 By
Dale Farris
Golden Triangle PC Club
March 2006
With this latest version X3 (13), Corel releases their newest collection of
creative tools designed for anyone involved in image creation and editing, and
especially Web page design. There are three main applications built into CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X3, including CorelDRAW, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, and Corel R.A.V.E. The R.A.V.E. component is Corel's Real Animated
Vector Effects program.
This program is targeted to professional graphics designers, Web
designers, and desktop publishers who need the powerful creative tools
built into this new release.
Transform ideas into professional results with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3!
With this comprehensive graphics suite, you can confidently tackle a wide
variety of projects - from logo creation and Web graphics, to multi-page
marketing brochures, or eye-catching signs.
From new bitmap-to-vector tracing in Corel PowerTRACE, new photo-editing
features in PHOTO-PAINT, new suite-wide learning tools, and enhancements in
illustration and page layout, this suite combines design capabilities,
ease-of-use, and affordability that cannot be matched by any other graphics
software.
Get outstanding designs every time with new, easy-to-use tools & effects!
NEW! Corel PowerTRACE is the most powerful and accurate bitmap-to-vector
tracing application on the market. You now have complete control and
flexibility for editing vector images, including color merging and
interactive color mode selection.
NEW! PHOTO-PAINT Image Adjustment Lab is a 'one stop shop' for adjusting
photo colors and tones while the ability to create snapshots of your
adjusted photos with one single click makes photo comparison simple and
easy.
Enhanced! Interactive Fit Text to Path tool now makes it easier than ever to
attach text to a path with precision. A common effect for creating logos and
signs, this new tool lets you interactively control text placement in order
to get your desired results - fast!
Enhanced! Use the updated PANTONE® color palette, now including transparent
white.
NEW! Overprints Preview: allows you to confidently prepare objects for print
by simulating the color of areas where objects overlap and preview these in
the application.
NEW! Crop Tool is a significant time-saver by allowing you to quickly remove
unwanted areas in objects, photos and vector images.
NEW! Images, Fonts, Photos - 10,000 hand-selected, professional clipart
images, 35 new WGL4 fonts, 1,000 royalty free photos.
Easy to Learn, Easy to Use
Its now easier than ever to learn and work with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3!
NEW! Hints provide dynamic, context-sensitive tips and tricks as you work,
making the suite easier to use and learn.
NEW! CorelDRAW Design Collection offers 100
creatively varied templates that are easily customized to suit specific
needs.
NEW! CorelDRAW Handbook — Insight from the
Experts presents insights from CorelDRAW experts and showcases practical,
real-world examples of accomplished designs and best practices.
Compatibility, Seamless Workflow
NEW! Support for secure PDF documents allows users to open and create
password-protected PDFs to make it easier to exchange secure client files.
NEW! Support for RAW file format with Pixmantec RawShooter essentials.
Enhanced! Experience increased compatibility with commonly used file
formats, including Adobe Illustrator, PhotoShop, Corel Paint Shop Pro,
Microsoft Office, JPEG, and PDF.
Main Applications
• CorelDRAW X3: CorelDRAW X3 is an intuitive graphic design and page layout
application that meets the demands of today’s busy design professionals and
occasional business users. It delivers results fast, whether users are
creating a company logo or working toward demanding production schedules.
• Corel PHOTO-PAINT X3: Corel PHOTO-PAINT X3 is a professional image-editing
application that lets users quickly and easily retouch and enhance photos.
It is specifically designed for use as part of a graphic workflow.
Supporting Applications
• NEW! Corel PowerTRACE X3: Professional designers often receive
poor-quality bitmap images from clients and face the challenge of turning
these into high-quality vector images for business cards, brochures,
promotional items, or signs. The new Corel PowerTRACE solves this problem by
letting users quickly and accurately convert bitmaps into editable vector
graphics.
• Corel CAPTURE X3: Corel CAPTURE™ X3 is a one-click screen capture utility
that lets users capture images from their computer screen.
