CORELDRAW
v
What is CorelDraw?
CorelDraw is
a vector graphics editor developed by Corel Corporation, widely
used for graphic design, layout, and illustration work. It’s part of the CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite, which includes several powerful tools for professional
design.
CorelDRAW is a software application for creating
vector-based designs, such as logos, illustrations, brochures, business
cards, and more. Unlike raster graphics (made of pixels), vector graphics are
made of paths and shapes, which means they can be scaled to any size without
losing quality.
v CorelDRAW Toolbox – Main Tools and Their Uses
|
🔧
Tool Name |
🔍
Description |
|
Pick Tool |
Select, move, resize, rotate, and skew
objects |
|
Shape Tool |
Edit nodes and curves on vector objects |
|
Crop Tool |
Crop areas of vector or bitmap images |
|
Zoom Tool |
Zoom in/out to specific parts of the
canvas |
|
Freehand Tool |
Draw freeform lines and shapes |
|
Bezier Tool |
Create straight and curved lines with
precision |
|
Pen Tool |
Advanced version of Bezier for drawing
curves |
|
Polyline Tool |
Draw connected lines and curves in one
action |
|
Smart Drawing Tool |
Converts rough sketches into clean shapes
or curves |
|
Rectangle Tool |
Draw rectangles and squares |
|
Ellipse Tool |
Draw circles and ellipses |
|
Polygon Tool |
Create polygons with any number of sides |
|
Star Tool |
Draw stars with adjustable points |
|
Spiral Tool |
Create symmetrical or logarithmic spirals |
|
Basic Shapes Tool |
Access to shapes like hearts, arrows,
smileys, etc. |
|
Text Tool (A) |
Add artistic or paragraph text to your
design |
|
Table Tool |
Insert and manage tables for layout
purposes |
|
Interactive Fill Tool |
Apply gradients, patterns, or textures
interactively |
|
Mesh Fill Tool |
Create complex multi-colour gradients
using mesh nodes |
|
Eyedropper Tool |
Pick up and apply colors, attributes, or
properties |
|
Outline Tool |
Set stroke thickness, style, and color |
|
Transparency Tool |
Add transparency to objects for fade
effects |
|
Contour Tool |
Create a series of concentric shapes
around an object |
|
Blend Tool |
Blend two objects into a smooth
transition |
|
Drop Shadow Tool |
Add shadows to give depth to objects |
|
Envelope Tool |
Distort the shape of objects using
envelope handles |
|
Extrude Tool |
Give objects a 3D Look with depth and
perspective |
|
Artistic Media Tool |
Apply brush strokes, sprays, or
calligraphic effects |
🗂️
Additional Tools (Dockers & Menus)
- Object Manager / Objects Docker:
Manage layers and object stacking
- Align & Distribute: Align
objects precisely
- Colour Palette: Apply fill and
stroke colors
- Transformations: Move, rotate,
scale, mirror objects numerically
🎨 Common
Tool Categories
|
Category |
Tools |
|
Drawing Tools |
Freehand, Bezier, Pen, Polyline, Artistic
Media |
|
Shape Tools |
Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Stars,
Spirals |
|
Text Tools |
Text, Fit Text to Path, Paragraph Text |
|
Effects Tools |
Drop Shadow, Contour, Blend, Envelope,
Extrude |
|
Color Tools |
Fill, Outline, Eyedropper, Mesh Fill,
Transparency |
v Who Uses CorelDRAW?
1. Graphic Designers
- Create logos, icons, brochures, and business
cards
- Design layouts for print ads, flyers, and social
media
2. Print & Publishing Professionals
- Prepare print-ready layouts (CMYK, bleed, crop marks)
- Design for magazines, catalogue, books,
and posters
3. Advertising & Marketing Agencies
- Develop branding materials, ads, visual
presentations
- Produce billboards, packaging, and trade show
graphics
4. Sign & Vinyl Cutting Companies
- Design for signboards, vehicle wraps, and banners
- Create artwork for vinyl cutting machines (vector-based)
5. Apparel & Fashion Designers
- Design t-shirt prints, embroidery patterns, and textile
layouts
- Export files compatible with garment printing systems
6. Architects & Engineers (AEC)
- Produce technical diagrams, floor plans, and illustrative
blueprints
- Use CorelDRAW for visual presentation of architectural
concepts
7. Web Designers (UI/UX)
- Design website layouts, icons, and wireframes
- Export graphics for web (SVG, PNG)
8. Educators & Students
- Used in graphic design courses and multimedia
programs
- Learn the principles of vector drawing, layout, and colour
theory
9. Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses
- DIY branding: create own business cards, flyers, menus,
etc.
- Reduce costs by handling in-house design needs
v File Formats Supported:
·
Native: .CDR
·
Import/Export: PDF, AI, PSD, SVG, PNG, JPG, EPS, DXF, DWG, TIFF, and more
·
Supports Pantone® colours,
CMYK, RGB, and spot colours.
v CorelDRAW Keyboard Shortcuts (Commands)
|
Shortcut |
Action |
|
Ctrl + N |
New document |
|
Ctrl + O |
Open document |
|
Ctrl + S |
Save document |
|
Ctrl + P |
Print |
|
Ctrl + Z |
Undo |
|
Ctrl + Y |
Redo |
|
Ctrl + C |
Copy |
|
Ctrl + X |
Cut |
|
Ctrl + V |
Paste |
|
Ctrl + G |
Group selected objects |
|
Ctrl + U |
Ungroup objects |
|
Ctrl + D |
Duplicate object |
|
Ctrl + Q |
Convert to curves |
|
F4 |
Zoom to selected object |
|
F9 |
Full screen preview |
|
Spacebar |
Switch to Pick tool temporarily |
|
Ctrl + E |
Export file |