Nifty Image and Photo Editor for Beginners

I've always wanted to get into using Photoshop and Illustrator, but I've just never been able to wrap my head around the programs. Layers, filters, vectors... it's enough to make your head spin. Recently I spent a little time with Xara Xtreme, a $79 alternative to all your image software, a self-proclaimed "one package for all your graphic needs."

The best thing about Xara is something I normally would ignore completely in most applications: The tutorials. Written tutorials don't work well with complicated software, so Xara offers videos, which show you simple examples on getting started with the software as well as more advanced techniques. I never would have been able to figure out how to make a drop shadow if I hadn't seen it on Xara's videos. The company also releases new video tutorials periodically, which the program automatically downloads when you launch it.

Using the software isn't quite as simple as the videos make it out to be. I had the usual problems trying to figure out how to draw curves vs. squiggles, connecting lines to form a solid, and even saving files as JPEG instead of proprietary Xara files. But answers reveal themselves fairly quickly: Xara Xtreme is designed for beginners, with a pretty shallow learning curve. Before long I was designing new logos for mythical businesses and working well with shapes and lines.

The only weak spot in the program is its photo-handling features. Though you can tint pictures, adjust color levels, crop, resize, and yes, remove red-eye, high-end users looking for color histograms and advanced color correction aren't going to get them here. Xara does support Photoshop plug-ins, though, so you may be able to get the features you need... if you're willing to shell out for the extensions.

At $79, Xara is more expensive than most shareware photo editors but far cheaper than pro-grade software. It strikes a good middle ground for users who might be looking for a little bit more than, say, PaintShop Pro, but still aren't ready for Photoshop.