• NEW! Pixmantec RawShooter essentials: This raw workflow tool provides the
highest-quality output and fastest conversion time of any raw converter on
the market today. It gives designers and business users excellent results
with minimum effort.
Content
• More than 10,000 clipart and digital images individually selected to meet
the needs of design professionals and business users
• 1,000 OpenType fonts, plus 35 Windows Glyph List 4 (WGL4) fonts
• NEW! 100 creative templates included free of charge
Top New Features for Design Professionals
New! Star tool: With CorelDRAW X3, the new Star tool lets users quickly and
easily draw perfect stars.
New! Complex Star tool: In industries such as advertising, sign-making,
engraving, and trophies and awards, stars are a common design effect. The
new Complex Star tool makes it easy for CorelDRAW X3 users to create complex
stars that have intersecting sides and produce unique results with an
applied fill. Users can also specify the number of points and can sharpen
the points of a complex star.
New! Smart Fill tool: The unique, new Smart Fill tool lets CorelDRAW X3
users apply a fill to any enclosed area by creating a new object from an
enclosed area. Unlike conventional fill tools that fill only objects, the
Smart Fill tool detects the edges of an area and creates a closed path so
that the area can be filled. For example, the Smart Fill tool can fill the
loops of a freehand line that crosses over itself. The Smart Fill tool
creates a path around the area, so the filled object can be moved, copied,
or edited.
New! Bevel effect: Bevels are often used in the creative design and sign
making industries to outline and emphasize designs. CorelDRAW X3
dramatically reduces the amount of time required to apply bevel effects to
graphic or text objects. The new Bevel effect docker gives users quick
access to Bevel styles and to controls that determine the effect’s
intensity.
New! Crop tool: A significant time-saver, the new Crop tool quickly lets
users remove unwanted areas in objects and imported graphics — both bitmap
and vector. This handy addition to the CorelDRAW X3 toolbox eliminates the
need to ungroup objects, break linked groups apart, or convert objects to
curves. The new Crop tool was used to crop separate objects in one step.
Enhanced! Interactive Contour tool: With the enhanced Interactive Contour
tool, users can quickly and easily contour objects with optimal curve
results.
Enhanced! Optimize nodes in existing objects: CorelDRAW X3 provides
convenient, new options on the property bar for optimizing the nodes of
currently selected objects. Professional designers often encounter
vectorized images and other content containing curves with extra nodes. The
extra nodes can sometimes number in the thousands. The new Reduce Nodes
button and the enhanced Curve Smoothness slider make it easy to optimize
object nodes without changing the shape of the curve, saving considerable
time. The Reduce Nodes button automatically removes the most nodes possible,
and the Curve Smoothness slider lets designers manually remove nodes while
seeing the trade-off between the original curve shape and the reduced node
count.
Enhanced! Spot color support: With CorelDRAW X3, spot color support has been
improved so that effects, such as drop shadow, transparency, and mesh and
fountain fills, now support spot colors. The application’s import and export
filters also provide improved spot color support for Adobe Illustrator (AI),
PDF, encapsulated PostScript (EPS), and PhotoShop (PSD) files. In addition,
spot color effects are now preserved when files are sent to a printer that
supports spot colors, or exported to PDF, EPS, PSD, and AI.
Enhanced! Shaping curve objects: Users can now shape curve objects much more
easily. The newly designed control handles help users quickly select and
edit nodes. In addition, the new Selection Mode list box lets users choose
either the traditional square marquee or a freehand marquee to select nodes.
Enhanced! Changing the order of objects: Users can easily change the
stacking order of objects on a layer or a page. For this release, the new
Front of Page and Back of Page commands have been added. These commands work
across layers, making it simple to position objects precisely in the
stacking order and reducing the need to use the Object Manager docker.
New! Create Boundary command: The new Create Boundary command instantly
creates a boundary around selected objects in CorelDRAW X3. Particularly
useful for sign-making or engraving, the boundary can be used for various
purposes, such as keylines, cut lines, or outlines around groups of selected
objects.
