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21
FEB
2005
Xara releases Xara3D 6
​February, 21st 2005 - Xara announces the release of a major new upgrade to their popular 3D graphics creator. Xara3D 6 can be used to create stunning static or animated 3D graphics, headings and logos in seconds. "It's so low cost that everyone can afford it, and so easy to use that anyone can use it", says CEO, Charles Moir.

Xara3D 6 sees a total overhaul of the user interface. A new docking panel provides clean, uncluttered access to all the main control features. The menus, keyboard short-cuts, toolbars are all now completely customizable. A new feature is the interactive adjustment of the extrude depth and bevel by simply clicking and dragging the image on-screen.

Version 6 includes new bevel types and a completely new system of boards and borders, where the 3D object can be placed on the board background or cut-out of the board, or a border can be placed around the object.

Xara3D can save in all the popular bitmap and animation formats: highly optimized PNG, JPG and static or animated GIF and Flash formats, and a wide variety of movie formats. Version 6 includes improved integration with Xara X¹, the Xara flagship vector graphic product. Users can now directly copy vector graphics to extrude into 3D, and copy directly back into X¹ with just 2 key presses.

The printed page doesn't need to be boring anymore, as Xara3D is ideal for print work too! Posters, birthday cards, leaflets and more can now be jazzed up with a cool Xara3D designs.

Version 6 includes the main functionality of the Xara ScreenMaker software (SRP $14.95) so it can produce really smooth 3D screensavers that can be freely distributed.

"Xara3D has been the most popular Xara product of all time" says Charles Moir, CEO of the Xara Group . "This version offers a dramatic advance in software usability. The beauty of Xara3D is the direct on-screen manipulation of the 3D object. By dragging on the object you can extrude, rotate and alter the bevels. You can drag the 3D lights to shine on the object from any angle and simply double click on a light to alter its color. It has to be the easiest interface for any 3D program"

The free trial version can be downloaded from the Xara website. The cost of Xara3D 6 is $44.99 with a special upgrade cost of $29.99 for existing version 4 and 5 users. A CD is sent to everyone who purchases with a backup copy of Xara3D, plus over 700 example files, 400+ textures, 65 TrueType fonts and a tutorial movie.


Editor's Notes

10 Key Features of Xara3D 6
  • Easy and fast creation of 3D text, graphics and animation for websites, presentations and print.
  • Animate any TrueType font or 3D shape in seconds.
  • Style Picker for copying settings from previous work (700 examples included).
  • Real time shadows, bevels, textures and extrusions.
  • Apply separate animation to individual characters or shapes.
  • New design styles include boards, boards with holes, borders and buttons.
  • Full, interactive control over color, extrusion, bevels and lighting.
  • Outputs JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG (including full PNG alpha channel), ICO (icon), CUR (cursor), animated GIF, AVI, SWF (vector and bitmap) and screensavers.
  • Full optimization of output graphics and animation for use in web pages.




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About Xara Group Ltd

Xara, founded in 1981, was one of the oldest independent software developers in the UK, until it was acquired by Magix AG in 2007. Xara continues to develop innovative graphics, website building, and document publishing tools, which are marketed around the world under both the MAGIX and Xara brand names.

About MAGIX AG

MAGIX is a leading international provider of high-quality software, online services and digital contents for multimedia communications. Since 1993, MAGIX has been developing leading technologies for creation, editing, management and presentation of photos and graphics, videos and music. Internationally, MAGIX operates from branches in the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. The product range is targeted towards laymen and professionals alike and goes beyond the PC range to include seamlessly integrated online and mobile applications.

According to its retail sales figures, MAGIX leads in the multimedia software sector in the most important European markets, and is one of the most successful competitors in the USA. Fifteen years of market presence as well as one thousand awards worldwide testify to the company's power of innovation.