Xara Web Designer MX 8

Imagine a scenario where a professional web designer gave you some pre-defined templates, which enabled you to drop in the text, images and other elements required to create your own professional website?

On the Mac, this is relatively easy. There are software developers falling over themselves to offer you software that ships with professional templates that enables you to drop in your content. Better still, if you can’t find a template you want from within the software, there are many third-party providers who are providing alternative templates or even a unique design.

Xara Web Designer is a brand new WYISWYG web design tool for the Windows platform that enables you to quickly and easily design your own homepage. You can start from scratch or from one of the many supplied templates. Drop in the text and other elements you require and then simply publish directly to your server.

Xara Web Designer ships with a range of tools that enable you to enhance the elements on your page. Fancy adding a shadow to a photo? Simply click on the photo, choose the Shadow Tool and move the shadow to the desired location.

This is an excellent application for designing your own website, particular if like the idea of doing it yourself. One downside is that, unlike say Rapidweaver on the Mac, you can’t simply change the templates on the fly. Remember to choose your template before you start creating your first page.