Enhanced! Miter limit per object: Miter limit determines at which angle a
pointed corner becomes a blunt end. If there were only a 0.5-degree
separation between two corner lines, the outermost point could extend
halfway across the page. For increased flexibility, professional designers
can now set miter limit per object, which also means that text and graphics
can have different settings for miter limit.
New! Step and Repeat docker: With the new Step and Repeat docker, CorelDRAW
X3 users can more easily and precisely create a series of objects. This new
docker lets users quickly set horizontal and vertical offset preferences
when repeating objects. These offset preferences determine where objects
created by repeating steps are placed.
Enhanced! Duplicate Offset control: With CorelDRAW X3, the new Duplicate
Offset dialog box makes it easy for users to control the placement of
duplicate objects. The first time they use the Duplicate command (Ctrl + D),
users can set Horizontal and Vertical Offset distances for duplicate
objects.
New! Fillet / Scallop / Chamfer: Users can now easily shape curve objects by
using the new Fillet / Scallop / Chamfer docker. Filleting produces a
rounded corner; scalloping rounds and inverts the corner to create a notch;
and chamfering bevels the corner so that it appears flat.
Enhanced! Clone command: The Clone command has been added to the Edit menu,
allowing users to access it more quickly. A clone is a copy of an object, or
image area, that is linked to a master object or image area. Changes made to
the master object are automatically applied to its clones.
Trace — It’s about Accuracy CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 provides a more
streamlined, integrated tracing solution that delivers accurate and
optimized bitmap-to-vector tracing results.
New! Corel PowerTRACE: Integrated with CorelDRAW X3, the new Corel
PowerTRACE allows users to quickly and easily convert bitmaps into editable
vector graphics. Design professionals typically face the challenge of
turning bitmap images into high-quality vector images to create logos for
business cards, brochures, signs, and promotional items. For control and
flexibility, Corel PowerTRACE generates a color palette enabling users to
easily pick which colors appear in the traced result and quickly convert
them to the appropriate color mode, including spot colors. Users can also
choose from several preset tracing styles, color modes, and background
options. With three different preview modes — Before and After, Large
Preview, and Wireframe Overlay — Corel PowerTRACE makes it easy to analyze
the result and adjust the settings used to trace your image. Use Corel
PowerTRACE to vectorize low-resolution logos.
Photo Editing — It’s about Efficiency Feedback about customer workflow
revealed a need for more efficient, intuitive, and accurate photo editing.
Often, design professionals were using multiple tools to edit photos, which
presented compatibility challenges. They were also spending considerable
time working with advanced effects and correction features, which affected
the timelines for their project deliverables. To that end, CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X3 provides enhanced performance and several intuitive
features that increase efficiency at every stage of the workflow.
Enhanced! Corel PHOTO-PAINT performance: Corel PHOTO-PAINT X3 is now
significantly faster when working with large images and applying photo
effects, resulting in better real-time feedback and improving overall
workflow efficiency. Improved object handling gives designers more precise
control in rotating, skewing, or distorting objects.
For example, you can easily change a trace automation to US PANTONE, or
choose CMYK colors to create a vector trace more suitable for screen or
offset printing.
New! Pixmantec RawShooter essentials: This raw workflow tool provides the
highest-quality output and fastest conversion time of any raw converter on
the market today. Design professionals can easily convert digital images in
raw format to edit with Corel PHOTO-PAINT or use with CorelDRAW. RawShooter
essentials supports the raw image formats of many manufacturers, such as
Nikon, Olympus, and Canon, as well as the Adobe DNG standard.
