Create Borders in CorelDRAW

May 29th, 2009 Val

Someone in the Yahoo CorelDRAWbeginnersgroup asked this question:

Hi..silly question I’m sure but how do you create a border? I’m use to Omega software for designing vinyl cut signs. There’s a border icon in this program…

It was such a good question, I thought I’d post the answer here as well, along with a few illustrations that the Yahoo group doesn’t allow.

Rectangular Borders

There really isn’t a “border” button in CorelDRAW. There’s a lot more versatility, but you’ll have to work only a little harder to get what you want. Part of what you do will depend on what sort of border you want, and around what.

Basic rectangular borders

A Page sized border

If all you need is a basic rectangular shape, the Rectangle tool is all you need – even for rounded corners. To draw a page sized rectangle, simply double click the Rectangle tool. At that point a page sized border is automatically drawn in your default object settings for outline and fill. Simply change the outline and fill properties to what you would like them to be.

A Border somewhere inside the page

For a border that is smaller than the page but set out from the objects it surrounds, choose the rectangle tool and draw your border the size and place you want it. At that point, switch to the Shape tool and you’ll see nodes on the rectangle corners that can be dragged in to round the corners. You can also set the size and roundness in the property bar(probably just above your work area and ruler). Set color and outline thickness either from the property bar or from double clicking the Outline swatch in the Status Bar (probably at the bottom right of the work area) or by selecting the outline properties icon from the toolbox. (Simply right click on an onscreen color well to set outline color if you have the right palette showing.)

Ok, that’s the simple answer, harder to describe than the two seconds it takes to draw the borders, but there’s much more to rectangular borders than that.

Borders tight around an object or group

If you want to draw a rectangle tightly around a single object or group of objects, select the object or group, then Shift double click to automatically create a rectangular border right around them. Then set the outline color, width, style, and corner roundness as you wish.

Getting Fancy

If you set the rectangle where you want the border, but want something fancier than a solid border, you can set outline properties for dashes or dotted lines. The one below was done with a dashed style, but with rounded corners and line caps and the Calligraphy set to a 54% Stretch and an Angle of -34 degrees in the Outline Pen dialog to get the slanted dashes.

You can also select the rectangle, convert to curves, switch to an Artistic
Media brush, then change to another brush without unselecting the rectangle.

Don’t ask me why the first brush doesn’t take. You can create all sorts of
borders that way, using any of the Artistic Media tools. Just remember that these tools tend to be a bit flaky, so save your work before you attempt using them and then experiment until you get something you like.

Not so rectangular borders

Using the Fillet/Scallop/Chamfer Docker

If you are using one of the later versions of CorelDRAW, you can use the Fillet, Scallop, Chamfer docker to create interesting corners. Your rectangle will need to be converted to curves to use this tool, but the tool will offer to do the conversion for you if you don’t get it done ahead of time.

The Create Boundary Effect

Let’s say you want a tight outline around an irregular group of objects. Select the objects the go to the Effects menu and choose Create Boundary. A new object will be created along the exterior paths of all your selected objects. Note that it is drawn along the PATH of the object, not the outside of any outline. In the image below, the green line is the new boundary object. Since the scalloped outline from the above image was so thick, it shows on either side of the boundary.

More Options

You can also draw your own borders using blends or the Artistic Media spray can tool. Finally, there are gobs of clipart included with the extras, including a Borders folder with LOTS of various types of artistic borders. Import one of them onto the page, adjust to the size you want, then, with it selected, tap the P key to center it on the page if appropriate.

Hope that gets you started! Use your own creativity and combine techniques to create the borders you need for your creations. Let me know how it goes.
Have fun!
Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, General LVS info | 2 Comments »

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 »

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.

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 »

Attention LVS Students!

September 30th, 2008 Val

Tell us who you are and which class(es) you are enrolled in. Feel free to add comments to let us know how LVS has affected your life. You don’t even have to have taken a CorelDRAW class to post.

We love hearing from you! Thanks for sharing with LVS staff, fellow LVS students and our blog visitors!

If you’d like to view other student’s experiences at LVS Online Classes, visit the main LVS Blog and click the Blogroll links.

Don’t forget to register for the November session.
Have fun!
Val P.

Posted in General LVS info | 14 Comments »