book

CorelDRAW X7: The Official Guide, 11th Edition

by Gary David Bouton

October 2014

Intermediate to advanced

704 pages

20h 52m

English

McGraw-Hill

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If You’re New to Vector Drawing ProgramsWhat Vector Drawing Is and Isn’tCorel CONNECT: Your First StopYou’re Welcomed Before You Enter CorelDRAWThe CorelDRAW Application WindowCorel CONNECT in the WorkspaceUsing Your Universal ConnectionTutorial: CONNECTing to Media Using Corel CONNECTSo What Else Is New?The New Elliptical Fountain FillColor Node Pop-UpsThe Smart Fill ToolQuick Response Codes in CorelDRAWPDFs to Go

The CorelDRAW WorkspaceThe Page Shadow: It’s a Command ControlTutorial: Defining and Saving a Custom Page SizePage Options on the Property BarCan You Give Me a Hint?CTRL, ALT, and SHIFT Are Your FriendsChoosing Tones from the Color WellsSurprises When You Right-Click and Use the WheelPage Navigation: Panning and Zooming the Smart WayNot to Be Overlooked on the Standard Bar…Shortcut Keys You’ll Want to MemorizeThe Terms Global vs. LocalA Brief Anatomy Lesson on DockersOpening, Moving, and Closing DockersNested (Grouped) Dockers
Working with the Star Tool to Build a PatternTutorial: Making the Background: Putting the Star Tool to WorkTweaking the Star ObjectTutorial: Reshaping a Star: Technique 1Tutorial: Reshaping a Star: Technique 2Making a Pattern of StarsTutorial: Creating More Stars than a Hollywood AgentTutorial: Rotating and Scaling to Populate the Pattern AreaShaping Operations and Combining ObjectsTutorial: Trimming the Stars to the Background and BeyondAn Introduction to Enveloping ObjectsTutorial: Enveloping and Trimming the Welded StarsAdding Shading to Your CompositionTutorial: Adding Lighting to the Beach BallAdding Highlights and a ShadowBlending Yourself a Cast ShadowTutorial: Making a Cast Shadow with BlendsAdding a Background and a Floor in PerspectiveTutorial: A Starry Ball Sitting on a Floral RugCompleting the Composition with EmbellishmentsTutorial: Framing Your Composition
Setting Up Your Document PageControlling Page Size and OrientationPaper Type/SizePage Viewing OptionsControlling Page Background ColorTutorial: Changing a Background BitmapUsing Layouts and LabelsNaming PagesUsing the Rename Page CommandSave Details with Your FileNavigating a Multi-page DocumentUsing the Object ManagerPage CommandsInserting Pages and Setting OptionsDeleting PagesMoving and Duplicating PagesUsing the Page SorterWorking with Guidelines and Guide LayersUsing GuidelinesWorking with the Guides LayerMake an Object a GuidelineThe New Alignment and Dynamic Guides DockerAlignment Properties on the DockerAdding Margins to the MixDynamic Guides
Using the Rectangle Tool and Property BarDrawing a RectangleSetting Rectangle Corner PropertiesCreating 3-Point RectanglesUsing the Ellipse Tool and Property BarDrawing an EllipseTutorial: Round One with the Ellipse ToolControlling Ellipse StatesCreating 3-Point EllipsesUsing Polygons and the Property BarDrawing and Editing PolygonsTutorial: Reshaping a PolygonStars and Complex StarsUsing the Spiral ToolUsing the Graph Paper ToolTutorial: Power-Drawing a Grid with Graph PaperUsing the Convert Outline To Object Command
Basic Object SelectionPick Tool SelectionsPicking and Freehand PickingSelection TechniquesSelecting Objects by TypeMoving ObjectsUsing the Pick ToolUsing Nudge KeysTransforming ObjectsTransforming Objects Using the CursorTutorial: Off-center Object Rotation to Create a DesignUsing the Free Transform ToolCopying Effects with the Attributes Eyedropper ToolTutorial: Straightening Objects via AttributesApplying Precise TransformationsPositioning (Moving) ObjectsRotating ObjectsScale and Mirror ObjectsSizing ObjectsPrecision SkewingControlling the Order of ThingsWorking with Views of a Document’s Depth: LayersExploring the Object ManagerNavigating Pages, Objects, and LayersTutorial: Navigating and Mastering LayersUsing Object Manager Editing and View StatesControlling Layer PropertiesWorking with Master Page LayersTutorial: Working with Master Page Items
