WHAT IS COREL DRAW?

CorelDraw is a software program for editing vector graphics

Vector graphics are created in graphics packages and consist of objects. Each object can be edited separately, meaning that the shape, colour, size and position can be changed.

Developed by Ottawa-based software company, Corel, CorelDraw, styled CorelDRAW, allows users to to do things like add special effects such as borders to images, in addition to allowing for contrast adjustment, colour balancing and more.

One of the handy features of the software is that it can also work with multiple layers and multiple pages.

CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Corel Corporation. It is also the name of the Corel graphics suite, which includes the bitmap-image editor Corel Photo-Paint as well as other graphics-related programs

CorelDRAW is an object-oriented environment ruled mostly by images created using vector paths made by the placement of nodes, which are connected by curved or straight lines. The nodes are visible only when those paths are being constructed, are selected, or revised. A vector rectangle, when selected, consists of four nodes joined by straight lines. A vector oval is also made up of four nodes, joined by curved lines. Any shape created in this manner is considered an object, since it can easily be picked up and moved around and transformed in some ways. 

Some vector images consist of a single object while others are made up of a number of objects. The rectangle and oval described above are closed objects, but vector objects can also be open, such as a simple zigzag (nodes joined by straight lines), or a wavy line (nodes joined by curved lines), or even a combination of both. All vector paths can be edited by manipulating the nodes in a number of ways, and all vector lines can be assigned any color; closed vector shapes can be filled with a color as well. 

WHY USE CORELDRAW FOR GRAPHICS DESIGN?

CorelDRAW is a powerful and versatile software tool that is widely used for graphic design projects. It offers a user-friendly interface, robust feature set, and excellent compatibility with other programs in the suite. With CorelDRAW, designers have access to a wide array of tools for drawing, painting, photo editing, web graphics creation, and much more. This makes it possible to create high-quality designs that are tailored to specific needs. Additionally, CorelDRAW has excellent support for vector graphics, which enables users to scale designs without losing quality. The program also comes with a range of advanced features like color management, precise typography tools and seamless integration with other professional publishing software options available on the market. Using CorelDraw enables professionals in graphic design complete projects efficiently from concept to delivery with exceptional results required across industries such as advertising agencies,publishing houses and other media companies making it an ideal choice for creating stunning work catered to your specific business requirements.

FEATURES OF COREL DRAW

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite has a superb range of features that support many facets of graphic design, often simultaneously.

Some of its features are immediately obvious, such as the ability to render your ideas in graphic form. It’s graphics editing options are powerful but, if you’re not using the right design platform, you can hinder the entire process.

Fortunately CorelDRAW has myriad features that could actually speed up the design project from start to finish. Here’s how to use CorelDRAW Graphic Suite 2021 to make your workflow smoother than silk.

The package features the following

• CorelDRAW for vector illustration and controlling page layouts.
• Corel PHOTO-PAINT for editing images and raster layouts.
• Corel Font Manager for organizing your font collection.
• PowerTRACE which converts raster images to vectors using AI.
• CorelDRAW App, which brings the power of CorelDRAW to your web browser.
• CorelDRAW App for iPAD, for Apple device users.
• CAPTURE for recording screen content.
• AfterShot 3 HDR, for processing RAW image files.

ADVANTAGES OF CORELDRAW

The main benefits of CorelDraw are its robust feature set, customizations, and reliability.  These benefits await users who decide to use CorelDraw Graphics Suite 2017. Whether they’re professionals or novices, Corel Draw has in-product learning and content to help them out. CorelDraw’s workspace is reliable and matches the user’s workflow, increasing productivity.

The program is also customizable, allowing users to create their ideal workspace populated with their favorite tools with icons in just the right size, and their preferred border color. Different fonts can be explored with the Corel Font Manager 2017, and plugins, extensions, font packs, and apps can be downloaded to grow the suite’s tools.

Ideas can also be immediately executed with CorelDraw’s LiveSketch tool. Original ideas can immediately be captured with this tool, so long as the user is using a pen-abled device. LiveSketch also comes with a search and filter feature which picks the perfect fonts for any project.

The color accuracy and flexibility required of professional output can be used with CorelDraw Graphic Suite 2017. Designers can easily make memorable logos, eye-catching marketing materials, and viral signs and social media graphics.

A BUSINESS CARD SAMPLE

WHAT ARE BUSINESS CARDS?

Business cards are cards bearing business information about a company or individual. They are shared during formal introductions as a convenience and a memory aid.

What is the purpose of a business card?

A business card is a highly personal form of marketing, and does exactly what you need it to. Business cards serve the key purpose of marketing your business and getting your key contact information into your client’s hands… all in a matter of seconds. Fundamental to the value of the business card, is its portability.

FEATURES OF A BUSINESS CARD

A good business card should convey the overall image of your business, which isn’t always easy, considering the card measures just 2 inches by 3 inches. So how can you possibly get a message across in such a small amount of space?

