Hello. I hope now that you have an idea as to what CorelDraw really is and can do (refer to the post Getting Started With CorelDraw), its time to get familiar with it. Well as mentioned earlier in my posts, I have CorelDraw X5 installed on my machine and will be using it as a reference for my future posts too. If you are using the X4 or X3 version, nothing much has changed w.r.t the interface, apart for some added features which makes things simpler. None the less, i'll do my best and write posts keeping in mind all the users.
So lets get started.
Installation
Well the installation is pretty straight forward for both mac and windows users. Step by step guide with clearly marked explanation will get you through. Incase, any of you have issues with the installation please feel free to get back and i'll surely help sort things out.
CorelDraw Start up Screen
This is the typical screenshot when your start your application for the first time. (*it may vary as per the version you are using).
Welcome screen
When you start CorelDraw for the first time this is what your opening/welcome screen would look like.
A -- This screen shows you the thumbnail preview of your recently saved files when you mouse over on a file in window pane C (Open Recent) (Note: This section may not be visible for the first time simply because you haven't saved anything yet.)
B -- This section of the opening screen gives you information about the document under consideration. It shows the file name, date on which it was last saved, location of the file and its size. (Note: This section may not be visible for the first time simply because you haven't saved anything yet.)
C -- This section of the opening window displays the names of the five most recently saved files. (Note: This section may not be visible for the first time simply because you haven't saved anything yet.).
The Open other... button at the bottom allows you to browse through your files saved in some location of your computer.
D -- This section here contains a few more options. If you want to keep this selection of the Welcome Screen as the default opening screen then leave the Make this the default Welcome screen page checkbox ticked. Else uncheck if you do not. You can choose any tab from the right hands side i.e. What's new, Gallery etc.. to be your default Welcome screen.
If you want to see this Welcome screen every time you open CorelDraw the leave the Always show the Welcome screen at lauch checkbox ticked. Else uncheck if you don not want to see this every time you start CorelDraw. I would recommend leaving it ticked as its always good to see what recent files you have worked upon.
To the right most is a message display section. Whenever Corel updates features for CorelDraw it will show you its status there.
E -- This section right here allows you to create a new blank document (New blank document) or create from a template (New from template), some of which CorelDraw has already provided to begin with. You can also create your own templates and use them, which I'll explain in a later post.
Lets take a closer look at both of them
NEW BLANK DOCUMENT
When you click on the New blank document it pops up a screen.
Name: Specify a name for your document. By default it shows Untitled-1. If you forget to name your file here, then don't worry when you quit or select save from the file option it will ask you to do so anyways.
Preset destination: CorelDraw gives you some predefined presets for your document i.e. you could choose to set default settings for your output file. If for e.g. you want to create a graphic for the web, choose the web preset from the drop down, it will automatically set the other settings too for you. You could create your own presets too, by defining the other settings and clicking the save icon next to preset destination drop down box.
Size: Choose from a wide range of default sizes. So if you are creating a business card, an envelope, a print document, a banner, web page, etc. you can select right from the options.
Width: Automatically displays the width when you choose a given size from the Size drop down. But you can enter your own size too. Simply click on the up and down arrows at the right side of the size, or enter a size directly from your keyboard. Currently you can see that the dimensions are given in inches. Well you can certainly choose a different measuring unit i.e. pixels, millimeters, picas, feet , miles yards and a lot others.
Height: Automatically displays the width when you choose a given size from the Size drop down. But you can enter your own size too. Simply click on the up and down arrows at the right side of the size, or enter a size directly from your keyboard. Currently you can see that the dimensions are given in inches. Well you can certainly choose a different measuring unit i.e. pixels, millimeters, picas, feet , miles yards and a lot others. You could also change the orientation of the file to landscape or portrait, by clicking on the appropriate button on the side.
Primary color mode: You can choose your primary color mode i.e. either RGB(red, blue, green) or CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). The color mode primarily defines how the colors will blend together when used in effects such as blends, transparencies, fills etc.
Rendering resolution: Set the resolution level for your graphic. Set vales are 72, 96, 100, 150, 200, 300 dpi (dots per inch). It is a measuring unit that determines how the effects such as blends, fills, etc. will be rasterized. In simple terms the higher the dpi value the clearer the effects, but also increases the file size.
Preview mode: You can choose how to view your file from a given set of options. You could very well keep switching between them, from within the Corel workspace too.For e.g. if you choose simple wireframe, or wierframe it shows you only the lines and curves used to build the graphic, it hides all other details.
Color Settings
This is a rather an advanced topic which I believe will not be appropriate to make comment on right away. So for all those who have no idea what these settings are, I would recommend simply leave them at their default values.
Description
It gives you a brief description of each of the settings.
If you do not want this dialog box for new document to open everytime then simply check the box below, Do not show this dialog again. Do not worry if you have you checked it by mistake. You can get this back again from the workspace.
i.e. Tools -> Option -> Workspace (expand) -> General, on the right side under getting started you'll see the option Show new document dialog box. Simply check that.
NEW FROM TEMPLATE
This is the dialog box that appears when you intend to choose a template to begin with. Corel provides you with some pre defined templates to choose from. But you can create you own.
