CorelDRAW Classes at LVS – Register now!

December 28th, 2008 Val

Hi y’all!
It’s time once again to shamelessly promote the CorelDRAW classes at
LVS “where learning is fun!”. There are no new classes this session, but some of you may have
gotten CorelDRAW X4 for Christmas and would like a brush-up on the new
software. Classrooms open January 5 and Registration ends January 7,
so sign up now!

You can find the class information here:

CorelDRAW X4 Intro – Part 1
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=269

CorleDRAW X4 Intro – Part 2
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=277

For those of you with older versions, we’ve still got most of you covered.

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

CorelDRAW Continued (v.12 and X3)
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=208

CorelDRAW 12 Intro (Self Study)
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=160

and, not by yours truly
CorelDRAW 9/10/11 (Self Study)
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=2

Also, there is a FREE Intro to Windows
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=68
and a FREE Intro to Vista class
http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=255
both designed for the first time computer user, but I guarantee even
long-time Windows users will learn something in the first two lessons
or your money back!

Have fun!
Val P.
http://lvsassociates.com

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Continued, CorelDRAW Intro | 1 Comment »

Home and Student Edition of CorelDRAW X4 $99

November 24th, 2008 Val

If you’re looking for a great Christmas present for your favorite young graphic artist, check out the new CorelDRAW X4 Home and Student Edition for just $99 US. I just had a nice email chat with some folks at Corel – Gérard and John – to get my facts straight.

I believe this version is only available from certain large retailers in North America, but if you are here, it’s a bargain. You get a full working copy of CorelDRAW Graphics suite. The clipart and fonts have been pared down considerably, and there’s no paper manual, but at least for right now, VBA is enabled. Not only that, but you get a license to use the software on up to three computers.

What’s the catch? This version is just what it says. It’s meant for home and student use, so you can’t use it to create commercial artwork. Don’t think you’re going to grab it for cheap and use it in your print shop.

Let me clarify the differences between the Home and Student Edition and the Academic Version. Both contain the full program – at least at the moment. (Corel says they reserve the right to change their minds on that later, so get it now before they change their minds!) Neither one includes paper manuals. The manuals are included in PDF form on the disc, though. Neither one can be used for commercial purposes. The Academic version includes all the extras on the DVD and can only be used on one computer at a time. (The licensing for all those extras makes it more expensive.) The Home and Student edition has a more limited number of clipart, photos, and fonts. H&S can, however, be used on up to three computers in the same household so Sister, Brother, and Mom can all use it at the same time if they’ve all got computers powerful enough to run it. The Academic version is supposed to require proof that you are a student at an approved institution. The H&S version can be bought off the shelf no questions asked.

I applaud Corel for creating this version! I’ve used CorelDRAW for years at home to create all sorts of non-commercial products. It’s a wonderful program for students to use to create posters, flyers, newsletters cards, and even reports and presentations. Also, if students are learning to use CorelDRAW in the home, more folks will be interested in using it at work in the future.

I recommend checking the System Requirements for CorelDRAW X4 against your computer. X4 will run on Windows XP and Vista, but it needs a lot of RAM and a lot of video resources and a lot of hard drive space. I just don’t want you to go out and get a program you may not be able to use. Here are the requirements as listed on the Corel website. I’d say these are the absolute minimum and if you’ve got Vista, you need at least a GIG of RAM or three.

  • Windows Vista® (32-bit or 64-bit editions) or Windows® XP (with Service Pack 2 or later)
  • 512 MB of RAM, 430 MB of hard disk space
  • Pentium® III, 800 MHz processor or AMD Athlon™ XP
  • 1,024 × 768 or better monitor resolution
  • DVD drive
  • Mouse or tablet

Remember, if someone you know gets CorelDRAW for Christmas, send them my way to learn to use the program!

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | 2 Comments »

Good deal on CorelDRAW

October 23rd, 2008 Val

Just in my email box today, Corel is offering the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 Upgrade edition for the usual $199.00 US, in the Box (same price as the much shrunken download) with all the books PLUS Free Shipping PLUS the first 100 orders get a free copy of the CorelDRAW X4 Unleashed e-book on DVD. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade, this might be a good time.