New! Image Adjustment Lab: The new, integrated Image Adjustment Lab saves
designers valuable time and is accessible from both Corel PHOTO-PAINT and
CorelDRAW. Design professionals often work with files that have poor color
balance and contrast, and they need to use multiple tools to make
adjustments. The Image Adjustment Lab addresses this problem by uniting a
number of manual and automatic controls for common color and tone
corrections, providing an intuitive and fast way to achieve professional
image adjustments. The Image Adjustment Lab also lets users create snapshots
of their adjustments with just one click. The snapshots appear below the
working preview, which lets users easily compare each snapshot against the
original and choose the best result. The Image Adjustment Lab provides a
before and after preview, snapshots, and image correction controls.
Enhanced! Corel PHOTO-PAINT Cutout Lab: Built on the power of Corel
KnockOut, the enhanced Cutout Lab includes new controls to simplify the
process of cutting out image areas and to improve accuracy. The new Add
Detail and Remove Detail tools make it easy to refine the cutout area. For
easy reference when defining the cutout area, users can preview their cutout
against the original image, or transparent, white, gray, or black
backgrounds. For maximum flexibility, users can choose to save the cutout
object and discard the original image, save the cutout object and keep the
original image, or save the cutout object as a clip mask added to the
original image. In addition, the Cutout Lab includes Undo and Redo buttons
to quickly correct any mistakes. Original image (top left); highlight and
fill (top middle); preview of different backgrounds (top right); cutout
refined with the Add Detail and Remove Detail tools (bottom left and
middle); and comparison of cutout results – Cutout and original image,
Cutout, and Cutout as clip mask (bottom right).
New! Spot color channels: Corel PHOTO-PAINT X3 now lets users create and
modify images that contain spot colors. This is particularly useful for two
color images, multi-channel spot color images, and images for printing that
require a gloss layer over areas of the image.
Enhanced! Brush size and shape controls: Corel PHOTO-PAINT X3 now provides
controls on the property bar that make it quick and easy for users to adjust
brush size and shape. Users can quickly choose from many squared, rounded,
and patterned nib shapes.
Layout — It’s about Quality Results When designing logos, multipage
brochures, signs, and posters, text is often a critical design element.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 provides considerable enhancements to text
formatting that give professional designers better layout capabilities,
increased control, and more flexibility.
Enhanced! Text handling: CorelDRAW X3 provides significant improvements to
text handling that make it easier for users to select, edit, and format
text. New controls have been added for alignment, drop caps, tabs, bullets,
and columns. For more flexibility and accuracy in design, users can now
specify text size in inches and create hyperlinks for specific characters.
In addition, the application works better with text from other sources.
New! Visually control the flow of text: When working with text, professional
designers need to control text flow to achieve their desired look and feel.
With CorelDRAW X3, the Text menu includes the new Insert Formatting Code
menu that lets users insert specialized characters to help better control
text flow. Users can choose from em dash, em space, en dash, en space, 1/4
em space, optional hyphen, non-breaking hyphen, nonbreaking space, and
column/frame break. In addition, users can create custom optional hyphens.
Enhanced! Font matching: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 gives designers
improved font matching and more options when they work with files that use
fonts not installed on their system. In such cases, both CorelDRAW and Corel
PHOTO-PAINT now offer more accurate suggestions for replacement fonts. In
addition, users can choose to save their work with the replacement font or
with the original font.
Enhanced! Font selection: An element used in virtually all designs, text
helps to tie graphics to a message. To save time for designers when choosing
fonts, the Font list now includes a preview of each available font type.
New! Character Formatting docker: With CorelDRAW X3 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT
X3, the new Character Formatting docker makes formatting artistic and
paragraph text easier than ever before. This convenient new docker includes
easy-to-use controls for adjusting kerning, changing the angle of selected
characters, and applying character effects, such as Underline,
Strike-Through, Uppercase.
New! Paragraph Formatting docker: The new Paragraph Formatting docker gives
users quick access to common formatting settings for paragraph text, such as
alignment, word and paragraph spacing, and indents. This simplifies the
process of adjusting the paragraph text formatting.
Enhanced! Interactive Fit Text to Path tool: With CorelDRAW X3, it’s never
been easier to attach text to a path with precision — a common effect used
in creating signs and logos. The interactive Fit Text to Path tool lets
users simply select text, move the pointer along a path, and click to set
the text’s position. Users can also easily control the text’s offset
distance from the path.
