Graphic Design With CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4

DESIGN PACKAGE: A box shot of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 and three reference and tutorial books that are included with the software. (Joshua Philip/The Epoch Times)

Although it is often overshadowed by Adobe’s software suites, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 has some great features and an easy-to-use workspace that make it a strong contender in the design software market.

You could compare CorelDRAW to Adobe’s Illustrator and InDesign, as it does both vector graphics and page layout, just as you could compare CorelPhoto-Paint to Adobe Photoshop, yet such comparisons would not be completely accurate or fair, as there are many differences between these programs.

However, it’s the sheer simplicity of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 that has won it a rather dedicated following, and with good reason—it really feels like the software is working with you. This aspect of the program will certainly appeal to inexperienced users, as it should not take long to learn the software suite, but even professional users are sure to enjoy the friendly environment the suite has to offer.

Keeping it Simple

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 really has a lot to offer, and it comes with just about every tutorial and reference material a user could want.

The software includes CorelDRAW X4, a vector drawing and page layout tool; Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4, for image editing; and several other minor tools.

It also includes more than 1,000 fonts, 10,000 clip art images, 1,000 high resolution photos, and 80 templates. These are great to have on hand, and cover most of the basic needs of professional designers.

The program also comes with a handy reference book that contains images and reference numbers for all the fonts, images, and templates. The idea behind this is that you could, for example, offer it to a client so they could choose which graphics they might want to include in a Web site.

The package also has a more than 450-page user manual complete with walkthroughs of the suite’s different tools, a keyboard shortcut reference sheet, tutorial videos, and a small handbook with tips and tricks from professional designers around the world.

Through Corel’s Web site you also have access to a whole library of tutorials, videos, and other materials, as well as the Corel online community.

Most importantly, the software is simple and easy to use. The tools are rather straight forward and if you can’t figure them out, the live “Hints” tab tells you what it does, or you can consult the other tutorials available.

Streamlining the Workflow

Aside from its main functions in vector drawing, page layout, and image editing—all of which work very well—the software also has some unique perks.

One of them is Corel ConceptShare which is a brilliant edition to the package. This allows you to upload a project to the Web where multiple people can then review it and make notes in real time.

Let’s say, for instance, you were designing a brochure for a restaurant in another city. You can upload your project to ConceptShare, and the client can view it on the ConceptShare Web site and assess your work. They can then make notes on what they like and what needs revision, and you can continue the project making the necessary changes without an in-person meeting.

Although there are paid subscription plans, there is also a free plan offering three workspaces so that you can have more than one project going at a time.

Another tool offered by CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 is integration with the WhatTheFont Web site. A screen capture tool lets you take an image of any font, which can then be identified through the Web site.

This comes in handy if, for example, you wanted to use the same font you found on a Web site, or if a client wants a specific font from a brochure they like.

In a Few Words

Although Corel’s design software suite doesn’t include all the features you would find in Adobe’s design suite, the user-friendly environment Corel offers makes this a worthy contender. The software also has a reasonable price of $429, which is less than what you would pay for just a single aspect of Adobe’s design suite, such as Illustrator CS4 which goes for $599.

Some graphic designers swear by CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4, while others stick strongly to Adobe’s software. Some users, like myself, prefer to have both. In the end, it really comes down to a matter of personal preference and what you plan to do with the software.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4’s focus is on streamlining workflow and making the process as smooth and simple as possible.  It does this wonderfully.

[etDetailsBox Score Card]
Effectiveness:B+
Interface:A
Usability:A+
Installation:A
Overall:A
[/etDetailsBox]

Price: $429
Website: www.corel.com