools, now it does, although you do have to buy the pro version of xara to get both, unlike serif]

the screen rendering in xara is far better than in drawplus 5...

[MarcT]

As much as I was impressed by the array of graphic features at first, many bugs and rather aggressive sales technique made my interest in Drawplus wilt.