And if you ARE upgrading, you might want to take my new Intro to CorelDRAW X4 Part 1 and Part 2 classes – one at a time, of course!

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

CorelDRAW X4 “The Official Guide” arrives on my doorstep

October 3rd, 2008 Val

Many thanks to the good folks at Corel corporation for sending me a copy of the recently released CorelDRAW X4, The Official Guide by Gary David Bouton. It just arrived a few minutes ago, so obviously this isn’t a full review. Hopefully I’ll get some time in the near future to go over the book more fully.

As with the Official Guide for version 12, there are only a few pages of color images, and they are completely new images demonstrating color models and how different combinations of effects can be used effectively on finished projects.

Just thumbing through the 800+ page book, it looks like Mr. Bouton has given a LOT of thought into not only how the various tools work, but how they can be used in the real world by real people, not just in simple exercises that don’t apply outside the computer screen. While the graphics and screen shots are in black and white except for those few color pages, there are a lot of them.

The basic outline is pretty much the same as the version 12 book, but everything has been redone and much seems to have been added, and not just added coverage of the new tools in X4. I’m looking forward to spending some time with this volume.

The book is available from Amazon, Corel, or your favorite bookseller. It should also be available soon through an LVS link. I’ve seen prices from just over $25 US to just under $50, so look around for the best deal.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | 4 Comments »

Corel offers FREE shipping on Academic software

October 1st, 2008 Val

Hi folks! A lot of folks go for the download version of software just to avoid the shipping costs. If you’re eligible for an academic version, and all LVS students are, so long as they’re not using it commercially, it may be time to go for a new version. You’ll get a lot of goodies on the disc versions that don’t come with the download.

Right now Corel is offering free shipping on Corel Painter and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite educational versions. Simply enter the Coupon Code FREESHIPPING in the shopping cart area. I’m sure this is a limited time offer, and not sure when it will expire, so now is the time!

And don’t forget to sign up for the November session at LVS to learn how to use your new software!

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | 3 Comments »

Register now for CorelDRAW Classes!

September 29th, 2008 Val

Time has flown and registration is now open for the November session at LVS. The current session has been great with wonderful participation by the students who have been producing some incredible work in the early weeks of the Introductory classes. Here’s the information about the upcoming session.

    Classrooms open Oct. 27, 2008
    Registration closes Oct. 29, 2008
    First lesson posts Nov. 1, 2008

For those of you using CorelDRAW X3 or X4, I am teaching introductory classes in those versions. The X3 Intro class is one single six week class. The X4 Intro is two classes, Part 1 and Part 2. Be sure you take Part 1 before you take Part 2!

There are also self study introductory classes in Version 12 and another for previous versions.

CorelDRAW X3 Intro

CorelDRAW X4 Intro Part 1

CorelDRAW X4 Intro Part 2 – NEW!

Self Study CorelDRAW 12 Intro

Beyond the Intro classes is the Self Study CorelDRAW 9/10/11Continuing the Adventure class. You must have taken either the Intro classes for v.12 or X3, or both parts of X4 before starting the Continued class. Having lots of experience with the program doesn’t count. ;)

I wrote and teach all the LVS Instructor led classes and wrote the version 12 class. I did not write the version 9/10/11 class, but can recommend it to those of you still using those versions. I’d also recommend that you upgrade soon!

Don’t forget that LVS students are eligible for the Academic version of CorelDRAW X4 Graphics Suite. It’s a great buy at just $99 US or CAD and includes the full DVD version of the program. The only thing it doesn’t include is the printed manuals. Note: The Academic version is not licensed for commercial use and you cannot use it to later purchase an upgrade copy of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite when version X5 or later comes out.

If you have questions about the classes, please let me know, either by commenting on this blog (preferable) or sending an email to val@lvsonline.com.

