Creating GIF files

You can create GIF format bitmap files using a wide variety of options including interlacing
and transparency (masking). Note that when exporting a bitmap, the current Xara LX Quality (see Changing the screen quality of documents) setting is used for the bitmap. For example if the Quality is set to a very low level the bitmap exported will be in outline only.

This covers creating a single GIF bitmap. For information on animated GIFs, see Creating animated GIF files.

To create a GIF file

1. From the File menu, choose Export.

2. In the Export dialog box, choose GIF from the drop-down list.

3. Enter the filename and location and click Save. This will open the GIF Export dialog box where you can change options and preview the bitmap before you save it to disk.

4. Set the options in the dialog box and click Export. For more information on the options, click the Help button in the dialog box.

Tips

To export a bitmap the same size as it is on the screen (at 100% magnification) choose 96dpi in the GIF Export dialog box.

To make the bitmap see-through where there are no objects in your document, select Transparent in the GIF Export dialog box.

If you want to export a small area of a document, select the objects in that area and choose the Selection option in the Area to Save section of the GIF Export dialog box.

Transparent GIF Files

Xara LX works differently from other graphics packages when you create transparent bitmaps. In other packages you choose the color in the bitmap you want to be transparent. In Xara LX the exported bitmap is transparent where there are no objects in the original drawing. To make any area transparent in a bitmap just ensure there are no objects over it and select the Transparent option in the dialog box when you export the GIF file. (However you can also select a color and make that transparent if you wish.)

Exporting multiple layers

You can export each layer of your drawing individually as multiple GIF files (although it is recommended you use PNG files for this process). More information.

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Related Topics

Creating bitmaps

Multi-layer export

Internet bitmaps overview