In addition, users can scale the text after it has been placed on a path by
simply selecting both the text and the path and dragging one of the handles.
Text and curve as separate objects (top left); choosing a path with Fit Text
to Path tool (top middle); aligning the text while fitting it to the path
(top right); text fitted to path (bottom left); interactive feedback while
setting offset distance (bottom middle); and stretching the text and the
curve by 200% horizontally (bottom right).
Enhanced! Hyphenation: Hyphenation has been significantly improved with
CorelDRAW X3. Hyphenation breaks words between lines when the whole word
does not fit on one line. Users can choose to have CorelDRAW hyphenate
automatically. Users can also specify where a word will break when it is at
the end of a line by manually inserting optional hyphens or by creating
custom definitions that will automatically insert optional hyphenation.
New! Preview overprints: With CorelDRAW X3, the new Enhanced With Overprints
viewing mode simulates the color of areas where overlapping objects were set
to overprint. This helps users to output projects for printing with
confidence. Cyan, magenta, and yellow overlapping circles (left); the same
circles with the Enhanced with Overprints viewing mode activated (right).
Compatibility — It’s about Seamless Workflow Professional designers rely on
the ability to seamlessly exchange files between their various software
tools, and with colleagues and clients. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 gives
users several new and enhanced features that ensure that they can easily
exchange files without missing a beat.
Enhanced! Compatibility: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 provides enhanced
compatibility for more than 100 commonly used file formats, including Adobe
Illustrator, Photocells, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft Office, JPEG, and
PDF. Users can now seamlessly edit and exchange files in those formats.
Outstanding support for spot colors has been added for Adobe Illustrator,
PhotoShop, and PDF.
Enhanced! Color Management: Color management has been enhanced so that users
can now control whether the color mode used for effects is RGB or CMYK. In
addition, support for CMYK compositing color space has been added. When
proper device profiles are used, this results in more accurate matching
between the on-screen display and printed output of CMYK colors. This is
particularly beneficial for designs that use transparencies and drop
shadows.
New! Support for password-protected PDF files: CorelDRAW and Corel
PHOTO-PAINT now let users set security options to protect their PDF output.
This lets users control whether, and to what extent, a PDF file can be
accessed, edited, and reproduced. In addition, users can set a password that
lets them control who can access a PDF file.
Enhanced! Publish To PDF: Corel continues to help professional designers
ensure that their designs are portable with updated Publish To PDF
functionality.
New enhancements include full transparency and spot color support. In
addition, users can now convert text in their designs to curves in the
resultant PDF file.
Enhanced! EPS filter selection: CorelDRAW X3 includes a new dialog box that
offers users more intuitive options when importing EPS files. Designers can
choose to set the position of the EPS file in their design, or they can
convert the EPS file into editable objects.
Enhanced! PANTONE color palette: The PANTONE spot color palette now includes
Transparent White to give users more color options for their designs. In
addition, the CMYK equivalents of many PANTONE spot colors have been updated
according to the latest PANTONE libraries.
Enhanced! Printing: Printing has been enhanced so that transparencies and
spot colors output flawlessly. Whether it’s composite or separated output,
users can trust CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 to do it right.
Top New Features for Occasional Business Users
Powerful and easy to use, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 provides many new and
enhanced features to help occasional business users achieve professional
results when producing marketing collateral, flyers, newsletters, brochures,
Web graphics, and other projects.
Ease of Use
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 includes many new features that simplify the
creation of professional-looking marketing and sales materials.
New! Hints docker: The new Hints docker provides both CorelDRAW and Corel
PHOTO-PAINT users with context-sensitive information on the currently
selected tool. The Hints docker makes it easier for users to learn to use
the tools in the toolbox. When users select a tool, the Hints docker
dynamically displays relevant information for that tool. When applicable,
the Hints docker includes links to additional topics related to the tool.
