CorelDRAW Graphic Suite

An updated and reliable classic

Talking about CorelDraw for me is like talking about my first girlfriend. I had just begun to wet my feet in the ocean of desktop publishing, and one of the first pieces of software that I tested was this suite by the Canadian company. Michael Copeland was still CEO and the Corel graphic suite was very familiar among PC users. CorelDRAW, the flagship software, had a pleasant graphic interface and did not require special knowledge thanks to a degree of user-friendliness that few programs had back then.
Over the years, the CorelDraw Graphics Suite has evolved, maturing enormously, and last summer Corel introduced another edition, presenting versions for Mac and PC. Version 11 contains three major applications: CorelDraw, a premier illustration program; Corel Photo-Paint, a competent image editor; and Corel R.A.V.E (Rave), a basic Web-graphics-animation program.
Actually, there's not much new in comparison to the previous version, but a few enhancements and some new tools deserve special mention. One of the most interesting features is the optimization of the software for Windows XP and Mac OS X.
The suite also presents tighter integration between the different applications, allowing better interaction in transferring objects among Draw, Photo-Paint and R.A.V.E.
As mentioned, the suite includes three different applications. CorelDRAW 11 is a graphic design and page layout application that provides powerful creativity features, a wide range of object creation tools, innovative effects, comprehensive text-handling capabilities, such as the new ability to convert paragraph text to curves, and high-quality output features. New features include symbols, Smudge and Roughen brushes, 3-point drawing tools, Polyline and Pen tools, as well as enhanced Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) support, allowing CorelDRAW 11 to set the standard for efficient, intuitive graphic design. For the designer who values a smooth workflow, CorelDRAW 11 is an invaluable tool for creating graphics, logos, layouts, and more for print and for the Web.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT 11 provides complete image editing, letting you retouch and manipulate photographs quickly and easily. The application features a new Cutout tool, new image slicing, new rollovers, enhanced image stitching, as well as enhanced effects for lighting, bevels, and lens flares.
Corel R.A.V.E. 2 is an easy-to-use program for creating Web graphics and Macromedia Flash animations. Featuring new symbols, support for sprites, enhanced behaviour support, as well as the new ability to animate 3D vector extrusions, text on a path, and Perfect Shapes(tm), Corel R.A.V.E. 2 is a non-professional solution for animating graphics for Macromedia Flash movies and the Web.
CorelDRAW's strong point remains its intuitive interface, well suited also to amateurs. The new tools introduced, like the Smudge and Roughen brushes, do not seem particularly exciting or revolutionary, but overall they enhance the capabilities of an already interesting product. Worthy of praise if how Corel simplified the suite colour management system, including predefined profiles for common output jobs such as press or Web, now accessible and modifiable through truly explicative graphics. Unfortunately there is no support for Open Fonts.
Some trouble comes from Photo-Paint; despite having a remarkable set of tools, filters, etc., ideally suited for photo retouching, it lacks speed. The version we tested, for Mac OS X, the application proved quite slow compared with competing products. Differently from CorelDRAW, which lacks nothing to be used also in professional circles, Photo-Paint is more suited especially for consumer-oriented projects such as photo retouching and quick and easy special effects. R.A.V.E., on the other hand, is an easier solution to learn and use compared to Flash. Of course the program is less sophisticated, but the final results can produce surprising output.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11 also includes a number of supporting utilities: ScanSoft OmniPage SE, which allows text in scanned images to be recognized and made editable; Bitstream Font Navigator(PC) or Font Reserve (Mac) to manage fonts easily; CorelTRACE 11 that allows you to trace bitmaps to convert them to vector images; Corel CAPTURE 11 (Windows only) - allows you to capture on-screen computer images and record on-screen actions as animation files. As usual, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11 includes illustrated and detailed user guides for the suite's applications, as well as a new lay-flat digital content manual that compiles the clipart, photographs, floating objects, and fonts found in the suite, a useful bonus that no other application offers.
Overall the package, regardless of some aspects of interest for a professional market, is more suited for consumer-oriented environments.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11 is available for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $529 US ($249 Upgrade).

For more information visit: www.corel.com

Publication Date: 2002-09-29
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1788