STEP 4. This next step is a little tricky so read carefully. We're going to create and reposition a duplicate G the fast way. Select the G with the Selector Tool (the arrow cursor). Drag the G down and to the left about 1/8" in each direction. Now, before you release the left mouse button, click the RIGHT mouse button to drop a duplicate. It takes a few attempts to get the rhythm of this move but I'm confident you'll pick up the knack quickly. If you're all thumbs, you can use the Duplicate command (Edit menu) or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl D. Notice as you drag any object, it turns into an outline making it easy to position the object precisely. Also notice that the Selector Tool cursor changes to a cross hair and a four-way arrow thingy.
Apply a 30% black (light gray) fill to the duplicate letter. We'll use it as a drop shadow to add lift to the red G.
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STEP 5. Nice though the gray drop shadow is, it would be nicer if it were behind the red G, don't you agree? No problem. Select the gray G and do one of the following: (Xara always gives you different ways to do the same thing) press, hit or key in (which ever verb you prefer) Ctrl B, that's the Ctrl key and the letter B, or from the Arrange menu select Send To Back.
Whoa! Where'd it go? My hunch is the gray G is behind the white card. So, select the white card and use the method of your choice to send the card to the back. If Ctrl B sends the item to the back, what do you suppose brings an item to the Front?
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This is a good time to Save your file. You wouldn't want to lose all that hard work. Saving a file in Xara is the same procedure for saving a file in any software on any computer platform so I'll not cover it here. As you've probably been concentrating very hard trying to take in all these new moves, take a short eye-break and reward yourself with a cookie or something from the fridge.
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©1998 Gary W. Priester
This lesson may not be copied, altered, republished or distributed in any type of media without the express written permission of the author.