Xara3D 4 - Software Review

New: Xara3D 5 is now available.
Note: This is a review of an earlier Xara3D version. For information on the latest version, see the product summary or full review.

There are several new animation features in Xara3D 4 including fade in, fade out, and step-through animation types. The animation displayed to the right uses the new fade in and fade out animation types.

With the step through animation type, you can now create multiple pages within a Xara3D file, and your animation will step through each page as part of your animation. An example animation using the step-through animation type is shown here. You'll notice in this example, the text face and sides are different colors... this is yet another new feature added in this version.

There's a new button option that allows you to quickly create buttons with customized text. This set of buttons was created using the button option and the Webdings font.

Here's a rollover button that was created simply by turning the shadow option on for the first image and off for the second image. Move your cursor over the button to see the rollover effect. When exporting rollover buttons it's important to specify the same image dimensions when exporting each button state. Xara doesn't generate the JavaScript code for rollovers, but it sure makes it easy to create the up and down button states.

Another new feature is the ability to select individual text characters and edit them independently. The image here displays this ability with each character changed to a different color. In additon to color, you can edit each characters formatting, typeface, extrusion, and bevel attributes. This animation demonstrates another new feature; the ability to rotate text on the centerline of each character.

Also added is the ability to apply color tints to texture fills. With the individual character editing combined with a tinted texture fill, I was able to create this animation.

As if all of the above wasn't enough, Xara has also added six new bevel types, loop control for GIF animations, the ability to customize the default template, and exact positioning of an object against a textured background. When you purchase Xara3D, you also get a CD with 850 textures, 500 sample images that can be customized with your own text, and 50 TrueType fonts. Priced at $39 US for new users and $15 US to upgrade from version 3, Xara3D 4 makes an excellent additon to your graphics software arsenal. Visit Xara's Web site for more details, a 15-day trial download, and purchasing information.

System Requirements: Windows 95/98/2000/NT4, 8MB RAM.

For more software like Xara 3D see 3D Text and Logo Software.

For links to Xara 3D tips and examples, see Xara 3D Resources.

~ Sue Chastain
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All images created in Xara3D 4.