Remember how excited you were when you designed your first website? How exciting it
was when you could make buttons magically transport your visitors to another page or
another site? Make photos appear for all the world to see? Well, if you have never
designed a website, or if you have designed a couple of dozen,
get ready for some real excitement. Xara Web Designer 11 is
here and the thrill is back!
Say Goodbye To Static Web Pages
New state-of-the-art features such as Sticky and Stretch objects and photos, plus all new Web Animations and Mouse Over and Click/Touch effects let you put action and pizazz into your websites. Support for Drop Box and Google Drive let you share and collaborate. Toss in Variants that let you create responsive sites to fit a multitude of devices and you’ve got a web design program that is as good as it gets. This entire First Look review was designed in Xara Web Designer 11 Premium. This review is based on a pre-release beta copy. Some features may change, be added or deleted, in the final version.
Hot New Web Animation Effects
Shown above are some of the new Mouse-Over, Click/Touch effects. These animations can be applied to groups or just to text as shown with the top row of buttons. These Web Animation effects also can be hyper-linked to pages, layers, and to outside sites. And, these effects can be used with Navigation Bars such as with the example on the right. You can use any of the effects shown above.Dramatic Photos That Scale to the Width
or Height of the Browser
These are called Stretchy Objects. See for yourself. Make your browser window narrower or wider. The photo scales with the browser window. You have the option to do this horizontally, or vertically. Stretch works with rectangles such as I have used with my header at the top of the window. If you are going to scale a photo such as this one, make sure the photo has a high enough resolution to scale to a very wide browser.
Trigger the Action
“Reveal” Web Animations occurs automatically when your visitor scrolls down the page. You can also create a “Trigger” object that will cause a “Reveal” action to take place when the browser scrolls down to reveal the trigger object. I have made my trigger red to help you identify it but it can be the same color as the background or just be another object or photo on the page.
TRIGGER
OBJECT
Mouse Over
the icons and
buttons to see
some of the
cool Web
Animation
effects.
How Do They Do That?
The best way to discover for yourself is to experiment, read the documentation, and view the movies in the Help file. But if you like what you have seen so far, and to be honest, if you are not totally blown away, then you might want to check with your doctor to see if you are still alive, then download the free trial and give it a test drive. Or just trust me and make the purchase. You really are going to love the new features. I’m not going to say it is so easy that even a child can do these things, because we all know children are much more technologically advanced. But you should be up and running in a very short time because as they do everything else, Xara makes it about as easy as possible to do impossible things easily.
Text Only
Animations
Text & Button
Animations
New Text Tool improvements
There are some welcome new features for the Text Tool such as the Auto Correction Options shown below. Key in a fraction such as 7/8 and it automatically changes to ⅞. You can also pick symbols and assign a shortcut so when I type L a symbol appears. I have set up a shortcut so when I key in gwp it automatically changes the gwp to gwpriester. This is really useful if like me you type with your thumbs and misspell common words such as Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. I can just set up a custom shortcut like pne and Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis appears. This is a time saver. And the results (for example ⅞) are more professional.
Automatic Linking
OK, entering links was never that hard. But now it’s easy. Type in www.Xara.com or
bob.bogus@ersatz.org Web Designer 11 automatically adds the hyper-link.
Another nice touch is the ability to highlight text using a Background Color option.
Highlight the appropriate text, right click on a color on the screen palette, and select
Background Color.
Automatic Resizing of Embedded Objects
The photo above was larger than the width of the text column. When I cut, then paste the photo into the text (to embed the photo with the text), Web Designer 11 auto- matically resizes the photo to the width of the text column. Nice feature.
Style Enhancements — Replace Font
Replace Font - If you open a website created in a Pre-Styles version, or if you were lazy and did not create a style, changing the font, size, and style throughout your website, especially if it is a big website is not a fun task. Now all you need to do is highlight a few words, right click and select Replace Font With and then select a new font from the drop down list. And just like that, all instances of the selected font throughout your document are changed to the new font. This works with imported PDF documents as well. All I can say is HOW COOL IS THAT?!Update Style To Match
You can also select part of the text in an imported document that you especially like and right click and select Update Style to Match. Select the style you want to update, and select Update Style to Match. All instances of that style are instantly updated.Secure Publishing
In addition to Web Designer’s built in FTP publishing capability, Web Designer 11 now offers two secure publishing options: SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol), and FTPS (File Transport Layer Security). Check with your web hosting company to see which method they prefer and for information on how to configure your Web Designer settings.
