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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Russia
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    29

    Default Why I Don't Use Xara for Design and Web

    One of the biggest problems for me in Xara is incorrect translation of fonts to curves. After that, a lot of junk and unnecessary points appear.

    I took three letters using Gotham Black.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	curv01.jpg 
Views:	127 
Size:	41.3 KB 
ID:	128032

    After translating three letters into curves, we get 96 points.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	curv02.jpg 
Views:	103 
Size:	46.2 KB 
ID:	128033

    And here's how it looks in another program:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	curv03.jpg 
Views:	105 
Size:	70.6 KB 
ID:	128034

    36 points.

    If the selected objects are unloaded in SVG, we will get a file of 5,359 kb, if we do the same in another program, we will get a file of 1,216 kb. And that's just (!!!) three letters.


    Also with presentations in PDF. We often need to convert all text into curves and when exporting to PDF we get a giant file with extra points.
    www.aciden.ru
    . .. ...:.::.:::: art is a lie...that makes us realize the truth ::::.::.:... .. .

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    SW England
    Posts
    17,743

    Default Re: Why I Don't Use Xara for Design and Web

    Quote Originally Posted by Aciden View Post
    One of the biggest problems for me in Xara is incorrect translation of fonts to curves. After that, a lot of junk and unnecessary points appear.
    I took three letters using Gotham Black.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	curv01.jpg 
Views:	127 
Size:	41.3 KB 
ID:	128032
    After translating three letters into curves, we get 96 points.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	curv02.jpg 
Views:	103 
Size:	46.2 KB 
ID:	128033
    And here's how it looks in another program:
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	curv03.jpg 
Views:	105 
Size:	70.6 KB 
ID:	128034
    36 points.

    If the selected objects are unloaded in SVG, we will get a file of 5,359 kb, if we do the same in another program, we will get a file of 1,216 kb. And that's just (!!!) three letters.
    Also with presentations in PDF. We often need to convert all text into curves and when exporting to PDF we get a giant file with extra points.
    I didn't have this font so I tried with Lato Black.

    I too got a large number of points but I used the Smoothing tool to reduce the O's 36 control points down to 4 @ 100% smoothing.
    I superimposed one on the other and set up Outline view and saw minor curve changes so i eased off the Smoothing to a more balanced level and ended up with 8 control points.

    Perhaps your other program did all this automatically.

    I then Exported > SVG @ 300dpi, Clip path (Adobe) on the Smoothed letters and got a 2.89kB filesize.
    The unsmoothed letters were 6.30kB. For this, I then used https://jakearchibald.github.io/svgomg/ and reduced this to 3.89kB.

    Sorry but your megabyte values seems most peculiar.
    Have you examined the font and a gylph editor? The spurios points might have started in the font designer's hand.

    I exported all three examples as PDF/X and, inclusing the background, its filesize was 80kB.

    Acorn

    P.S. Could a Mod move this the the most appropriate Forum.
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Russia
    Posts
    29

    Default Re: Why I Don't Use Xara for Design and Web

    I too got a large number of points but I used the Smoothing tool to reduce the O's 36 control points down to 4 @ 100% smoothing.
    I superimposed one on the other and set up Outline view and saw minor curve changes so i eased off the Smoothing to a more balanced level and ended up with 8 control points.

    Perhaps your other program did all this automatically.

    I then Exported > SVG @ 300dpi, Clip path (Adobe) on the Smoothed letters and got a 2.89kB filesize.
    The unsmoothed letters were 6.30kB. For this, I then used https://jakearchibald.github.io/svgomg/ and reduced this to 3.89kB.
    It's a shame that you don't see the problem.
    www.aciden.ru
    . .. ...:.::.:::: art is a lie...that makes us realize the truth ::::.::.:... .. .

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    StPeters, MO USA
    Posts
    10,819

    Default Re: Why I Don't Use Xara for Design and Web

    Quote Originally Posted by Aciden View Post
    It's a shame that you don't see the problem.
    I could not see the problem either.
    Larry a.k.a wizard509

    Never give up. You will never fail, but you may find a lot of ways that don't work.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    21,282

    Default Re: Why I Don't Use Xara for Design and Web

    Quote Originally Posted by Acorn View Post

    Perhaps your other program did all this automatically.
    for me this would be the problem - xara generates too many points, quite apart from the file size issue


    if you have to tweek the letters manually - every letter... every time... seriously, life is too short

    and affinity has just recently overhauled and reduced it's points generation...
    -------------------------------
    Nothing lasts forever...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    England
    Posts
    1,128

    Default Re: Why I Don't Use Xara for Design and Web

    Quote Originally Posted by handrawn View Post
    for me this would be the problem - xara generates too many points, quite apart from the file size issue

    if you have to tweek the letters manually - every letter... every time... seriously, life is too short

    and affinity has just recently overhauled and reduced it's points generation...
    It’s again a case of an underdeveloped (abandoned) Xara feature. It works well but the smoothing tool has a few shortcomings. For example:

    1. it’s too small (the actual screen pixel size of the slider)
    2. has no numerical input
    3. cannot be applied to multiple selections
    4. does not show the number of nodes

    Here’s another example of using the smoothing tool (not text though).
    https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...751#post619751
    Jon (Jono) Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 19.0.0.64329 DL x64 May 19 2022

 

 

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