CorelDRAW is a fun drawing graphics program. It has numerous tools for creating special effects, shading, text, tables, and other enhancements. CorelDRAW treats elements as "objects." Objects are placed in layers making it possible to create a basic one-layer graphic or more complex multi-layered graphics). Layers can be manipulated allowing the user to place objects on top of each other, distort one layer without skewing another and more. Ultimately, the program can create great images using shapes, shades, shadows and colors
Take a look at graphic below.
This image was created completely in CorelDRAW using shapes, shades and layers. The artist utilized the fill tool to create tones and add form to the face. CorelDRAW is also great with text. The text in this image is clear and crisp. Being a vector program, CorelDRAW creates defined letters and fine lines. Since it does not blend and smooth lines, it sometimes creates jagged looking edges. Still, CorelDRAW is highly recommended.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT is a bitmap drawing program for photo editing. Like CorelDRAW and Adobe Photoshop, it places objects in layers, allowing manipulation of effects on specific layers. Unlike CorelDRAW, PHOTO-PAINT will not automatically create new layers until instructed.
This program allows users to a design, color it with various colors and see the effects of those the colors, tones and shapes as it affects that one layer. The layer can be moved anywhere on the page.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT adds many more drawing and painting tools to the Suite increasing the tools for artistic creativity. Although it was not created as a drawing tool (like DRAW), it can be used as one.
As a Suite complement, this tool smooths DRAW files. Take a look at the image below. This very similar image was made in PHOTO-PAINT before being saved as a web-safe .JPG. Notice the detail on the face; the tones are more subtle. This feature is especially good for photo editing and creating ghosted images (especially fog or glare effects).
The downside to CorelDRAW is that, although the name states "draw"
it is mostly a template program. It offers shapes that can be altered
using a number of tools, and may be best described as a cut and paste
program since objects (or shapes and clip art) are chosen and placed on
the page in the spot it is needed. This is great for making flyers, stationery
and more. It's very simple!
Native saved files (files save to have the .cdr extension), are fairly small and allow for edits. Often, files will need to be exported (for instance to the .gif or .jpg file types so that the graphics can be used on the Web or other programs). These non-native saves are relatively large, in comparison. Here is an example of the graphic pictured above (CorelDRAW document) in .cdr format. The file is 29K. Exported to the JPG format, the file is 31K. For files that are required for quick loading on the web, the file sizes may be too large.
More information on saving Corel files optimized for the web is described in Saving a File.
One of the best features of CorelDRAW is the vast library of graphics included with the program.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT also has tools for creating images using various art
mediums, from the basic mediums like pencil and crayon to more advance
mediums like paints and air brush. Corel PHOTO-PAINT gives artists the
tools to draw on the computer as they would on a regular piece, with the
advantage of more tools.
This is not the best tools for text, especially fine line text. Corel
PHOTO-PAINT is a pixel based program and sees the image as small squares
of color. This is why parts of the image may seem blurred (look closely
for details). For pictures, the smoothing is pleasing to the eye, but
not so for text.
Native Corel PHOTO-PAINT files are (.cpt) and are not viewable on the Web. They can be printed as .cpt files for paper publications but are very large. The .cpt file of the graphic above is 114K. To use on the Web, the file must be exported to "GIF" (.gif) or a "JPEG" (.jpg). The exported .jpg above is 26K. Again, this is best describe in Saving a File.
