Quote Originally Posted by Toonicorn View Post
...The only art software I used before I got Xara was Photoshop Elements 4, which is a nice program except there's no vector pen...
Then purchase one of the CS versions of Photoshop. Or PhotoLine. Either will allow integration of vector work and bitmap tools on different layers. Or, learn to use what you already have, XDP. But to learn XDP you will need to divorce yourself from thinking in bitmap terms for drawing.

A definitely workable solution is to do the initial drawing in XDP using shapes, lines and the easier fills in shapes. Then export out a copy as a PNG for manipulation within your Photoshop Elements. Neither application is exclusive to the other, they can be used in conjunction and several of the cartoon artists use them as such--sometimes beginning in one or the other.

Take care, Mike