Get Your Heads in the Cloud
Introducing online editing with cloud.xara (beta). One of the more frequent questions on TalkGraphics.com is can I create a website that my client or colleague can edit? Previously this was possible, but only if both parties had Web Designer, and it required the document files be sent back and forth. With cloud.xara and using a web browser, now you can collaborate with clients and colleagues—even if you or they are using a Mac or Android tablet, to update the text and photos on your website. This can even be done in real time! Find out more at http://content.ixara.com/intro/ In addition to cloud.xara, Web Designer 11 users can post web documents to their Dropbox or Google Drive folder and the documents will update for any other users who have access to Dropbox or Google Drive and to these files. Even if it is only yourself and you are working on different computers in different locations. Previous versions are saved on these cloud based accounts so you and your collaborators can revert to an earlier version if necessary.New Cloud-based TaskPilot
TaskPilot replaces Magix Online World and in addition to free website hosting and storage (amounts vary depending on Web Designer version) and free domain name (Premium owners), offers TaskPilot Organizer, a cloud-based Calendar and contacts manager. And this big news just in, responsive Variant websites capabilities are now included in both versions of Web Designer 11. If you publish with TaskPilot, you can password protect your page or site.Get Your Heads in the Cloud
One of the more frequent questions on www.TalkGraphics.com is can I create a website that my client, colleague, or other people can edit? The answer is yes, if they are using Web Designer too. But to do this the designer has to send the file to the client and or the client send the file back to the designer. Now, Web Designer 11 users can post web documents to their Dropbox or Google Drive folder and the document will update for any other users who have access to Dropbox or Google Drive and to these files. Even if it is only yourself if you are working on different computers in different locations. And the best part is previous versions are saved on these cloud based accounts so you can revert to an earlier version.
Incredible Program — Incredible Value
Web Designer 11 is the one package that let’s you do it all: website design, graphics creation, photo and text editing. In addition Xara Web Designer 11 is an incredible value as well. Along with the best set of intuitive web design tools in the business, and the ability to create Variant websites for mobile devices (now in both versions!), you get a treasure chest of clip art, graphics, slide shows, widgets including forms and e- commerce, maps and more plus professionally designed website templates and complete websites including profession-specific websites. There are 12 new Website Themes for classic owners and 30 new Website Themes for Premium owners. And these all have Mobile Variants! So you can design a dynamic website yourself, or customize the Website Themes to suit your needs. In summary, you are going to have a ball creating the most up to date, fun, and action filled websites. I know I certainly am, and I am confident you will too. And remember, Help is as close as the TG icon on the right side of the screen. While the members of TalkGraphics.com are from all over the globe, we all have one thing in common, we love Xara and we love to share our ideas and to answer your questions and show you how to get the most out of your Xara software. When you have created your website masterpiece, post a link in the Xara Web Design Gallery. I don’t see why you are still reading this and why you have not already purchased and are busy using Xara Web Designer 11. But if you want more information or you need to determine which version is right for you (Web Designer 11 vs Web Designer 11 Premium) click on the Features Comparison link below. Happy designing.
Sticky and Stretch Objects
Sticky objects remain fixed in the same position on the page or screen as the visitor scrolls down and up the page. This is determined by their position on or off the page. The icons on the left and right edges of the screen and the header and footer are good examples. Mouse over the illustration above to see where the sticky objects on the Web Designer page will appear in the browser. Stretch objects can be photos or rectangles that scale to fit the browser window. Photos designated to stretch to the page width should be of sufficient resolution to display at a full browser width.
Two “Triggers” fade in the color photo and then the text.
Say Goodbye To Static Web Pages
Today’s best websites have lots of action as well as
interaction. Images and messages slide in from either
side as you scroll down the page. Creating this type of
high energy website is easy with Xara Web Designer 11.
You can attach objects to the top, bottom, and the
sides of the browser window that remain fixed in place
as the page scrolls, or if the browser window gets wider
or narrower. This review has been simplified for mobile
devices. To get the big picture, view this First Look on
your desktop computer or laptop.
Hot New Web Animation Effects
Web Designer 11 has 18 new Mouse-Over and Click-
Touch effects in addition to a series of 9 Reveal
animation effects.
(These effects are totally eye catching and effective,
but don’t over do it. OK?) And, these effects can be
used with Navigation Bars as well.
Dramatic Photos That Scale to the
Width or Height of the Browser
Called Stretch Objects, when you make your browser window narrower or wider these photos scale horizontally or vertically with the browser window. Stretch works with rectangles and also in combination with “Sticky” objects so you can create a fixed header and footer for your website or mobile device Variant.
Trigger the Action
“Reveal” Web Animations happen automatically as the
visitor scrolls down the page. You can also create a
“Trigger” object will causes a certain effect to take
place only when the browser scrolls down to reveal the
trigger object. I have made my trigger red to help you
identify it but it can be the same color as the
background. A trigger can also be another object or
photo on the page. This trigger causes three events to
take place. The tan background fades in, and the two
photos move in from the top and the bottom. These are
Web Animation “Reveal” effects.
TAP TO DOWNLOAD
YOUR FREE TRIAL COPY OF
WEB DESIGNER 11
TODAY!
Tap the icons and buttons to see some of the
Click-Touch Web Animation effects.
How Do They Do That?
I’m not going to say it is so easy that even a child can
do these things, because we all know children are much
more technologically advanced. But you should be up
and running in a very short time because like they do
everything else, Xara makes it about as easy as possible
to do impossible things easily.