The Hints docker appears by default and features a home page with links to
generic topics. For quick reference, users can easily navigate the Hints
docker by using the Forward, Back, and Home buttons.
New! Highlight What’s New command: Users now have a simple way to identify
the features added between versions. From the Help menu, the Highlight
What’s New command lets users highlight new tools and features from
different versions of CorelDRAW or Corel PHOTO-PAINT. For example, users can
highlight the features added since versions 9, 10, 11, or 12. [ 24 ]
New! CorelDRAW Design Collection: The CorelDRAW Design Collection provides
100 creatively varied templates that are easily customized to suit specific
needs. For business users, particularly small business owners that prefer to
create marketing and sales materials in-house, these templates offer an easy
way to carry a creative theme over multiple projects, such as business
cards, brochures, and letterhead.
New! CorelDRAW Handbook – Insight from the Experts: This new book provides
insights from CorelDRAW experts and showcases practical, real-world examples
of accomplished designs. By deconstructing designs and sharing their wisdom
and best practices, experts from a variety of industries demonstrate the
power of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3.
Create Professional Results
With CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3, it’s never been easier for occasional
business users to transform ideas into professional results.
Enhanced! Image Adjustment Lab: Business users often work with images that
are later incorporated into projects like a brochure or Web site. These
images, often taken with a user’s digital camera, may have poor color
balance and contrast. The new, integrated Image Adjustment Lab lets users
professionally adjust image color and tone with a single click. The Image
Adjustment Lab also lets users create snapshots of various adjustments,
making it easy to compare multiple adjustments and choose the best result.
The Image Adjustment Lab provides a before and after preview and image
correction controls.
Enhanced! Corel PHOTO-PAINT Cutout Lab: Built on the power of Corel
KnockOut, the enhanced Cutout Lab includes new controls to simplify the
process of cutting out image areas and to improve accuracy. The new Add
Detail and Remove Detail tools make it easy to refine the cutout area. For
easy reference when defining the cutout area, users can preview their cutout
against the original image, or transparent, white, gray, or black
backgrounds. For maximum flexibility, users can choose to save the cutout
object and discard the original image, save the cutout object and keep the
original image, or save the cutout object as a clip mask added to the
original image. In addition, the Cutout Lab includes Undo and Redo buttons
to quickly correct any mistakes. Original image (top left); highlight and
fill (top middle); preview of different backgrounds (top right); cutout
refined with the Add Detail and Remove Detail tools (bottom left and
middle); and comparison of cutout results – Cutout and original image,
Cutout, and Cutout as clip mask (bottom right).
New! Character Formatting docker: With CorelDRAW X3 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT
X3, the new Character Formatting docker makes formatting artistic and
paragraph text easier than ever before. This convenient new docker includes
easy-to-use controls for changing the angle of selected characters,
adjusting kerning, and applying character effects, such as Underline,
Strike-Through, and Uppercase.
New! Paragraph Formatting docker: The new Paragraph Formatting docker gives
users quick access to common text formatting settings, such as alignment,
word and paragraph spacing, and indents. This dockers simplifies the process
of adjusting the formatting of paragraph text.
Enhanced! Interactive Fit Text to Path tool: With CorelDRAW X3, it’s never
been easier to attach text to a path with precision. The interactive Fit
Text to Path tool lets users simply select text, move their pointer along a
path, and then click to set the text’s position. Users can also easily
control the text’s offset distance from the path. In addition, users can
scale the text after it has been placed on a path by simply selecting both
the text and the path, and dragging one of the handles. Text and curve as
separate objects (top left); choosing a path with Fit Text to Path tool (top
middle); aligning the text while fitting it to the path (top right); text
fitted to path (bottom left); interactive feedback while setting offset
distance (bottom middle); and stretching the text and the curve by 200%
horizontally (bottom right).