Sidling Up to CorelDRAW X7’s Curve ToolsHow to Draw in CorelDRAWDrawing with the Freehand and Polyline ToolsDrawing Arcs with the 3-Point Curve ToolTutorial: 3-Point Curves and Closed ObjectsDrawing with the 2-Point Line ToolUsing the Bézier and Pen ToolsGetting a Handle on BéziersDrawing Conventions for the Bézier and Pen ToolsTutorial: Drawing Curves and Straight Line SegmentsEditing Bézier PathsTutorial: Editing Paths with the Shape ToolControlling Freehand and Bézier Tool BehaviorWorking with Compound PathsCombining ObjectsBreaking Paths ApartConverting Objects to Curves
CorelDRAW’s Smart Drawing ToolTutorial: CAD: CorelDRAW-Assisted DrawingTutorial: Reshaping a Perfect ShapeUsing Perfect Shape ToolsTutorial: Creating Perfect ObjectsEditing Glyph NodesUsing the Dimension ToolsUsing Dimension ToolsChecking Out Dimension LinesTutorial: Using Dimension LinesSegment DimensionsAn Exercise in Dimensioning to ScaleTutorial: Drawing Scale, Windows Calculator, and Dimension LinesWorking with CalloutsThe Connector ToolsTablesCreating a TableUsing the Proper Tool for the JobTable Options When the Pick Tool Is ActiveTable Options When the Shape Tool Is ActiveEditing a Table When the Table Tool Is ActiveWorking with Text and Graphics in a TableConverting a Table to TextConverting an Existing Text to a Table
Shaping and Reshaping ObjectsShaping Commands and the Property BarWorking Examples of Object ShapingTutorial: Trimming a ChickenEmbellishing Corners and Object Node EditingFillet/Scallop/ChamferDown and Dirty and the Shape ToolTutorial: Reshaping Objects with the Shape ToolHiding Object Exteriors Using PowerClipsTutorial: PowerClipping a Design onto an ObjectCutting with the Knife ToolTypes of Cuts with the Knife ToolSetting Knife Tool BehaviorUsing the Eraser ToolWorking with Eraser OperationsTutorial: Power ErasingSetting Eraser Tool PropertiesUsing the Virtual Segment Delete ToolCropping an Illustration
CorelDRAW’s Text ToolEntering and Editing Artistic TextOptions for Formatting CharactersUse the Property Bar to Change CharactersTutorial: Using Object Styles with Paragraph TextCombining and Breaking Apart Artistic TextConverting Artistic Text to CurvesEntering and Editing Paragraph TextTutorial: Creating Linked Paragraph Text FramesWrapping Text Around Other ShapesFitting Text to CurveTutorial: Text Along a CurveEmbedding Objects into TextUsing the Insert Character DockerUsing the Symbol ManagerTutorial: Saving Frequently Used Symbols to Your Own LibraryCorelDRAW’s Font Playground: Take a Ride!
A Few Paragraphs Covering Advanced Paragraph FeaturesWorking with ColumnsColumns SettingsMoving Text Within a ParagraphConverting Between Artistic Text and Paragraph TextThe Text Bar and Special Paragraph FormattingFormatting Bulleted ListsMaking Bulleted Paragraph TextTutorial: Creating a Bullet MotifChanging Text CaseFormatting Paragraph TextParagraph AlignmentSpacingFormatting TabsTutorial: Making a Menu Featuring Dot LeadersUsing CorelDraw’s Writing ToolsAssigning Language CodesUsing the Proofing ToolsCommon ButtonsSetting Spell Checker OptionsMain Spell Checking OptionsUsing GrammatikUsing the ThesaurusFinding and Replacing Text and Special CharactersFinding TextReplacing Text
Examining the Fill TypesUsing the Color PaletteFrom Uniform to Non-Uniform Object FillingCustomizing Your Fountain FillsTutorial: Editing a Fountain Fill In-PlaceUniform Color Fill Options on the Property BarSwatches and Preset CMYK “Color Chips”Applying Pattern FillsTwo-Color FillsVector Pattern FillsBitmap FillsControlling Pattern Fills InteractivelyTutorial: Customizing a Pattern FillCreate Your Own Two-Color and Full-Color PatternsApplying Texture FillsApplying PostScript FillsWorking with Mesh FillsMesh Fill OptionsSampling FillsApplying the Color EyedropperUsing the Attributes Eyedropper ToolTutorial: Drop a Property
