As always, we will be using Pixels as our units of measure. Right click on the screen and select Page Options... from the pop up menu. In the Units tabbed section, select Pixels for the Units and 0-255 for the Color Units. In the Grid and Ruler tabbed section set the Major Spacing to 100pix (key it in exactly like this please) and the Number of Subdivisions to 10. Press OK to close the dialog and apply the changes.

NOTE: You will notice from time to time I apply arbitrary colors to objects. I do this to make the objects easier to see. If I do not specify a fill for an object, you do not have to apply a fill or outline color.

When I show an ellipse or rectangle that has just been created, that has no fill, it is because I have set the fill to none before I exported the illustration. By default, all ellipses, rectangles and Quick Shapes have a black outline and a black fill. There is nothing wrong with your copy of Xara.

Select the Freehand and Brush Tool. Set the Smoothness slider on the Infobar at the top of the screen somewhere between 30-40%. This makes it easier to draw a smooth freehand shape. Draw a lowercase g about the same size as the example shown here. It may take a few tries to get the shape right. The main thing is to keep the curves round and open.

Don't worry if your shape is not picture perfect. You can use Xara's editing tools to smooth out the wrinkles.

There are two basic ways to edit a path: a) click a control point with the Shape Editor Tool (with the path selected with the Selector Tool first). A set of lines with red squares on the ends will appear directly behind the selected control points, and the adjacent control points too. These are known as Bezier control handles and you can drag the red squares out or in towards the control point or drag the red squares to change the direction of the curve. Or b), drag on the selected path with the Shape Editor Tool. In this second and easier method the line acts like a rubber band and you can shape it any way you like.

Xara provides additional editing options on the Shape Editor Tool Infobar at the top of the screen (when the Shape Editor Tool is selected). c) Make Curve, and d) Make Line. If two adjoining control points on a path are selected, pressing the Make Line icon flattens the curve into a straight line. Dragging any selected straight line with the Shape Editor Tool, automatically makes the line a curve.

In addition there are two controls that determine how a control point will behave: e) Smooth Join and f) Cusp Join. If you drag a path segment next to a Smooth Join control point, the other section of the path on the other side of the control point is effected too. This is useful for creating smooth transitions between joins. A Cusp Join enables the segments of a line on either side of the control point to be manipulated separately.

At any rate, edit your g so it looks as smooth as you can make it.

TIP: If drawing elegant curves with the mouse is just too hard, try this. Draw a series of straight line segments that make an angular lowercase g. Then drag the straight lines into graceful curves with the Shape Editor Tool. (You can also draw your straight line segments with the Shape Editor Tool and edit your lines as you draw.