February 16th, 2009 Val

One more reminder that registration is open at LVS Online. This only happens five times a year, so take advantage of it while you can!

Classrooms open March 9.

Registration closes March 11.

First lesson posts March 14.

All classes include six weeks of instruction and close to 200 pages of PDFs you can keep for future reference. $25US or $20 for returning students includes lessons, instructor interaction via message board, and free web hosting for assignments. No video, telephone, or microphone needed! (Self study classes for earlier versions $11.25 include PDFs, but no instructor interaction.)

CorelDRAW – Continuing the Adventure (also known as CorelDRAW Continued)
NEWLY UPDATED to include X4!
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=208

This session we’ll have the new CorelDRAW – Continuing the Adventure class that is updated to include version X4. It’s still open to those of you who have taken the v.12 and X3 intro classes, but now the students who have taken both the CorelDRAW X4 intro classes can also benefit from this course. To continue the adventure, we talk a bit about using macros and VBA scripts, data merge, styles, and several other things we didn’t have room for in the intro classes. There’s also an emphasis on using the skills you have learned in new and creative ways.

Introduction to CorelDRAW X4
Part 1
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=269
Part 2
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=277

Written for the complete beginner, between the two parts, we introduce students to the basic tools and dockers of CorelDRAW X4. Our focus is on actually using the tools and we start working on practical projects starting with the fourth week of the Part 1 class. These classes have been completely updated and re-written from the X3 intro class which was already too full. Plan to take both, one each session. There just isn’t enough time or space to introduce even the basics of X4 in only one class. Both parts are prerequisite for the Continuing the Adventure class.

Introduction to CorelDRAW X3
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=186

If you’ve still not updated to X4, but want to learn the basics of X3, we’re here for you! This is a jam packed course full of practical projects covering a broad range of uses for CorelDRAW X3 while introducing all the toolbox tools and many of the basic dockers. If you’ve taken this course and still want more, the CorelDRAW Continued course is your next step. (see above)

There are also self study courses available for CorelDRAW v.9/10/11/and 12 as well as PHOTO-PAINT Basics. Check them out here:
http://www.lvsonline.com/schedule.shtml#self

Our great instructors are also offering great courses on some other Corel software including Painter, PhotoImpact, KPT, and PaintShop Pro. The complete list of courses offered this session is here:
http://www.lvsonline.com/schedule.shtml

Have fun!
Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Continued, CorelDRAW Intro, General LVS info | No Comments »

Updates and Opportunities for CorelDRAW users

February 12th, 2009 Val

Well, since CorelDRAW is now 20 years old, all sorts of good things are happening. In my last post, I told you about the Design contest that will be running through May 31st. That link will get you to a blog on CorelDRAW.com that lists the links for specific details for the contest in several languages.

As another part of the celebration, you can also purchase a special Anniversary Edition of CorelDRAW that includes a Wacom Intuos3 A6 (4×6) pen tablet and the new Corel Painter Sketch Pad software all in the same package. If you need to update to X4 anyway and need a new tablet, this might be the way to go. I use the Intuos A6 myself and enjoy it.

One of those in the know at LVS has also told up that Corel is currently offering free shipping on orders over $99 if you use the coupon code COREL99. I don’t know how long that offer lasts or any more details, but it’s certainly worth a shot at checkout!

I also mentioned in my last post that SP2 is now out for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4. The easy way to find it is to open CorelDRAW to the Welcome Magazine and look on the Updates tab. Click the little Product Updates icon or link. You’ll find a link there for your particular language version. This update will be LARGE (somewhere around 62MB for the English version.) It will update the whole suite, not just CorelDRAW. If you’ve turned off the Welcome Mag, clicking on the Help/Updates menu will also get you to the same place. Of course, you’ll need to have an internet connection running for CorelDRAW to be able to find the update information. If you don’t get the update link through CorelDRAW itself, check the Patches and Updates link at Corel.com.

If you haven’t upgraded to SP1 yet, SP2 includes the SP1 patch so you only need do the one download. :)

Now let me remind you that registration is open at LVS. Starting this session, the CorelDRAW – Continuing the Adventure class is now available for those using CorelDRAW X4 as well as versions 12 and X3. Folks using X4 should take both parts of the Introduction to CorelDRAW class first. Here are the direct links to this session’s CorelDRAW classes:

CorelDRAW X4 Introduction – Part 1

CorelDRAW X4 Introduction – Part 2

CorelDRAW X3 Introduction – (only 1 intro course for X3)

The X3 introduction course or BOTH parts of the X4 Introduction course are required for the NEWLY UPDATED

CorelDRAW – Continuing the Adventure (otherwise known as CorelDRAW Continued)

There are also Self Study courses for those of you using older versions of CorelDRAW. You can find those and other great LVS courses on this page.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Continued, CorelDRAW Intro, General LVS info | No Comments »

Happy 20th Anniversary CorelDRAW!

February 3rd, 2009 Val

It’s hard to believe our favorite software program is 20 years old. They’re celebrating by having a design contest, and one of the six categories is STUDENT so I expect to see some of you posting entries! There are some pretty great prizes being offered, so check it out.

The official contest link, at least for those of us in the USA, is http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1231434231476

Check out the full Corel press release here to get even more information and links.

Or you can check the blog of every CorelDRAW user’s friend at Corel, Gérard Metrailler.

And while I’ve got your attention, let me remind you that SP2 for CorelDRAW X4 is now available. I’ll try to put some more details into the next blog entry, but I’ve gotta run now.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | 1 Comment »

Inspiration

February 2nd, 2009 Val

Funny thing. The Blogging instructor here at LVS has asked for posts about inspiration for a blog carnival. What inspires you? Suddenly everyone seems to be drawing a blank and I know we’re all highly inspired and motivated folks.

For me, most of my design is inspired first by need. The church needs a flyer. LVS needs a new class on CorelDRAW. I need to post something for an assignment. The bloggers need a blog. In the old days, they’d say that was inspiration by duty. :)

From that point, inspiration comes from a multitude of places. The sunshine through the window, the tilt of the dog’s ear, the twinkle in a child’s eye are all inspirational. Many times inspiration flows from a passage of scripture or a bit of music or song.

I love Neil Diamond’s song “Be” from Jonathon Livingston Seagull. It speaks to inspiration for sure.

Be
As a page that aches for a word
Which speaks on a theme that is timeless
While the Sun God will make for your day
Sing
As a song in search of a voice that is silent
And the one God will make for your way

Interestingly, I’d just created this image for the LVS Digital Art Studio when the blogging carnival was announced. It’s taken me this long to figure out that I could actually post it on my CorelDRAW blog.

Be - An Inspiration

Be - An Inspiration

While this blog post isn’t directly about CorelDRAW, it is about using what you’ve got to inspire you. As I’ve been telling my CorelDRAW X4 – Part 2 students, CorelDRAW isn’t just about vectors. There’s a lot that can be done in there with bitmaps. This one could be used as the cover for a compilation of songs, poems, or stories and the whole layout and text done in CorelDRAW. You don’t have to create everything in CorelDRAW from scratch. Use it with your other favorite creative programs to make something truly inspirational.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, General LVS info | 8 Comments »