Ok.... Here goes... I have SEVERAL versions of this program.
I bought xara xtreme before there was a Pro version. I kept upgrading it.
Once the Pro version came out, I upgraded and got the Pro version of the product I had and then skipped a version of it. When version 4 came out, I upgraded only my Pro version to the lastest.
The only version of the product I currently use is
xara xtremePRO 4.0 (XXP 4) and I love it!
Pull up this page to see the features list for both versions.I choose to use the PRO version for a few specific reasons:1) I use it for business, not just pleasure.
For business, I need PANTONE support (specific color choice) and excellent PDF exporting.
Professional printers use PDF as the industry standard (formerly EPS) for VECTOR graphics.
The PRO version of the program allows me to use XXP instead of Adobe products (and that is a great thing!)
2) I have used the program to create really nice panoramas, manually. Very pleased. Well, version 4 PRO now has automatic creation of panoramas with the addition of Panorama Studio built in. When I get a chance to play, I WILL be using this option! It has gotten some very nice reviews. This option is not built into the regular version.
3) Microsoft has come up with a NEW vector format (instead of playing well with others). It is XPS. The PRO version of the program can import and export this new format so I am not locked out by using this software.
I just did a major project for our company. I designed a 19x14 counter mat using XXP4, from scratch, with NO TEMPLATE. It needed to be a marketing piece AND a training piece and from the reaction I am getting, people are pleased with it for both purposes. I used layers, the 3d extrusion tool (WONDERFUL STUFF!), pantone color, bitmap images, shadows, vector art.... And just got in our sample today from the printers. EXCELLENT. (You can see small highly optimized image here (link removed) 200 kb vs the real file which is over 16MB in xara, 74mb 300dpi tif so the quality is nasty on this little version but you still get the idea. The button menu on left are 3d extrusions.)
This new version IS the best it has ever been, with some REALLY worthwhile updates.
Really like working in this program. Want to know more, want to get better with it. It is FUN to use. Like a kid with a coloring book, you just play. And the more you play with it, the more fun it becomes.
And now, believe it or not, it now does WYSIWYG web pages! You can build your buttons in the program, build the web page, optimize your images, crop, then produce web pages! OMG...I wouldn't have to go to any other program....!
I have NOT tried the web pages function. Have not had time....
XX and XXP both do animation and flash. I am impressed with some of the flash features but still prefer my animation shop 3 (from Paint Shop Pro/Jasc) for my animations....
Bundles are just where they give you multiple products at a reduced price.
I already own copies and my company also own copies of:
- XXP4
- Webstyle (does buttons and menus-used for CSB built tuckerkirby.com)
- Xara 3D 6 (makes 3d vector graphics with movement/animation or static, far more advanced than XXP4 3d effects)
So my bundle if I were to buy from scratch would have been Xara Graphic Studio Pro.
Each of the programs is very useful and some parts of each overlap...
XXP4 has a limited 3d extrusion built-in now and can do web buttons/menus but the stand-alone programs do MORE than XXP4 in their own genre. Now that XXP4 does basic 3d, I will not use my Xara 3d 6 as much!