Twisting and Distorting Bitmap Images

**Ronster** · 14 March 2020, 06:54 PM

Is there a way distort or twist bitmaps/photos in Xara Designer 16? I can rotate, resize, squash or strech images, but actually giving them a distortion as you can with a path. Is it possible to do this at all in Xara?
Ron

**handrawn** · 14 March 2020, 07:35 PM

you can try using the mould tool - this only works well with high resolution images, ideally 300dpi or more im my experience, and it is basic compared to a proper warp tool

**gwpriester** · 14 March 2020, 08:48 PM

Only the Mold Tool Perspective envelopes work with bitmaps. This is a feature that really needs to be updated.

**Joelle** · 14 March 2020, 09:00 PM

Have you tried the Deformation filter in the Live Effect Tool (Ctrl+F5)?
:-)
Joëlle

**handrawn** · 14 March 2020, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by gwpriester

Only the Mold Tool Perspective envelopes work with bitmaps. This is a feature that really needs to be updated.

true, I'd forgotten.. these days i use affinity photo warp tool on bitmaps; as you say [in so many words] this in an area in which xara is still lighting with oil lamps as opposed to cooking with gas...

**gwpriester** · 15 March 2020, 11:31 AM

CorelDRAW back in the mid 90s when I switched to Xara had a lot more powerful mold tool for distorting photos. I have not used DRAW for years and so I have no idea what it can do now. My guess is that distorting bitmaps is not easy with the existing code.

**handrawn** · 15 March 2020, 03:35 PM

you may be right... there is no such thing as a 'bitmap' in xara in absolute terms, its a bitmap filled shape; distorting the shape enelope is ok, distorting the fill a different ballgame

**Acorn** · 15 March 2020, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ronster

Is there a way distort or twist bitmaps/photos in Xara Designer 16? I can rotate, resize, squash or strech images, but actually giving them a distortion as you can with a path. Is it possible to do this at all in Xara?Ron

As you have XDPX16, you can create a Scatter Brush. With just two nodes you have the ability to bend a path but there are limitless distortions going.

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Acorn

**handrawn** · 15 March 2020, 05:28 PM

sorry, bend path I get - but how do you get 'limitless' distortions ?

**Acorn** · 15 March 2020, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by handrawn

sorry, bend path I get - but how do you get 'limitless' distortions ?

Change the path. Add a few more nodes with curves.
Skew and stretch...
Create a Bitmap Copy, rotate to an angle. Create a second Scatter Brush.

Acorn