Don’t expect your business card to be able tell your company’s entire story. What you should expect it to do is present a professional image people will remember. The color wording and texture of your business card have a lot to do with its appeal and its ability to convey your company image. Use common sense when you’re designing your card. If your business markets children’s toys and games, you might try using bright, primary colors and words written in a child’s script. On the other hand, if you run a financial consulting service, you want your business card to convey professionalism and reliability, so stick to traditional looks such as black printing on a gray, beige or white background.

Of course, professional designers claim entrepreneurs shouldn’t attempt to design a business card on their own, but many cash-strapped business owners have no other choice. Your best course of action? Look at all the business cards you’ve received over the years, and emulate the cards you like. You have more leeway if you’re in a creative business, such as party planning or retailing, but in general, keep the following tips in mind:

Before you start, decide what information you would like to have on your business card. To follow along with this tutorial you will need a logo, first name and last name of the card owner, a (company) postal address, phone number, e-mail, a website link, and for this particular tutorial, a QR Code.

Click on any of the images below to view full-size.

Step 1: Document Setup

Start by creating a new document in CorelDRAW by going to File > New or Ctrl + N. In the New Document window:

• Name your document and choose CMYK or RGB color mode.
• If you intend to print on the back of the card, change the Number of pages to 2.
• In the Page Size dropdown list, choose Business Card – unless you have custom requirements for a different size or format.
• Select your orientation and keep the resolution at 300 dpi.

TIP: Ask your printer if they prefer any specific color profile and color mode. You can specify these in the Color Settings section.

In your new document, the Property Bar will display the basic document information. Here you can set a new page size, change the orientation, or change the units of measure if you wish.

Step 2: Adding Guidelines

Guidelines help you set up your design, and help you work professionally with the layout.

• Go to Layout > Document Options.
• Click on Guidelines and then the Presets
• Select Page borders and other options if needed.
• On the property bar, enable Guidelines in the Snap To dropdown list.

NOTE: in previous versions of CorelDRAW you can set guidelines by going to Tools > Options, then selecting the Document > Guidelines > Presets

Click on the intersecting point in the top left corner where the rulers meet and drag to the top left corner of your business card document. This will reset the 0:0 coordinates to the top left corner and is helpful if you want to add additional guidelines in the Guidelines docker.

You can also add additional guidelines by using the Pick tool to drag them out from the rulers along the top and left side of the interface.

Step 3: Adding Text

With your business card workspace ready in CorelDRAW, start by adding the company and contact information. Select the font you plan to use. If you’re creating a business card for a client, ask if they have a corporate font they use. Whichever font you use, CorelDRAW has some useful tools that can help you find and manage fonts:

• The Font List, which allows you to group fonts by family or show recently used fonts and filter fonts based on font technology, weight, width, supported scripts, style, character range and more.

• The Font Manager, a standalone font management application where you can find and preview local fonts, install and uninstall fonts, and delete fonts that you no longer need.

Activate the Text docker (Window > Dockers > Text) to access all the text editing tools. In the Character section at the top, you can adjust the Kerning to increase or decrease the space between individual characters. In the Paragraph section below, you can use the Spacing features to properly make your text more readable.

Step 4: Adding a Background Color

If you would like to have a background color for your business card, activate the Rectangle tool and create a rectangle roughly the size of the card. Then you can adjust the height and width values in the property bar, and center it by pressing “P” on your keyboard.

TIP: you can also create a rectangle that is exactly the size of your card by double-clicking on the Rectangle tool.

To remove the black outline, right-click on the No Color swatch at the top of the Color palette.

Click on a color swatch in the Color palette to fill the rectangle or use the Eyedropper to sample color from an object.

Step 5: Adding a Logo

Import and place the logo, only using print-ready image files. You can use CDR file format images, tiff and in some circumstances PNG 24-bit format, resolution 300 dpi.

TIP: You can use a lower resolution, like 150 or 200 dpi, but I recommend using high-resolution images like 300 dpi to be on the safe side. Just remember to use original images created to 300 from the beginning, and not resampled images. (Which, most of the time, are not good enough for print).

Step 6: Adding a QR code

When all the text information and logotype is set up in your layout, consider adding a QR code to your business card. A QR code contains information that can be read by smartphones and other mobile devices. This information could be your contact information, or a URL to quickly and easily access a company website or a social media profile such as LinkedIn.

To add a QR code, go to Object > Insert > QR Code. Use the Pick tool to resize and position the QR code on your business card.

To edit the QR code information, open the Properties docker (Window > Dockers > Properties). You can set the QR code type to a URL, contact info or even a calendar event. Once you have entered the information, click on the Validate button to validate the QR code.

When all this is set up and you’re finished with your design, it´s time to create a print-ready PDF document and send to your printer company. Now you are ready to start networking!

We hope you found this tutorial helpful and we would love to hear your feedback in the Comments section below.

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