Xara
Xara Xtreme 4 Pro
by Geetesh Bajaj,
April 30th 2008
Introduction
About Xara Xtreme 4 Pro
New Features
Sample Content
Pricing and Support
Conclusion
Introduction
Most graphic software these days is slow and filled with features that you would use once in a blue moon. That's why it is good to work with a program that is so much more snappier and responsive -- with this new Xtreme 4 Pro version, Xara continues to make strides in usability and speed.
In this review, we will look at the new features that this version adds.
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About Xara Xtreme 4 Pro
Xara Xtreme 4 Pro is from Xara, a company based in Gaddesden Place, UK. In addition, they also offer a Xara Xtreme version that's a little less featured than the Pro version I am reviewing here.
You
can learn more about their products and download the 30 days trial version from their site...
Xara Xtreme 4 pro is a mixed media graphics software that works well with both illustration and photo editing jobs. You get instant output as you draw or edit the artwork. Xara Xtreme 4 Pro supports a large range of file formats including:
- Bitmap types: GIF, JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, PSD, and RAW photos
- Vector types: PDF, AI/EPS, and EMF/WMF
- Text: RTF (Rich Text Format).
- Animation: Xara Xtreme also creates Flash SWF animations.
In addition, Xara projects are saved in the native XAR file format.
My contact for this review was Nova Fisher -- thank you Nova.
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New Features
Xara Xtreme 4 Pro is the newest version of a product that we have reviewed in the past -- here's the earlier review...
Xara Xtreame 4 Pro has several new features:
- Ultra-fast non -destructive photo editing features.
- Faster workflows resulting in output files smaller than other graphics tools.
- Panoramic stitching of images.
- Real time fully shaded 3D extrude.
- Website creation feature that builds complete multi-page websites, with WYSIWYG page layout controls.
- Advance features such as text flow (word wrap)
- Mouse over effects and pop ups, etc.
- Photo rendering engine with real-time bicubic sampling.
Figure 1 shows the Xara Xtreme 4 Pro interface.
Figure 1: Xara Xtreme 4 Pro interface
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Sample Content
Here you can see some sample content created with Xara Xtreme 4 Pro:
3D Extrude on Photographs
Text Extrude
Photo realistic illustration
Web graphics, icons and buttons
Web pages
All graphics shown above are copyrights of their creators -- and are sourced from the sample content provided with Xara Xtreme 4 Pro.
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Pricing and Support
Xara Xtreme 4 Pro costs US$249, and can be bought online through a secure server.
Support is through e-mail, an online knowledge base and FAQs, demo movies, and extensive tutorials.
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Conclusion
Xara Xtreme 4 Pro is an awesome program that's suited for anyone who uses graphics in business applications like Word and PowerPoint -- on the other hand, it's an amazing companion program if you already use products from Adobe or Corel.
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