Problems with Windows Scaling (e.g. "200%") when using a high resolution (4K) screen.

[shiphen]

I believe that Xara is stuck orbiting its own Black Hole as dramatic changes to the UI probably affect its core graphics engine or the developers' workload or its very inclination.

You choose.

To me, it sadly feels if it is all three.


Can you not use the MS Windows Magnifier in Docked Mode (200%) > Inverted Colours?
Acorn

I'm not sure I understand.
I need to use Windows 10 at 175% in order for all my other applications (e.g. MS Office, Photoshop etc etc) to have text large enough to read comfortably.

To recap the problem with Xara Designer Pro is that you are forced to choose between
A) the menuing interface being clear and readable, but the graphics you are working on being blurred
B) the graphics you are working on being pin sharp, but the menuing interface having text that is way too large for it, thereby making it more or less unusable.

I have been using Xara since the very first version in 1995! That's several lifetimes in the software universe.

Oh DEAR. So for the first time ever I'm going to have to seriously consider finding something other than Xara.

This is very very VERY not good.

[handrawn]

so what is the difference in your settings between option A) and option B) I would like to check this out on my cintiq - out of interest what monitor[s] are you using...

[shiphen]

so what is the difference in your settings between option A) and option B) I would like to check this out on my cintiq - out of interest what monitor[s] are you using...

Hello

Apologies for the delay (though I now fear that this whole issue - indeed possibly even Xara itself) is now a lost cause.

Monitor: Viewsonic "VP2780-4K 27-inch 4K Ultra HD IPS Professional Monitor"
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Graphics Card
Resolution: Running at full "4K" 3840 x 2160pixels
Windows Scaling: 175% (otherwise all my text everywhere gets too small!)

Here are some screenshots.

It seems that if you change the properties on you shortcut to XDP then you get very different results.



OR




i.e. If I DO tick the "High DPI Scaling Override" in the Windows shortcut to XDP, then I get a nice sharp view of my Xara document, but I can't read the menus.
OR
If I DON'T tick the "High DPI Scaling Override in the shortcut then I get a BLURRED view of my Xara document, but nice clear menus.

Am I doing something wrong?

...Or after all this time has Xara badly - badly - badly lost it's way?

J

[handrawn]

Hi my turn to apologise for the delay

I checked this with my cintiq pro 24 at its recommended settings of 3840 x 2160 and 200% windows scaling [I also double checked with 175% windows scaling but it did not make any real difference to 200% except for the obvious size shift]

yes I get similar results as you - with option 1 the menu is too small to read at a distance, but I can read it when drawing directly onto the screen, so from my point of view that is not so bad - with option two the program, both menu and drawing area, are slightly blurred, same as the windows interface is, on widows scaling

I don't think you are doing anything wrong - xara UI needs an overhaul, but I doubt it is a priority at the moment...

you could try this - but I dont think it makes any difference:

[Egg Bramhill]

Not much has changed since April 2017:
LINK

[handrawn]

indeed

[shiphen]

We're now in 2020. Still nothing?

[Acorn]

I'm not sure I understand.

Windows has an application called Magnifier.Use it over the Xara menus.

Acorn