CorelDraw is a vector-based graphics editor created by the Corel Company in 1989. CorelDraw only runs on the Windows operating system, and it was the first graphics software for Windows. For screen printers, CorelDraw is a useful tool for vectorizing bitmap images. Vectors are the preferred format for screen printers because they are scalable and smoother than bitmap images.
CorelDraw can take a bitmap image and turn it into a vector by tracing it. Beyond its vectorizing capabilities, CorelDraw is a handy graphics editor as well. While it is not as powerful as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, it is easier to use for beginners. Below we’ll introduce you to the most important elements of CorelDraw for screen printers, starting with the menu bar.
-File
+New- In this box you can change the size of the canvas, resolution, and color mode. If the artwork is going to be used online, it should be designed at 72 DPI (Low Resolution) and in the RGB color mode. If the artwork is to be screen printed, it should be designed at 300 DPI (High Resolution) and CMYK. If the artwork is to be digitally printed, it should be designed using the RGB color mode because it can create more colors than CMYK.
+Save As- It is crucial to save the artwork as whatever file type is necessary for its end use. The color mode determines what file format is needed. For example, images displayed on the internet must be saved as a JPEG or PNG. Artwork that is to be printed is typically saved as a PSD, JPEG, EPS, or PDF. PSD files are the source files, which become a backup file (which contains all the separate layers) once you have saved your artwork in its final format.
+Import- Once you have created a new project, click File-Import to load the artwork into CorelDraw. Simply select the file from where it is saved on your computer or external drive and click import. Your cursor will then appear as a right angle tool, the intersection of which will be where the top left-hand corner of the artwork will appear. Click anywhere on the template to place the artwork.
-Edit
+Undo allows you to go back one or multiple steps in case of error or displeasure with changes made to the artwork.
+Redo allows you to return to the previous step before an Undo was performed.
+Cut, Copy, and Paste allow you to copy or remove & copy a selected aspect of the artwork and place it elsewhere in the same file or even a different file.
+Clone and Duplicate both allow you to create an exact replica of the artwork. The only difference between the two is that Clone will place the replica directly over the original artwork and Duplicate will offset the replica by a specified amount.
+Find and Replace can be a useful tool to separate colors (but not full color, which requires a RIP software) in CorelDraw. Make sure you have ungrouped the artwork by right clicking on it and selecting “Ungroup Objects.” The Find & Replace Wizard will do the majority of the work while the user is primarily responsible for choosing the color to be replaced and the color that will replace it.
-View
+Wireframe allows you to see the basic elements of your artwork and is an easy way to confirm if the artwork has been vectorized. When you click Wireframe in the View tab, the selected image will either turn to grayscale if it is a bitmap or change to show just the outlines of the image if it has been vectorized. This will give you an idea of the “frame” of the artwork.
-Object
+Transformations will allow you to move the Position of the artwork, to Rotate the artwork, to Scale and Mirror the artwork, to change the Size of the artwork, and to Skew the artwork. You can also Clear Transformations you have already performed to return the artwork to its original state.
+Group Objects allows you to place selected objects into a combined group so you can make changes to the group as a whole without changing their position relative to one another. You can ungroup the objects once you have finished working on the group.
+Ungroup Objects allows you to separate selected aspects of the artwork so you can remove or edit individual parts without affecting the artwork as a whole.
+Ungroup All Objects allows you to separate all the artwork so you can remove or edit individual parts without the affecting the artwork as a whole.
+Convert to Curves allows you to turn Text into curves, which in turn allows you to customize the shape of the text.
-Bitmaps is a very important tab because it contains the Trace elements, which allow you to convert bitmap images to vectors.
+Quick Trace is the instant method for vectorizing a bitmap that offers you no control over the process. Quick Trace is best used for simple, line-oriented logos and images that should convert rather easily.
+Outline Trace offers far more options based on the type of image being vectorized: Line Art, Logo, Detailed Logo, Clipart, Low Quality Image, and High Quality Image. Once you have selected a preset option, you can customize the trace by changing its Detail, Smoothing, and Corner Smoothness. You can also choose to delete the original image or remove the background color.
Once you have mastered the menu bar, the next important aspect to get a grasp of is the Toolbox, which typically runs vertically on the left hand side of the project. There are many fun and useful tools to enable you to customize the artwork in almost any way imaginable.
-Pick allows you to select any object in the artwork (or the artwork as a whole if it has been grouped) in order to move it or change it in some way.
-Freehand Pick allows you to draw around the object that you want to change in order to select it.
-Shape allows you to edit a curved object or text character by moving around the nodes. You can also apply all sorts of fun effects to the curved object or text character: Smooth, Smear, Twirl, Attract, Repel, Smudge, and Roughen.
-Crop allows you to select a rectangular area of the artwork and cut off anything left outside of the selected area.
-Eraser is a useful tool within crop that will delete anything it passes over when you are holding the left button on the mouse down. You can even double-click on one point and then click on another point, and it will erase anything between the two points in the selected object.
-The Freehand Tool allows you to draw curves and straight line segments in various ways. You can adjust the thickness of the lines, how the line will appear (straight, dashes, dots), and how the ends will appear (arrows or other shapes). You can create these lines and curves several different ways:
+Freehand allows you to use the cursor like a pen to draw on the artwork.
+2-Point Line allows you to create a straight line by clicking (where the line will begin) and dragging to the end point of the line.
+Bezier allows you to draw connected curves one segment at a time by clicking a starting point and then clicking the endpoint of the curve. Without releasing your click on the endpoint you can move the cursor around to change the shape of the curve. Next, click elsewhere to create a new curve endpoint and a new curve will spring up from the original curve’s endpoint.
+3-Point Curve is the easiest tool for creating a curve. Click and drag the cursor to form a line, and when you release the click you will be able to adjust the curve of the line simply by moving the cursor around the screen. Once satisfied with your curve, click once more to finalize it.
+Rectangle and Ellipse allow you to create those shapes by clicking a single spot on the artwork and dragging to the desired size and shape. Both have 3-point options as well, which allow you click in one point initially and then click another point to form a line. Once you have formed the line, you can move the cursor about the screen to form the shape based on the initial line you drew.
+Polygon allows you to create shapes with 5 or more sides by clicking a starting point and dragging until the shape is the desired size. You can input the amount of sides just below the menu bar on top of the project page. Under the Polygon tool are all kinds of options for creating other shapes like stars, crosses, trapezoids, and more.
+Color Eyedropper allows you to select any color in the artwork and save it to apply to other objects. Simply click the Color Eyedropper cursor on the desired color and the “Selected Color” will appear just under the menu bar on top of the project screen.
+The Interactive Fill Tool allows you to fill an object in the artwork with one solid color. Click on the object to be filled and then click the color box just below the menu bar above the project. You can select the color from the color range or use the Eyedropper Tool to select another color in the artwork.
+The Smart Fill Tool allows you to fill in overlapped areas of two objects without filling in the individual objects completely. It operates just like the Interactive Fill Tool.
