Xaralx, now known as Xara Xtreme for Linux, is a free and open source image editing program for Linux. It is based on the commercial Xara imaging editing software for Windows, and is primarily used for vector image creation and editing. Over the next few weeks, I will provide some handy tips that you can use in Xara. The first is an easy way to slice an image into whatever shape you want. As with any vector image editing, the resulting shape will be an object that you can move, rotate, add to a larger image, and treat like a normal shape.

Install Xaralx

Xaralx is available through many Linux distribution repositories. For Ubuntu, simply install it through Synaptic or enter from the command line:

sudo apt-get install xaralx

You may also want to install extras:

sudo apt-get install xaralx-examples xaralx-svg

Import an Image

1. Start xaralx from the menu.

2. Click “File” and “Import“.

3. Find an image you want to use and click “Open“.

Feel free to resize the image or make other changes before your proceed.

Slice the Image

1. Click the rectangle tool, ellipse tool, or quickshape tool (for all other types of shapes — it requires some additional customization).

2. Click in the white space and drag to create your shape.

3. Click the select tool (the first one shaped like a mouse pointer).

4. Drag your shape over top of the image, positioning it however you want to slice it.

5. Click the transparency tool (the wine glass icon).

6. A new toolbar will appear.  On the right, drag the transparency bar about halfway so that the shape is translucent.  This way you can make sure you have it positioned over the image the way you want it.

7. With the shape still selected, hold Shift and click on the image underneath so that both are selected.

8. Right click on top of the shape, select “Combine Shapes” and click “Slice (cut) Shapes“.

The top shape should disappear leaving a cut-out of your image in that shape. Drag it away from the remaining shape and delete the leftover if you wish.

Export the Image

It is always a good idea to save the whole page for future use, but to save the image only, you need to export it.

1. Select the newly sliced image.

2. Click “File” and “Export…”

3. Select the file type. (If you want the area surround your image to be transparent, select “.png”. PNG is also useful if you intend to manipulate the image further in Gimp).

4. After you have selected the file format and destination folder, click “Save”.

Other Techniques

If you are interested in the reverse of what you just did, instead of clicking “Slice“, just click “Subtract Shapes“. Your shape will behave like a cookie cutter, removing that area from your image. If you click “Intersect Shapes“, it will automatically cut out the part that you want and discard the rest.

Once you have sliced your image, you can use any of the other features available in Xara or export the image to another program. In the coming weeks, I will introduce you to some of the features Xara has. Many of its features are similar to Inkscape (a very popular vector graphics editor), while some are unique and welcomed additions to Linux. Although the Linux version is somewhat different from the Windows one, many of the techniques are the same. Experiment and see what you can produce.

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Believe it or not, one of the Windows softwares that I missed most when I first moved to Mac, aside from Minesweeper and Freecell, is MS Paint. So, for the nostalgia sake, I compile a small list of simple drawing application for Mac.

1. Paintbrush

I think it’s best to start the list with this app because Paintbrush claimed to be “the clone” of MS Paint. This one is a very simple drawing application with minimal tools. That’s why it’s fun and perfect for quick doodling.

2. MacPaint X

MacPaint X is a basic drawing tool for Mac which is based off the original MacPaint that was created by Apple. It comes with many other small applets such as a auto saver and updater which makes it one of the good alternative drawing application for OS X. The simplicity of MacPaint X makes it fit for everybody, from children learning how to draw on their first computer to adults doing a quick sketch.

3. Tux Paint

If you are (or have) children ages 3 to 12, then you have to try this award-winning multi-platform drawing application. The app combine easy-to-use interface and fun sound effects to encourage children to draw. There’s also the cartoon mascot which will guide kids on using the program. But even if you’re not young anymore, this program could be a fun time waster. We all have the little child inside of us, don’t we?

4. Drawberry

It is a free vector drawing software application for Mac OS X. This one is an alternative to the free but bulky: The GIMP or Inkscape. With DrawBerry, you have all the possibilities the vectorial drawing offers you in a free, easy to use and powerful application. At the time of writing, the developer’s web showed near-blank page, so I get the app from one of the Mac download sites.

5. HeliosPaint

This one is a bit more advanced, but not too complex. Maybe somewhere above Paintbrush and (way) below Photoshop. It’s written in Java so it would work on every OS. But as most Java apps out there, HeliosPaint is a bit sluggish.

Of course there are other drawing apps available for Mac and there’s no way I could list them all here. Which one(s) do you use? Share your thoughts below.

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Free Licence?

General computer user might have never even heard about this piece of software (the price tag usually scares them away – do googling for “Archicad price” and you’ll see what I mean), but I’m sure the name is very familiar for architects (professionals, students, teachers, wannabes) and everybody else related to this field all over the world.

What most people don’t know is that you can try this application for free for 30 days, and if you are a teacher or student, you can have the education licence to use the software for one full year for free. (Moreover, the process of getting the educational licence is not that strict. So…) The only catch is that education version will bear watermarks in the final result. But for personal use or educational purpose, this limitation is acceptable.

Complete Multimedia Tutorial

Basically, using Archicad is similar to building the real thing. You start with the floor, walls, roof, then adding other elements such as windows and door. Amazingly, everything that you draw in the floor plan will also appear in the elevation and 3D view. Archicad is also able to do simple task for everyday use like drawing vector lines, and curves and turned them into three dimensional object. If you want, and have a lot of spare time, you can even create a 3D Model of a Battle Robot. (I sometimes use it do design 3D logos, and the precision is amazing).

Explaining how Archicad works require a book-length text (or more), so I’ll let you go directly to the developer’s site. They have already provide users with complete tutorials (pdfs, movies) on how to use this software. Visit their Interactive Training Guides page to get every tutorial available. Users can choose which format of the tutorials is suitable for them. The options range from choosing the operating system (Windows or Mac), languages, and measurement format. But please be warned that the sizes of these tutorials are also “heavy”.

So, if you are planning on redesigning your house or even building a new one yourself (or just curious after looking at several images above), why not try this virtual building solution?

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