TAP TO DOWNLOAD
YOUR FREE TRIAL COPY OF
WEB DESIGNER 11
TODAY!
There are a some welcome new features for the Text
Tool such as the Auto Correction Options shown above.
Key in a fraction such as 7/8 and it automatically
changes to ⅞. You can also pick symbols and assign a
shortcut so when I type L a symbol appears. I have set
up a shortcut so when I key in gwp it automatically
changes the gwp to gwpriester. This is really useful if
like me you type with your thumbs and misspell common
words such as Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcano-
coniosis. I can set up a shortcut such as pne and voila,
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis appears.
Automatic Linking
OK, entering links was never that hard. But now it’s
easy. Type in www.Xara.com or bob.bogus@ersatz.org
Web Designer 11 automatically adds the hyper-link.
A cool new feature lets you highlight text. Select the
text, right click on any color on the screen paletter and
select Background Color.
Automatic Resizing of
Embedded Objects
The photo above was larger than the width of the text
column. When I cut, then paste the photo into the text
(to embed the photo with the text), Web Designer 11
automatically resizes the photo to the width of the text
column. Nice feature.
Style Enhancements — Replace Font
Replace Font - If you open a website created in a Pre-
Styles version, or if you were lazy and did not create a
style, changing the font, size, and style throughout
your website, especially if it is a big website is not a
fun task. Now all you need to do is highlight a few
words, right click and select Replace Font With and
then select a new font from the drop down list. And
just like that, all instances of the selected font
throughout your document are changed to the new
font. This works with imported PDF documents as well.
All I can say is HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Update Style To Match
You can also select part of the text in an imported
document that you especially like and right click and
select Update Style to Match. Select the style you want
to update, and select Update Style to Match. All
instances of that style are instantly updated.
Incredible Program
Incredible Value
Not only is Xara Web Designer 11 an incredible website
creation program, but it’s an outstanding value as well.
In addition to the best set of intuitive web design tools
in the business, you get the ability to create Variant
websites for mobile devices, you get a treasure chest of
clip art, graphics, slide shows, widgets including forms
and e-commerce, maps and much more plus dozens and
dozens of professionally designed website templates
and complete websites including profession-specific
websites. There are 12 new Website themes for Classic
owners and 30+ new Website Themes. And all of these
include Mobile Variants!
Big news! Xara has added the ability to create Variant
Mobile sites in Web Designer Classic!
TaskPilot replaces Magix Online and will offer free web
hosting for both versions. Premium owners get up to
2GB storage and a few domain name. Both versions
have access to TaskPilot Organizer, a cloud-based
calendar, contacts manager. There is a Task Pilot cloud-
based slide show capability in the Designs Gallery.
In summary, I think you are going to have a ball
creating the most up to date, fun and action filled
websites. I know I certainly am, and I am confident you
will too.
And remember, Help is as close as the the Xara
Forums on TalkGraphics.com. While the members of
TalkGraphics.com are from all over the globe, we all
have one thing in common, we love Xara and we love to
share our ideas and to answer questions and show you
how to get the most out of your Xara software.
I don’t see while you are still reading this and why you
have not already purchased Xara Web Designer 11. But
if you need more information or you need to determine
which version is right for you (Web Designer 11 Classic
vs Web Designer 11 Premium) click on the Features
Comparison link below.
New Text Tool improvements
Get Your Heads in the Cloud
Introducing online editing with cloud.xara (beta). One
of the more frequent questions on TalkGraphics.com is
can I create a website that my client or colleague can
edit? Previously this was possible, but only if both
parties had Web Designer, and it required the document
files be sent back and forth.
With cloud.xara and using a web browser, now you can
collaborate with clients and colleagues—even if you or
they are using a Mac or Android tablet, to update the
text and photos on your website. This can even be done
in real time!
Find out more at http://content.ixara.com/intro/
In addition to cloud.xara, Web Designer 11 users can
post web documents to their Dropbox or Google Drive
folder and the documents will update for any other
users who have access to Dropbox or Google Drive and
to these files. Even if it is only yourself and you are
working on different computers in different locations.
Previous versions are saved on these cloud based
accounts so you and your collaborators can revert to an
earlier version if necessary.
New Cloud-based TaskPilot
TaskPilot replacesMagix Online World
and in addition to free website hosting
and storage (amounts vary depending on
Web Designer version) and free domain
name (Premium owners), offers TaskPilot
Organizer, a cloud-based Calendar and
contacts manager. And this big news just
in, responsive Variant websites capabilities are now
included in both versions of Web Designer 11. If you
publish with TaskPilot, you can password protect your
page or site.
DOWNLOAD
YOUR TRIAL
COPY OF WEB
DESIGNER 11
TODAY!
Xara Web Designer 11 — FIRST LOOK
XARA WEB DESIGNER 11 - FIRST LOOK
DOWNLOAD
YOUR TRIAL
COPY OF WEB
DESIGNER 11
TODAY!
Xara Web Designer 11 — FIRST LOOK
XARA WEB DESIGNER 11 - FIRST LOOK