CorelDRAW Help | Creative

Creative

Boost your creativity with the new Symmetry drawing mode, unique effects, new line options, and more.

Symmetry is a critical part of the graphics workflow because it creates balance, harmony, and order. Symmetry is everywhere in nature, so chances are a design element will rely on it. To that end, CorelDRAW 2018 introduces the Symmetry drawing mode, which boosts your productivity by automating what is usually a very time-consuming process. It lets you create a range of symmetrical designs, from simple objects to complex kaleidoscopic effects, in real time.

There are two ways to use Symmetry mode. You can work in Symmetry mode from the outset and start drawing symmetrically immediately. Or, you can apply symmetry to an existing object or group of objects, both vector and bitmap.

Symmetry mode can be used with a range of tools, giving you unprecedented creative freedom. Whether you want symmetry in curves, shapes, objects, text, you’re free to experiment and play like never before. What’s more, you’re not limited to simple design tools. The ability to use transparency, fills and more in a symmetrical design opens up a world of possibilities.

Controlling the symmetry appearance is a breeze. You can add symmetry lines, adjust the reflection angle, and move symmetry lines independently of the objects in the group. And when you edit the original image or add new nodes or objects, you’ll see the changes repeated and reflected in each copy.

CorelDRAW is a longtime favorite with vinyl cutters, screen printers and sign makers, so their feedback has been critical to the development of every version of the program. Working with users in those industries, CorelDRAW 2018 introduces the Block Shadow tool, which lets you add solid vector shadows to objects and text. This intuitive feature accelerates reprographic workflows by greatly reducing the number of lines and nodes in shadows, slashing the time it takes to get a file ready for output and vastly improving the final result.

Powerful property bar settings let you specify the exact depth and direction of the shadow, or you can manipulate those properties interactively within the drawing to get the look that you have in mind. Block shadow color is independent of the object from which it is being extruded, so there’s no restrictions on your creativity. There’s also an overprint option to ensure that block shadow colors remain intact beneath text or objects that have a block shadow applied to them.

Corner control in dashed lines and outlines

Thanks to invaluable feedback from our loyal user base, CorelDRAW 2018 gives you more control over the appearance of corners in objects, text, and symbols that use dashed lines. In addition to the existing default setting that renders dashed lines exactly as drawn, you can choose from two new options to create perfectly designed and defined corners. The Align dashes option ensures that there’s no empty space in the corners and at the start and end of a line or outline by aligning dashes with the end and corner points. And the Fixed dashes option creates dashes in the end and corner points that are half the size of the first dash in the line pattern.

When you need to give a design a little more spark, the Impact tool is the answer. Inspired by comic books and graphic novels, it’s perfect for quickly and effortlessly adding movement or focus to an element in a drawing. In just a few clicks, you can get results that used to be time-consuming and labor-intensive. The Impact tool has two modes: Parallel for adding "zoom" lines that signify motion, and Radial for adding an explosive burst of energy. These effects are non-destructive, highly customizable vector objects that can be edited with other tools. There are a variety of line styles that you can fine-tune, or you can opt to randomize tool settings for a more natural look.

In just a few clicks, you can generate high-quality vector mosaics from any number of selected vector or bitmap objects using the Pointillizer effect. Inspired by the Pointillism painting technique where multiple dots combine to form an image, it’s great for creating vehicle wraps, window decor projects, and more. The ability to set the number, size, and shape of the tiles gives you limitless creative possibilities. There is a range of other options that you can experiment with to create striking designs. While other solutions can produce raster pointillistic images, only CorelDRAW lets you output the effect as a vector graphic.

Whether you’re creating promotional materials, a family memento or a piece of art, the PhotoCocktail effect lets you create stunning photo collages more easily than you can imagine. You start with a photo or vector object as the foundation of your mosaic, then choose a library of bitmap images that serve as the mosaic tiles, and PhotoCocktail does the rest. You have total control over how everything blends together, how the collage is output, and the resolution of the end result.

Turning artwork into a mosaic composed of images (Elements from artwork by Ariel Garaza Díaz)

Some features described in the Help are not included in this version of the product, and are available only in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2018.

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