Have fun! I hope to see YOU in the halls of LVS!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Continued, CorelDRAW Intro | No Comments »

New Windows Blog set up

August 6th, 2008 Val

As of today, I’ll be splitting this blog into two. This one will stay as a CorelDRAW blog and there will be a new Windows blog at http://lvsonline.com/online-windows-classes/.

Hopefully now that the critical part of my personal move is mostly over, I’ll be able to get in here and post more often.

Don’t forget that registration is now open at LVS! I’m putting the finishing touches on the Intro to CorelDRAW X4 Part 1 course, and the last half of lesson 4 and most of lessons 5 and 6 are practically ALL new material! Yes, I’ve split the old course into two, but the new one is almost as jam packed with information as the old one!

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | 4 Comments »

Registration is open for CorelDRAW and FREE Vista classes!

July 28th, 2008 Val

September registration is now open at LVS Online Classes!

FREE Windows and Vista classes!

New for the Fall session, the Windows Vista class is now FREE. The Intro to Windows (XP and previous versions) is still free as well. These courses are set up for the first time computer user, but long time users will still learn something or your money back! ;) You’ll still need to sign up for a student account with LVS, but there is NO CHARGE for this process, and you won’t be hassled with Spam for the rest of your life, though you may choose to get announcements from LVS if you want them. These courses DO include instructor support for all six lessons and a forum to ask questions. You can work at the six lessons at your own speed as well. What more could you ask from a free course?

NEW CorelDRAW X4 Introduction Part 1

The new introductory course for CorelDRAW X4 is also available for this session. It has been completely re-written from the old X3 classes and split into two classes to cover all that material as well as the new features in X4. If you took the old version 12 or X3 class, you know it packed a LOT into six lessons. Most folks had trouble finishing the class in six weeks, so I’ve made the adjustment many folks have asked for! The second, Part 2, class will be available in November, right after this session ends. Don’t worry, Part 1 is still chocked full of good information, lots of exercises, and plenty of new screen shots as well as being updated to X4. You’ll have just about everything you need to keep going at the end of the term. Part 2 will look at more of the tools and effects we didn’t get to cover in Part 1 as well as many more practical applications.

Classrooms will open on Aug. 25, 2008. Registration ends on Aug. 27, 2008. The first lesson will post on Aug. 30, 2008. I hope to see you there!

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW, CorelDRAW Intro, Windows Vista | No Comments »

SP1 and AVG

July 6th, 2008 Val

I had no problems downloading and installing SP1 for X4. Haven’t had time to play with it as the big move is happening this Thursday. However, I will tell you that some folks are having problems installing it if they are using the AVG anti-virus program. The only fix anyone has found is to UNINSTALL AVG before you install SP1, then re-install AVG. The safe way to do that is to download SP1 and save it to your hard drive. Disconnect temporarily from the internet (use the Control Panel if you’re on a Broadband connection), uninstall AVG, install SP1, re-install AVG, re-connect to the internet.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 SP 1 really is out!

June 24th, 2008 Val

The link in my previous post will work to get you there and you can download directly. Here is another link to it. If neither one works for you, follow the instructions below the link.

http://corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1153321224268?pid=1205332430735

So far on the Corel.com site, you’ve got to go to the Support link, choose Patches and Updates, then scroll down to the “Also available:” and click on the “Full list of updates for all products.” From there you can choose CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 and get the download. You’ll need to do this if you aren’t in the USA as the link above is the USA support link. (I THINK the download is the exact same one for all languages that CDGS X4 is available in currently, but better safe than sorry.)

The Automatic Update probably won’t become active until sometime later this week. For lots of specific information on SP1, I recommend Gérard’s blog about SP 1. (It includes the Read Me notes from the download.)

The official Press Release blog is here but it doesn’t tell you much.

I’m in the process of downloading it myself now, so I’ll let you know what I think when I get a chance to play with it. Unfortunately, as many of you know, I’m also in the process of moving to a new house, so computer time is at a bare minimum. If I see any other reviews of the SP1 pack I’ll let you know that, too.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

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