

It offers non-destructive photo editing so your original image is left untouched. Xara is very fast and responsive and uses a much smaller amount of RAM than other programs. And by using the pre-designed graphic elements you can fool your friends into thinking you’re a graphic design pro. If you typically work in Adobe or Corel as I do, it may be an adjustment, but once you get a hang of how things work, it’s actually pretty straightforward. The interface is quite different from what you may be used to, but don’t let that scare you off. However, Xara offers plenty of video tutorials, plus online help and forums to teach you how to use the various features. There are so many tools and features, it will take some time to fully learn the software. The interface is user-friendly with drag-and-drop functionality, and there are interactive tools to help you out.

You can even import raw file format images from Canon, Nikon, and other cameras, though it is not designed to be a raw editor. The software supports a whopping 53 different file formats, so you can import just about any file type. You can create illustrations and web graphics, and produce flyers, newsletters, scrapbook pages, and business documents. Photo & Graphic Designer has a surprisingly good photo editor allowing you to both enhance your photos and create complex compositions and effects similar to Photoshop, plus robust tools for vector graphics. I think it’s a good fit for both home users and small businesses, no matter your skill level. In fact, the more I use it the more I discover what I can do with it, and the more I like it. In addition to strong photo editing and graphic design capabilities, you also get desktop publishing features and a library of pre-built graphics and templates. Xara is not as widely known in the U.S., as in Europe, but hopefully, that will change because it has a lot to offer. I came across Xara Photo & Graphic Designer and I was quite impressed, especially with all you get for the price ($89). With the latest trend toward subscription-based software plans, many of us are looking for a more cost-effective all-in-one solution for photo editing and graphic illustration, yet one that’s robust enough for our needs. This all-in-one software offers strong photo editing and vector illustrations, desktop publishing, and customizable pre-built graphics.
