Any Advice Please. Adobe Illustrator or Xara X ?

[ashpurple]

I have not used either of the two software packages before. Each have good raves for professionalism but I am not sure which one I should start learning. Are they a muchness of the same thing with avid CorelDraw users swung to using Xara X ? Does one favour a particular style that the other does not have ? Would it be pointless in buying both packages if they are so much the same with regards to raw artwork creation. (I am a CorelDraw user who has just upgraded from v10 to v11). http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[ashpurple]

I have not used either of the two software packages before. Each have good raves for professionalism but I am not sure which one I should start learning. Are they a muchness of the same thing with avid CorelDraw users swung to using Xara X ? Does one favour a particular style that the other does not have ? Would it be pointless in buying both packages if they are so much the same with regards to raw artwork creation. (I am a CorelDraw user who has just upgraded from v10 to v11). http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[Gaussian]

You can't ask users what the best program is, since everybody has different preferences and we don't know yours.
Just asking which program is the best isn't going to help, because who has the ultimate knowledge to answer this question?
Nobody, because what works for me, might not work for you. http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
It's important that you make a list for yourself what your wishes are and then try to find the right program, either by playing with trials, browsing the internet or asking questions.

Good luck http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Mark (theKeeper)]

As Gaussian has mentioned, each person has their own needs and tastes when it comes to software. And only by trying out demos can one make an educated decision about which application best suites their specific needs/likes/dislikes.

On the other hand...
I use both of the programs, but have a preference for only one. I started out using Illustrator some time ago, but after receiving a copy of Corel Xara 2 as a gift, i quickly became an avid Xara fan. And now i find myself using XaraX a lot more often than AI.

Why? Well, for my OWN reasons of course...

1) I like how small XX is over AI, and how much faster XX is over AI. XX also has some cool 3D beveling effects that AI does not have. And as a Web designer, i find XX is much more intuitively designed, which means it's easier to learn and start using well. And as well, it has a built-in Gif animation ability that AI does not. Which again, is something i liked because of my Web design needs.

2) XX is a fraction of the price that AI is. Period.

You have to keep in mind though that AI is a much more capable program overall -- and it should be, it's been around a lot longer. And i don't care what the hard-core Xara fans say (even though i'm one of them!) it's just a fact; deal with it.
BUT... that does not negate the many strengths that Xara also has. You'll have to ask yourself... What exactly is it i want from a Vector program? What am i using it for overall? How much money do i want to spend? Will i use the program extensively enough to justify the cost and time spent learning it? Is there a good user support group for it? Tutorial sites?

For me, i wanted a fast app with ultra-clean graphics, that could handle the load when i needed it to... and XaraX fills that bill just fine. So, i decided that AI was more of a program than i actually needed.

And these are the kinda of things you'll need to deal with to make your own decision here. Just don't rush it... spend the necessary time to find out what each app can do and whether it'll be the one you need.

Obviously you can explore Illustrator at the Adobe site... but here are a couple XaraX links to help you learn more about it: www.xarazone.com and http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/xara/

[This message was edited by Mark (theKeeper) on February 27, 2003 at 22:11.]

[dalel]

I use Xara X 99% of the time. The only time I use Illustrator is to convert a Xara drawing so that someone with Illustrator can use it for printing and such.

http://talkgraphics.infopop.net/1/Op...&ul=1101906325
Why, I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir, because I’m not myself, you know...
- Lewis Carroll