CorelDraw Basics

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What is the CorelDraw?
CorelDraw is a vector graphics editor which is comparable to Adobe Illustrator. The
program offers many features and special effects that allow users to create designs to fit
many different needs. In Main Library’s makerspace, TechZone@Main, library patrons
use CorelDraw to create banner designs, t-shirt designs, laser engravable projects, and
much more.
CorelDraw 2019 Start Screen

The start screen will allow users to

choose a blank new document, or
tutorials, and pre-designed templates
for new and also experienced creators.

Once you click new document, a pop

up screen will appear that allows you to
name your new design, choose a page
size, choose the number of pages, and
also choose a resolution for your
design.

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 CorelDraw Workspace

Window Components
A – Menu Bar The area containing Pull-down options and commands.
You can customize this or any other Toolbar or create additional
B - Standard Toolbar
Toolbars. But it stays the same unless you change it.
The Property Bar is dynamic. Property options change depending
C - Property Bar on what tool you are using. This enables you to access commands
that are specific to the current tool or feature you are using.
D - Main Tool Box The main tools you will use are accessed from this bar.
The Page Selector is used to add and move between pages.
E - Page Navigator When a file contains multiple pages, individual page tabs appear to
the right of the Page Selector bar.
Contains information about object properties such as type, size,
F - Status Bar color, fill and resolution. The status bar also shows the current
mouse position.
The Color Palette by default is located to the right of the work
G - Color Palette
window. Like the Toolbars, it can also be relocated.
Dockers allow access to effects, styles, colors, and many other
H - Docker Tabs
features of CorelDRAW.
Drawing area you will use to create your design. Size is
I – Workspace
adjustable. It is the printable area of your work area.

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Tool Overview

Pick tool

Shape edit tool (F10)

Crop tool (Z)

Zoom tool

Freehand draw tool (F5)

Smart fill tool

Rectangle tool (F6)

Ellipse tool (F7)

Polygon tool (Y)

Text tool (F8)

Parallel dimension tool

Straight line connector tool

Drop shadow tool

Transparency tool

Eyedropper tool

Interactive fill tool (G)

Outline pen tool (F12)

Edit Fill

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Pick Tool Selects objects or groups of objects and transform objects. Once
selected, you can use the Pick Tool of move, stretch, scale, rotate,
and skew objects.
Shape Tool (F10) Reshapes objects. Objects are reshaped by moving nodes, lines,
and control points. Edit a curve, object or text character by moving
nodes.
Crop Tool (Z)
Crop tool allows you to select an area of an image and discard
everything outside this area.

Zoom Tool
Changes the current view of the drawing. You can also select
magnification options from the Property Bar in the Zoom mode.

Freehand Tool (F5)

Draws lines and curves. You can also use this tool to trace
bitmaps.

Smart Fill Tool Creates objects from overlapping areas and applies a fill to those
areas.
Rectangle Tool (F6)
Draws rectangles and squares. Squares are created by using the
Control key while drawing.

Ellipse Tool (F7)

Draws ellipses and circles. Circles are created by holding down
the Control key as you draw.

Polygon Tool (Y) A collection of objects which you can add to your drawing. They
include such things as arrows, stars, talk bubbles, and flow chart
symbols.
Text Tool (F8)
Adds either Artistic or Paragraph text to your drawing.

The Dimension tool creates size labels. The sizes are

Parallel Dimension
automatically calculated and represent the size of the objects in
Tool
CorelDRAW, it is not possible to enter sizes yourself. Different
tools exist for horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines, you can
choose them from the property bar.
Straight Line
Connector Tool Combining two objects with a line.

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Drop Shadow Tool
Apply shadows behind or below objects. Access contour, blend,
distort, envelope and extrude tools.

Transparency Tool
Partially reveal image areas underneath the object. Apply a
transparent effect to an object.

Eyedropper Tool The Eyedropper Tool allows you to select a color within an object,
especially a bitmap, and allows you to apply that color to another
object. You can also capture the color for a customized palette.
Interactive Fill Tool
(G) Allows you to apply Fountain fills (gradients) using the mouse.

Outline Pen Tool

Sets the outline style of an object or a line. This includes the line
(F12)
type, ends, color, and weight. The flyout gives quick access to
some changes.

Edit Fill Tool

Change properties of current fill.

Class Outline
 Inserting Text
o Text Properties

o Slanting Text

o Alignment

 Creating Shapes

o Aligning Shapes

o Outlining

o Fill Color

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 Page Background

 Keyboard Shortcuts

 Inserting a Picture

o Resizing a Picture

o Cropping Pictures

o Tracing a Bitmap

o Resampling

o Powerclipping

 Grouping Objects

 Locking an Object

 Transparency

 Converting to Curves

 Exporting to different file types

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