• A Happy New Year to everyone. We plan on doing our bit towards making it a good year by bringing you plenty of exciting news, contests, art, offers and tutorials in the Outsider, and of course new software in 2010.
  • We have a shortlist for the 'autumn' themed contest which has just closed. As ever a big thank you to everyone who has entered - now it's the turn of all Outsider readers to show their support by casting a vote for the winner. And of course that means we're also starting a new contest, this time the theme is Web Design. Find more on both below
  • The Xara Xone has had a New Year makeover, with a new design, updated tips and a new Links page to sites created in Xtreme or Web Designer (submit your page to Gary now). While you're there don't miss this month's tutorial, 2010 A Space Oddity! See below.
  • We have a great value offer on Xara3D this week (see below), but don't forget that the new Template Pack 1 for Web Designer and Xtreme 5 and Gary Bouton's recently released Xara Xtreme Guide are both still available at bargain prices during their Introductory Offers.


You've seen the cars, now it's the turn of the bikes!




We have a brand new contest and this time the challenge is web page(s) created in either Xtreme or Web Designer. You have until 15th April to submit your entries. The prize remains Outsider Glory, $100 of Xara or Magix software of your choice or a $100 credit to your Xara account.


This is our shortlist for the quarterly contest on a theme of autumn, just finished. You get to pick the winner, so show your support for your fellow Xara artists and vote now.


Visit the Xara graphics forums to discuss or find answers to your graphics needs.

Our pick of Top Talk this month:
Xara Xtreme Pro 5 DE
We've just released a download-only version of the German language Xara Xtreme Pro 5, and there's now a free 30 day trial as well. Check it out now on xara.com/de

You can find out the latest information on the ever growing list of non-English versions of Xara software published by MAGIX or Xara - Xtreme, Xara3D and Web Designer in German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian and Russian - on our website.

Facebook & Twitter
Here's two good ways to follow news from Xara and your fellow Xara owners, while you're waiting for the next Outsider. You can find our Facebook page here and / or sign up to follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/xaragroup

"Xtreme is also a capable web design program and is very good at producing websites that follow the latest standards without compromising on the look of the pages. Its ability to wrap text around complex images was particularly impressive."
Computeractive

And from readers of the new Xara Xtreme Guide:

"You will be very impressed with both the product and the book, but more importantly, you will be even more impressed with what you can create with this combination." Marty Matthews

"He takes you on a task-oriented workflow from concept, through application of tools, to final product in a way that's both thorough and easy to understand and follow." Mark L.Dyson

If you've read and loved the book as well, why not leave your comments on Amazon too!
Rotation & Reflection points
You can rotate or reflect an object about any point. Simply click on an object to select it, click again to show the Rotate and Skew handles, then drag the transformation center to the point you want to rotate or reflect about.

Arrowheads & tails
You can add an arrowhead or tail to any line by selecting the line and then double clicking one of the pre-set designs in the Line Gallery. If you find the head or tail is being added to the wrong end of your line, simply hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on your chosen head or tail design and it will be added to the other end of the line.

Shortcut for font size
There's an easy way to change your font size: Ctrl+Shift+> and Ctrl+Shift+< will increase or decrease the point size of the selected text (so long as the selected text is all the same size).

Full screen or in a window?
Two short but sweet YouTube movies by Zatec showing how he created these LED TV and mobile phone images in Xara Xtreme Pro.





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