Xara 3D adds impact to web pages with top quality still and animated 3D headings, buttons and logos. With Xara3D an endless variety of 3D graphics can be created from TrueType fonts or imported 2D shapes.

Pros: 3D still and animated headings, buttons, logos really add value to graphics used on a website. Xara 3D appears to be a sophisticated tool bag to create such effects quite easily. True type fonts and imported 2D shapes could be used to create a range of sophisticated effects easily. Tools are available to manipulate the extrude depth, lighting, bevel, color and texture, shadow, font size and type. Then there`s a whole range of animation possibilities including multi-page sequences and even animated 3D screensavers. Graphics created go through anti-aliasing to make sure they have the smoothest appearance on screen. Optimization for web use also is possible. The application handles a range of formats such as WMF/EMF, CorelXARA and Webster files for imports and exports GIF, Flash, JPEG, PNG, AVI or BMP.

Most impressive part of the user interaction interface is the real time view possible of effects being applied on the 3D text, banner and animations being created. 3D extrusion, bevels, fonts, colors and textures are some of the things one can control. You keep the changes or discard depending on what you see as you create things. Colors, shadows, lighting adds to the effect one is able to create with the text item one is trying to create.

Bordering/framing effects controls provide another dimension to the effect being created. Once again the “what you see is what you get” kind of display really helps. The sophistication of the controls adds a lot of value to the application, one does not really expect this level on a package that costs less than $50.

Cons: Absolutely nothing problematic with the application.

Overall: A clear case of an outstanding application that delivers a sophisticated set of features yet does not cost the earth, a clear case of a 5 star performer.