F -- A series of tabs are found on the right most side. By default you are on the Quick start tab.
What' s New tab lists out the various new features that are included in this version of CorelDraw.
Learning Tool's is a handy guide for all the new users to get started.
Gallery shows some work of art created by expert users.
Updates tab list the updates available from Corel.
Watch out for my next post on Getting Familiar With CorelDraw Environment - (Default) Workspace
So lets get started.
Installation
Well the installation is pretty straight forward for both mac and windows users. Step by step guide with clearly marked explanation will get you through. Incase, any of you have issues with the installation please feel free to get back and i'll surely help sort things out.
CorelDraw Start up Screen
This is the typical screenshot when your start your application for the first time. (*it may vary as per the version you are using).
Welcome screen
When you start CorelDraw for the first time this is what your opening/welcome screen would look like.
B -- This section of the opening screen gives you information about the document under consideration. It shows the file name, date on which it was last saved, location of the file and its size. (Note: This section may not be visible for the first time simply because you haven't saved anything yet.)
C -- This section of the opening window displays the names of the five most recently saved files. (Note: This section may not be visible for the first time simply because you haven't saved anything yet.).
The Open other... button at the bottom allows you to browse through your files saved in some location of your computer.
D -- This section here contains a few more options. If you want to keep this selection of the Welcome Screen as the default opening screen then leave the Make this the default Welcome screen page checkbox ticked. Else uncheck if you do not. You can choose any tab from the right hands side i.e. What's new, Gallery etc.. to be your default Welcome screen.
If you want to see this Welcome screen every time you open CorelDraw the leave the Always show the Welcome screen at lauch checkbox ticked. Else uncheck if you don not want to see this every time you start CorelDraw. I would recommend leaving it ticked as its always good to see what recent files you have worked upon.
To the right most is a message display section. Whenever Corel updates features for CorelDraw it will show you its status there.
E -- This section right here allows you to create a new blank document (New blank document) or create from a template (New from template), some of which CorelDraw has already provided to begin with. You can also create your own templates and use them, which I'll explain in a later post.
Lets take a closer look at both of them
NEW BLANK DOCUMENT
When you click on the New blank document it pops up a screen.
Preset destination: CorelDraw gives you some predefined presets for your document i.e. you could choose to set default settings for your output file. If for e.g. you want to create a graphic for the web, choose the web preset from the drop down, it will automatically set the other settings too for you. You could create your own presets too, by defining the other settings and clicking the save icon next to preset destination drop down box.
Size: Choose from a wide range of default sizes. So if you are creating a business card, an envelope, a print document, a banner, web page, etc. you can select right from the options.
Width: Automatically displays the width when you choose a given size from the Size drop down. But you can enter your own size too. Simply click on the up and down arrows at the right side of the size, or enter a size directly from your keyboard. Currently you can see that the dimensions are given in inches. Well you can certainly choose a different measuring unit i.e. pixels, millimeters, picas, feet , miles yards and a lot others.
Height: Automatically displays the width when you choose a given size from the Size drop down. But you can enter your own size too. Simply click on the up and down arrows at the right side of the size, or enter a size directly from your keyboard. Currently you can see that the dimensions are given in inches. Well you can certainly choose a different measuring unit i.e. pixels, millimeters, picas, feet , miles yards and a lot others. You could also change the orientation of the file to landscape or portrait, by clicking on the appropriate button on the side.
Primary color mode: You can choose your primary color mode i.e. either RGB(red, blue, green) or CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). The color mode primarily defines how the colors will blend together when used in effects such as blends, transparencies, fills etc.
Rendering resolution: Set the resolution level for your graphic. Set vales are 72, 96, 100, 150, 200, 300 dpi (dots per inch). It is a measuring unit that determines how the effects such as blends, fills, etc. will be rasterized. In simple terms the higher the dpi value the clearer the effects, but also increases the file size.
Preview mode: You can choose how to view your file from a given set of options. You could very well keep switching between them, from within the Corel workspace too.For e.g. if you choose simple wireframe, or wierframe it shows you only the lines and curves used to build the graphic, it hides all other details.
Color Settings
This is a rather an advanced topic which I believe will not be appropriate to make comment on right away. So for all those who have no idea what these settings are, I would recommend simply leave them at their default values.
Description
It gives you a brief description of each of the settings.
If you do not want this dialog box for new document to open everytime then simply check the box below, Do not show this dialog again. Do not worry if you have you checked it by mistake. You can get this back again from the workspace.
i.e. Tools -> Option -> Workspace (expand) -> General, on the right side under getting started you'll see the option Show new document dialog box. Simply check that.
NEW FROM TEMPLATE
This is the dialog box that appears when you intend to choose a template to begin with. Corel provides you with some pre defined templates to choose from. But you can create you own.
F -- A series of tabs are found on the right most side. By default you are on the Quick start tab.
What' s New tab lists out the various new features that are included in this version of CorelDraw.
Learning Tool's is a handy guide for all the new users to get started.
Gallery shows some work of art created by expert users.
Updates tab list the updates available from Corel.
Watch out for my next post on Getting Familiar With CorelDraw Environment - (Default) Workspace
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