CorelDRAW/Vista Classes @ LVS Online
LVS Online ~ Where Learning is Fun!

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 »

SP1 available for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4!

June 24th, 2008 Val

If you don’t have auto-update turned on, you may not notice that there is an important update for X4 out. SP-1 is now available and it fixes a lot of the niggling problems X4 has had since it’s release.

Find it here:

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1157481830100?pid=1213733086367

(While you’re there, you’ll notice that they’ve revamped the Corel.com site!)

With SP 1, big improvements have been made in the way CorelDRAW X4 handles layers not only internally, but also when saving back to previous versions. This problem has kept a lot of folks from using X4 professionally, but layer names are now kept when saving to previous versions so long as they are consistent through the document. (Older versions couldn’t really handle layer names changing through the document, so saving back documents with changing layer names on various pages will probably result in lots of layers and loss of the naming scheme. I haven’t tried it out as of this writing as I’m writing before the SP comes out. If you try it, let me know how it goes. I’ll be working on moving this week.)

There are also lots of other improvements including improved TIF export and improved anti-aliasing in bitmap exports.

Corel PhotoPaint has also had some tweaking done, so SP1 will apply to that as well.

Do the update, check it out, and let me know what you think!

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

Sources of inspiration and things to think about

June 13th, 2008 Val

While you’re waiting for me to get my act together, you might want to check out a few other blogs in the meantime. Theres one at CorelDRAW.com highlighting some of the gallery work there. That’s a great place for inspiration and to get to know some of what’s possible with CorelDRAW.

There’s a nice little blog post about the Apple/Microsoft, Adobe/Corel controversy over at Accroya’s Blog. This is the only blog post on that site, but hopefully there will be more forthcoming.

Finally, something that has little to do with CorelDRAW, but is an interesting read by a CorelDRAW friend Rikk Flohr: When Disaster Strikes proves that you can get decent images even with a cell phone camera if you know what you’re doing.

Have fun! It’s back to packing and cleaning for me.

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

Create Boundary tool in CorelDRAW X3 and X4

May 9th, 2008 Val

There is a little known tool hidden in the Effects menu of CorelDRAW X3 and X4. Let’s take a look at a couple of uses for this tool to get a good introduction to it.

First, I’ll draw a couple of shapes with some outlines.

Now prior to X3, in order to get a single outline around all three shapes and keep the shapes, I’d have to make a duplicate of the shape group, weld them together, and use the outline from the new shape. In X3 and X4, I simply select the group (it doesn’t have to be grouped), Click Effects/Create Boundary, and there is a new shape created as an outline around the shapes. Then you can set the color and thickness as you would any object.

You can even move that object and/or fill it with another color if you want.

Some folks find this boundary object great for laser work and cutting. Another artistic use for the tool is with text.

Here’s a piece of text in the Planet Benson 2 font.

Now, to make things interesting, I’m going to apply a thick outline applied behind the fill.

Next, I’ll go to Arrange/Convert Outline to Object. This will let us delete it easily when we’re done with it and ensure that the boundary goes where we want it - outside the outline.

Finally, I select the text and the new outline object and go to Effects/Create Boundary and apply a boundary around the whole thing, giving it a 2.5 pt outline width.

The very last step is to delete that red outline object for a very interesting, but somewhat cleaner effect.

Have fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »

Spring is coming! (and so is the Spring session of LVS!)

February 22nd, 2008 Val

This is just a friendly reminder that registration for the March session of LVS will be coming to a close on March 3. That’s right around the corner!

LVS has some great new courses this session, including my own Intro to Windows Vista. http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?products_id=255

And of course, many of the oldies but goodies are back again, including CorelDRAW X3 Intro

http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?cPath=1_12&products_id=186

and CorelDRAW - Continuing the Adventure.

http://www.lvsassociates.com/register/product_info.php?cPath=1_12&products_id=208

Every course is six weeks long. You download one lesson each week, then use a discussion board for questions and participation in class and there’s a free webhosting service for students to upload their assignments each week. Work at your own pace and log into the message board at any time of day or night to get help. (OK, I won’t be checking the boards 24/7, but I usually do check them several times a day.) You get six PDF lessons to download and use on your computer or print out as you wish. Each lesson is between 20 and 40 pages with plenty of screenshots to help you through. All of this is only $25 US - a bargain at twice the price! Returning students get a discount.

Be sure and tell all your friends to check out http://www.lvsonline.com for all sorts of great courses. We have over 200 courses and our excellent instructors and students are from all over the world and span all age brackets. Besides our full instructor led courses, we also have self study courses and a good handful of free tutorials.

Hope to see you in the “halls” of LVS, Where Learning Is Fun!

Val P.

Posted in CorelDRAW | No Comments »