Applying Outline Pen PropertiesOutline Pen Options and the Property BarTutorial: Going Long and WideOutline Tool Features on the Object Properties DockerExploring the Outline Pen FeaturesSetting Outline ColorChoosing Outline StylesCreating and Editing Outline StylesSetting Outline ArrowheadsTutorial: Drawing, Saving, and Editing an Arrowhead StyleSetting Corner ShapeSetting Line Cap ShapeOutline Pen Calligraphic EffectsScaling and Behind Fill OptionsTurning an Outline into an ObjectUsing the Artistic Media ToolApplying Presets to LinesTutorial: Painting with a Drawing ProgramDrawing with BrushesApplying the SprayerCalligraphy Pens and Applying MediaTutorial: Defining and Applying Calligraphic Brush StrokesPressure Mode
Blend and Contour Effects: Similarities with DistinctionsBlending as Illustration ShadingThe Interactive Blend Tool and Property BarCreating a Simple Blend EffectTutorial: A Basic Blend Between Very Different ShapesLooking At the Components of a BlendEditing Blend EffectsSetting Blend OptionsCreating Extraordinary, Complex Blend EffectsAssigning a Blend PathTutorial: Blending Objects along a PathWorking with Multi-object BlendsTapping into Contour EffectsUsing the Contour Tool and Property BarTutorial: Applying a Contour EffectEditing Contours InteractivelyChoosing Contour DirectionSetting Contour ColorsCreating Special Effects with ContoursFountain Fill ColorControlling Contour AccelerationUsing the Contour Docker
Digital Color Terms and DefinitionsSubtractive and Additive Color ModelsLAB ColorGrayscaleRegistrationUsing Color-Related DockersUsing the Color DockerFinding and Applying Fixed Colors (and Tints)Tutorial: Dying a Pair of ShoesUsing the Color Palette Manager DockerUsing Fixed and Custom PalettesUsing the Color Styles DockerTutorial: Making a Color Style and Changing ItIntroducing the New Color HarmonyColor Harmonies for Fashion DesignTutorial: Changing the Color Harmonies of a Monochrome DrawingChanging Groups of Dissimilar ColorsTutorial: Recoloring a Logo with Color StylesAdjusting and Transforming Color
The Perspective Effect: What Perspective Does to an ObjectGetting a Perspective on PerspectiveExperiments in PerspectiveTutorial: Creating One-Point PerspectiveWorking with Two-Point PerspectiveTutorial: Creating a 3D Ground PlaneCopying Perspective and Creating a 3D SceneTutorial: Perspective Scenes via CopyingPre-visualizing Designs in PerspectiveTutorial: Pre-visualizing a Design on a ProductExtruding Objects: How Extrude WorksChoosing and Applying an Extrude EffectNavigating the Interactive MarkersTutorial: Going Deep with the Extrude ToolUsing the Extrude Tool and Property BarSetting Extrude DepthSetting Vanishing Point PropertiesSetting 3D RotationUsing the Rotation ToolsAdding LightsTutorial: Working with Extrude Light OptionsSetting Extrude ColorUsing the Extrude Docker
What Does an Envelope Do?Creating Envelope EffectsUsing the Envelope Tool and Property BarTutorial: The Envelope, PleaseUsing the Envelope DockerChoosing an Envelope ModeChoosing Envelope Mapping OptionsTutorial: Creating a Text EnvelopeWhat’s Behind a Lens EffectUsing the Lens DockerTutorial: Working with a Lens EffectExploring the Lens EffectsTutorial: Changing Object Size with the Fish Eye LensUsing Lens OptionsUsing the Bevel EffectCreating Soft-Edge Bevel EffectsDetermining Altitude
The Shape Edit Tool GroupUsing the Smooth ToolThe Smear ToolTutorial: Adding the Smear to Your Artistic CareerThe Twirl ToolTutorial: Creating a Stylized SunThe Attract and Repel ToolsTutorial: Repelling a Polygon ObjectUsing the Smudge BrushThe Roughen BrushTutorial: Adding Character with the Roughen Brush 467Mastering Distortion EffectsUsing the Distort Tool and the Property BarGetting Hands-On with the Distortion Tool MarkersExploring Distortion Presets
The Importance of Objects Interacting with the SceneClearing Things Up with the Transparency ToolUsing the Transparency Tool and Property BarTutorial: Creating a Dimensional Drawing Through TransparencySetting Transparency PropertiesNew Controls and Locations for Transparency OptionsTutorial: Creating a Reflection on a Shiny SurfaceAdditional Fountain Transparency TypesUsing Transparency Operations (Merge Modes)Creating Multistage TransparenciesPattern TransparenciesUsing Transparency FreezeUsing the Drop Shadow EffectUsing the Drop Shadow Tool and Property BarTutorial: Working the Property Bar and Shadow-Making MarkersManually Adjusting a Drop Shadow EffectShadows as Glow Effects
