Adding a distressed look using Xara?

**Toonicorn** · 20 November 2015, 04:28 PM

Hi, guys! I'm creating some new t-shirt designs, and I'd like to offer distressed versions of them as an option. But I'm not sure how to do that with Xara. Can anyone give me some advice? And thanks!

Here is one of the designs:

Click image for larger version.

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**Egg Bramhill** · 20 November 2015, 04:41 PM

Like the design

There's quite a few threads over the years. Google:

site:www.talkgraphics.com/ distressed

**angelize** · 20 November 2015, 07:02 PM

One easy way to distress something is to use a fractal clouds transparency, or a bitmap transparency (with bitmaps just make sure your bitmap is hi enough resolution for printing)

With fractal clouds just select your design and select fractal clouds in the transparency list and adjust the handles as desired you can also click along the horizontal handle and info boxes for fractal resolution and graininess will appear giving you more ability to tweak the transparency. And if that's not enough there is an arrow on the info bar click that and you will get a box pop up with 2 profile sliders that give even more control over the way the transparency affects your design.

The Bitmap method is similar drop your bitmap into the page it can be anything you like from a hi res seamless texture to a photo of something like leather or gravel or what ever. Once you have your bitmap in the program you can delete it from the page (the program will retain it in it's memory until you close the program) Then select your design and either use the transparency tool and choose bitmap and then choose bitmap from the gallery of bitmaps that will pop up (everything in the memory) or Alternatively you can open the bitmaps gallery and choose your bitmap from there and click the transp button at the top to apply the transparency. The controls for the bitmap are much the same as the fractals except you dont have the resolution or graininess features.

**Toonicorn** · 20 November 2015, 07:14 PM

Thanks, Egg, glad you like my design!

The fractal clouds transparency looks great, anglize! I'm going to give it a try tonight. Thanks!

**gwpriester** · 20 November 2015, 08:47 PM

Have a look at this old Workbook tutporial http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/workbook24/page_3.htm and this very old Workbook tutorial http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/workbook03/page_3.htm

**Rik** · 20 November 2015, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by gwpriester

Have a look at this old Workbook tutporial http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/workbook24/page_3.htm and this very old Workbook tutorial http://www.xaraxone.com/webxealot/workbook03/page_3.htm

The second method is definitely worth doing.
I've used it before and got a very good result.

**gwpriester** · 21 November 2015, 12:32 AM

Actually Fractal Plasma with some Profile adjustments works very well. If I were to do that tutorial again today I would use this method.

**Egg Bramhill** · 21 November 2015, 01:49 PM

Here's my attempt.

**gwpriester** · 21 November 2015, 03:02 PM

Now that is really distressing Egg.

**Albacore** · 24 November 2015, 08:47 AM

I find if I see a free bit with the distressed texture that you like, ---> bring it in either a new page or new layer. Then use the vector trace in the Utilities menu ---> then knock it back using transparencies.
I just remembered the last on I did I used the new art brush's to do the distressing and bugger me I can't find it this morning did and edit with the spacing. It worked well.