Enhanced! Changing the order of objects: Users can easily change the
stacking order of objects on a layer or a page by sending objects to the
front or back, or behind or in front, of other objects. It is also simple to
position objects precisely in the stacking order.
New! Crop tool: A significant time-saver, the new Crop tool quickly lets
users remove unwanted areas in objects and imported graphics — both bitmap
and vector. This handy addition to the toolbox eliminates the need to
ungroup objects, break linked groups apart, or convert objects to curves.
The new Crop tool was used to crop separate objects in one step.
New! Content: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 includes more than 10,000 clipart
and digital images individually selected for the best quality. In addition,
1,000 OpenType fonts and 35 WGL4 fonts are included. Compatibility CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X3 is compatible with many of the tools and devices used by
business users, ensuring that they can easily exchange files with clients
and partners.
Enhanced! Compatibility: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 provides enhanced
compatibility for more than 100 commonly used file formats, including
Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, PhotoShop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, JPEG,
and PDF. Users can now seamlessly edit and exchange files in those formats,
with outstanding support for spot colors.
New! Pixmantec RawShooter essentials: This raw workflow tool provides the
highest-quality output and fastest conversion time of any raw converter on
the market today. For business users who need to work with digital images in
raw format, it gives excellent results with minimum effort.
Enhanced! Color Management: Color management is the process of matching
colors between devices, such as scanners, digital cameras, printers, and
monitors. For CorelDRAW X3 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT X3, the color management
controls have been designed to help users achieve the best possible color
matches without requiring extensive knowledge of color and color systems.
New! Support for password-protected PDF files: CorelDRAW X3 and Corel
PHOTO-PAINT now let users set security options to protect their PDF output.
Users can control whether and to what extent a PDF file can be accessed,
edited, and reproduced. In addition, users can set a password that lets them
control who can access a PDF file.
Enhanced! Publish To PDF: Corel continues to help business users ensure that
their designs are portable with updated Publish To PDF functionality. New
enhancements for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 include full transparency and
spot color support. In addition, users can now convert text in their designs
to curves in the resultant PDF file.
Usability
The user interface in CorelDRAW X3 is now more intuitive, easier to
navigate and more efficient and customizable. This interface and the
features in the three main programs are more compatible, sharing the same
look and feel, letting the user incorporate all three components into
their work without having to learn a new structure for each application.
For example, using the Drop Shadow tool will involve using the same
interface, so users can create drop shadows and change drop shadow
properties in the same fashion in each application. Also, the new color
management approach allows users to access all the color management tool
from the same dialog box.
Interoperability With Other Applications
In CorelDRAW X3, users will find quite a lot of compatibility with file
formats of other applications on the market, a significant feature that
unfortunately is not found in too many of these other programs. Exchanging
files with others who may not be using the same program is a common need
these days. For example, with CorelDRAW X3 users can set up a file in PHOTO-PAINT,
apply special effects from KPT, integrate elements from an AutoCAD drawing, import text from a
word processor, and finish it in
CorelDRAW X3 and
publish it as a Web file. Such popular formats as AutoCAD (.dxf and .dwg)
and Macromedia Flash (.swf) can be created and delivered in this program.
Advanced Web graphics features include Rollovers, Publish as HTML, and the
ability to export to .svg and .swf formats. In addition, the program
supports text in multiple languages in the same text box.
System Features
Integrated within the key components of this powerful program are many
exciting tools and features especially designed for professional graphics
editors and folks heavily involved in creating dynamic Web page graphics
that are now so important in getting and keeping the attention of the viewer.
Be sure
you are certain about this program. This is an enormous package of highly
sophisticated tools for designers with power systems involved in intense graphics editing for either print or online output.
This is a powerful, professional suite of tools that allows a user to pay
close attention to the many details of graphics and image production. With
the many improved time saving measures, the program can end up paying for
itself, once the user becomes proficient with the program.