Cropping a Placed PhotographNondestructive CroppingTutorial: Using the Shape Tool to CropMasking Through Nondestructive CroppingTrimming Away Unwanted Image AreasTutorial: Background Removal, Technique 1Boolean Operations as a Trimming TechniqueTutorial: Background Removal, Technique 2Compositions with Mixed MediaTutorial: Composing a Design Using Vector and Image ShapesWorking with Alpha Channels and Image TransparencyWorking with Partial TransparencyTutorial: Creating a Photorealistic Glass EffectBlending Photos with TransparencyTutorial: Creating a Transition Between Two ImagesBitmaps to Vector Art: Using PowerTRACEBitmap Conversions for Logo AlterationsTutorial: Working Between CorelDRAW and PHOTO-PAINTTutorial: Reworking a Logo Using VectorsPowerTRACE for Traditional ArtistsTutorial: Digi-tooning
The Properties of a Pixel-Based ImagePixel Artwork vs. Vector ArtworkBytemaps and PixelsImporting Bitmaps into a DocumentPlacing and Modifying an ImageTutorial: Putting a Picture into a Car AdvertisementSwitching from Resizing to ResamplingTutorial: Resampling a PhotoNonrectangular Cropping in a JiffyTutorial: Cropping with the Shape ToolImporting Nonstandard BitmapsTutorial: Working with Layered BitmapsWorking with Raw ImagesTutorial: Raw Image Color CorrectionAn Everyday Bitmap-Oriented WorkflowCreating a Catalog CoverTutorial: Adjusting a PNG Image in the LabTutorial: Saving a Bitmap Copy of Your CorelDRAW Composition
The Building Block of Digital Photos: The PixelPixels and ResolutionImage ResolutionResolution, Pixel Count, and PrintingTutorial: Resizing a PhotographResampling and Resizing PhotosTutorial: Making a Thumbnail Image Suitable for PrintingAutomation: Recording Your Cropping and ResamplingEvaluating a Crop Area for a Collection of PhotosTutorial: Recording Your EditsFlipping Images…with a Twist
Printing a Document to a Personal PrinterTutorial: Printing Single- and Multiple-Page DocumentsSetting Print OptionsSetting General OptionsUsing the Color Tab SettingsChoosing a LayoutPrinting SeparationsSetting Prepress OptionsChoosing PostScript OptionsCorelDRAW’s Printing Issues TabPreviewing Your Printed DocumentPrint Preview Tools and the Property BarPick Tool Property Bar OptionsImposition Layout Tool Property Bar OptionsMarks Placement Tool Property Bar OptionsZoom Tool Property Bar OptionsSetting Printing PreferencesGeneral Printing PreferencesDriver CompatibilityPrinting Issues Warning OptionsUsing the Collect For Output WizardPrint Merge
Web Page Navigation Buttons and HotspotsCorelDRAW’s Internet ToolbarCreating Rollover ButtonsTutorial: Creating Different Looks for Rollover StatesSetting Internet Object BehaviorTutorial: Creating Bookmark LinksUsing the Links And Bookmarks DockerApplying a Page BackgroundPublishing Web DocumentsSetting General OptionsExamining Web Page DetailsReviewing Web ImagesSetting Advanced HTML OptionsBrowsing the Web Page Export SummaryPreflight Web IssuesSetting Web Publishing PreferencesExporting Images for the WebTutorial: Exporting a Graphic with TransparencyWeb Text OptionsTutorial: Formatting Text for the WebUse Alt TagsSVG: Export as Vector ObjectsTutorial: Exporting Vectors as Vectors for the WebExploring SWF FilesObjects and Fills that SWF SupportsTutorial: Making a Single-Frame SWF File

Content preview from CorelDRAW X7: The Official Guide, 11th Edition

14 Using Blends and Contours

Although they’re different effects, blends and contours share the common trait of creating many shapes based on control shapes. The additional shapes are dynamically linked to the control object, and the “in-between” objects can vary in size, color, and outline shape depending on how you set up the effect. Blends and contours are terrific for shading flat color fills in a way that fountain fills sometimes cannot. Additionally, blend objects can be used to illustrate the transition between two objects of completely dissimilar shape. This chapter takes you through the use of blends and contours so you can create outstanding, intriguing work in addition to what you already know.