Minimum System Requirements
600MHz Pentium III processor
Windows 2000, XP Tablet PC, XP
256MB RAM
200MB free hard disk space
1,024 × 768 or better monitor resolution
CD-ROM
NOTE: As you might expect with this high powered graphics editor, the more
RAM and the faster the CPU, the better this program will work. Most all
image editor programs are resource intensive applications that will
severely challenge minimally configured systems. I strongly suggest folks
considering this application seriously consider running this with 256MB RAM and a newer Pentium
IV. In addition, this minimum hard drive
space is based on a typical install, and a user should remember storing
numerous graphics files can easily eat hard drive space.
Price
$399 full price
$179 upgrade price
$359 download full price
$159 download upgrade price
Note: Shop around, as these prices may vary from one vendor to another.
Bottom Line
Over its many years of life, the CorelDRAW graphics suite program has evolved from a loose
collection of graphics utilities with broad appeal, to now involve one
integrated drawing and paint application focused on skilled users. In this
continual process of improvement, CorelDRAW X3 Graphics Suite mixes latest industry
developments with refinements to its already solid features. Fewer mouse
clicks are now required, higher quality output can be produced, and
Internet publishing capabilities have been improved. For the estimated 12
million current owners, upgrading to this newest version is a certainty.
For new users, deciding among Corel's package and Adobe's premier
Illustrator and Photoshop applications has become more difficult.
The PHOTO-PAINT component comes close now to what skilled Photoshop users
have become accustomed to being able to do, but usually only in Adobe's
high end application, and you can now open Photoshop files, with several
layers intact, in Corel's PHOTO-PAINT. PHOTO-PAINT also includes an
extensive array of file import and export filters.
This is a top-notch illustrator program that is now in its industrial
strength version, and is more appropriately targeted for pros and Webheads.
It is not designed for the Crayola creator market and will run very slow
on puny Pentiums.
Corel Corporation
With the introduction of CorelDRAW in 1989, Corel helped to define
computer-generated graphics. Since that time, the company has built a global
reputation for excellence in software innovation and design, earning it the
trust and loyalty of millions of users worldwide. With CorelDRAW Graphics
Suite and WordPerfect Office, Corel continues to provide customers with two
of the world's most recognized software titles.
Understanding that visual images power the communication of ideas,
professional designers, students and business users alike turn to CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite to accelerate their productivity and amplify the impact of
their work. The premiere graphics suite for Windows, it delivers unrivaled
value with three award-winning applications in one box: CorelDRAW for vector
illustration and page layout; Corel PHOTO-PAINT for professional digital
imaging; and Corel R.A.V.E. for motion graphics creation.
Corel's award-winning line of graphics products also includes Corel Painter,
the digital sketching and painting tool of choice for fine artists,
photographers, commercial designers and story-board artists, Corel KnockOut,
the Corel KPT Collection and Corel DESIGNER, a set of precision tools for
creating detailed technical drawings.
WordPerfect Office is Corel's office productivity suite. The company
supports a high number of users worldwide who depend on the unique
capabilities of WordPerfect Office—a feature-rich, value-priced suite that
combines word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and address book
applications. Widely deployed across government departments, legal firms and
small-to medium-sized businesses, WordPerfect Office is compatible with
popular file formats such as Microsoft Office, PDF, HTML and XML - making it
easy for users to share information with their colleagues and clients.
Every day, millions of users depend on Corel software to capture and
communicate their ideas. Although these individuals may have different
priorities, they share a need for powerful, dependable software that enables
them to easily capture and share their ideas with others. Corel is dedicated
to addressing these needs with exceptional software that is responsive,
efficient and enjoyable to use.
With its headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, and regional offices in the United
States, Europe and Australia, Corel works with an established network of
International partners to serve its customers around the globe.
Contact:
Robert MacDonald
Manager Product Training
Corel, Inc.
8144 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 1050
Dallas, Texas 75231
613-728-0826, x1247
Mobile: 613-299-3093
robert.macdonald@corel.com
www.corel.com
To order, call 1-800-772-6735 (Monday-Friday, 9:00am. - 7:00pm EST)
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CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3