CorelDraw X4 Adds Layers, Tables and More

A major Vista-compatible upgrade to the popular and inexpensive graphics suite includes a host of new features, tools and a slick new look.
Feb 1, 2008

The CorelDraw X4 interface, shown here running in Windows XP, will be familiar to anyone who has been using previous versions.

Editor's note: In January, Corel Corp. announced a major upgrade to CorelDraw Graphics Suite and allowed Impressions editors the chance to take a look under the hood of the final beta version of CorelDraw X4. Reader surveys tell us that more than half of you use CorelDraw as the primary artwork software in your workflow.

We also know many of you still use legacy versions of the suite, with Version 12 maintaining a loyal following, and some continue to work productively using Version 9. Corel made some significant steps forward with the X3 upgrade in 2005, but there were some users who weren't impressed enough with the new X3 features to upgrade.

I don't think that will be the case with CorelDraw X4. You can now create independent layers for each page in a document and there is an intuitive new Table tool for drawing and editing tables. The look of X4 is sleeker as well, redesigned to fit seamlessly into the new Microsoft Vista operating system.

In that same vein, Corel has taken a leap into total online collaboration with a new ConceptShare docker and the ability to import PDFs with comments. Think about that — your client can be online, approving or annotating your PDF file as you watch. Much like Instant Messaging, Corel essentially has Instant Proofing — visual feedback from collaborators, coworkers and/or clients in real time.

There's a considerable list of other enhancements, and we suspect a lot of apparel decorators will find the upgrade to CorelDraw X4 to be well worth the money. Read on as Contributing Writer Thomas Trimingham, who uses CorelDraw suite daily in his job as a screen printing graphic artist, shares his insights on the software. — T.M.

In an exciting turn of events, I found myself staring at a large balloon logo as the CorelDraw X4 beta loaded on my computer and began to install. Full of anticipation and a little nervous, I was wondering, "Will X4 work the same as the previous version did?"

I use CorelDrawX3 every day in my work as a graphic artist designing artwork for screen printers. So upgrading my CorelDraw suite to X4 was a big deal to me, and I didn't fully relax until I did a check of where everything was and how it was working. Sometimes, software upgrades will change the location of prominent features or eliminate tools and commands for no apparent reason. I am happy to report there were no problems along those lines with X4.

In fact, CorelDraw X4 kept things functional and easy to find. I knew right away where to find my favorite tools. The upgrade is designed to be Vista-compatible, but it also works with the Windows XP operating system. My PC is getting a little long in the tooth, and I have yet to upgrade to Vista, so I can report firsthand that X4 loads and works great in XP.

Even with the program running in XP, I saw sleek, new styling of buttons, menus and docks (or palettes) that echoed the move toward the "Vista" look. It was a refreshing change as the older XP buttons now seem almost clunky compared to the flatter and refined look of X4.

Most screenshots that illustrate this review show X4 running in Windows XP. The final version of CorelDraw X4 may look slightly different when running in Vista than what I was working with when testing a beta in XP. Corel developers assure me the fundamental operations and functions are identical when running in either XP or Vista.

My editor loaded the beta software in a newer PC, running Vista Home Premium, and (further in this article) you can see side-by-side screen shots of the user interface running on the older and newer operating systems.

BEYOND VISUALS
Fortunately, there is a lot more to the new version than just a visual upgrade. The strongest new features in X4 grew directly out of Corel Corp.'s unusual development method — they listened very closely to their users. This may seem like the obvious thing for a big software company to do, but for some reason, it isn't that popular with Corel's competition.

I think Corel X3 stood out clearly at its launch as one of the best-engineered products on the market for screen printing designers because Corel carefully dissected and developed that version for their users' specific needs. The X4 launch continues this tradition and the development team shared with me that the majority of new features grew from suggestions garnered from everyday users through surveys and online community forums.

There are several dozen new features in X4, so I will focus on those most relevant to screen printing.

WELCOME MENU
In X4, the welcome dialog box is very functional. In previous versions, it was just a quick introduction that most users clicked right through. However, they may hang around a bit longer in the X4 Welcome window. Corel accomplished this by loading the "welcome wagon" with loads of useful things like a Quick Start guide for beginners to get rolling on a template or a new design. Also included is a What's New tab with a comprehensive breakdown of new features, specific Learning Tools for beginners, and tips and tricks for the experienced.

There also is a gallery of impressive designs by pros from around the world and a handy Upgrade page to help inform and keep track of patches or new adjustments to the software. All of this is packed in an easy-to-navigate digital book that opens when you start the program. (You can opt out of the auto-launch if you want.)

THUMBNAIL AND IMPORT FILTER SUPPORT
Corel X4's Vista compatibility allows users to find existing artwork via keyword search. New, high-quality thumbnail previews make it easy to find and organize your own vector and bitmap images, as well as the 10,000 clipart images and 1,000 high-quality bitmaps that ship with X4.

According to Corel, its surveys found that searching for design assets was one of the biggest challenges cited by users, so these large, new thumbnails mean no more wasting time opening or importing the wrong file. This feature alone could save enough labor time to pay for a software upgrade in a matter of weeks.

Editor's note: A full version of CorelDraw Graphics Suite X4 carries an MSRP of $429. An upgrade (from any previous version of CorelDraw) costs $199.

This new thumbnail feature is most impressive when X4 operates in Vista, but X4 thumbnails in Windows XP also are more functional, with larger viewing areas and ability to display more file types than before.

LAYER AND PAGE SUPPORT
It appears that layers are really going to be an important design factor in CorelDraw X4. Those users who are cross-trained in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop already know how to leverage the power of layers in developing complex designs. The X4 layers palette (still called the Object Manager Dialog) now allows artists to control and edit layers independently for each page in a document. Master guidelines may be applied to all layers in a page and/or all pages in a complex, multipage document. A Duplicate Page function makes it a snap to repurpose existing designs.

The files that I moved into layers on several pages seemed far more stable and controlled than before, with a simpler method of lining up images in all pages using the new guides. There are so many great things about this benefit that it could literally change the way designs are developed in CorelDraw and make it easier to create precise, complicated vector compositions that were previously Illustrator territory.

NEW TEMPLATE DIALOG
The upgrade includes a wide variety of professionally designed templates that can be used for a quick start to projects. The template dialog is accessed by selecting File > New From Template. That opens a catalog of 80 professionally designed templates with notes about design choices, output and customizing. Of course, X4 also allows users to create and save their own templates in a .cdt format that includes keywords and designer notes. The notes dictate design style and usage, and also cover important topics that need to be addressed properly using a specific template.

INTERACTIVE AND ONLINE
Designers can now quickly create tables that allow for selective content to be added to each cell therein, and interesting layouts and designs can be a snap to make and to update. This tool is ideal for creating structured page layouts in which images can be easily adjusted inside of the table cells and text can be aligned faster than ever.

In a bold step forward, X4 has added two fully integrated tools for using online resources — CorelDrawconceptshare.com and Whatthefont.com.

CorelDrawconceptshare is a unique idea that allows designers to interact online in real time with clients and create immediate feedback using the workspaces provided. This feature takes the online meeting to a new level where users can log in and add comments to existing work, and share files or content in the development process. I can see a lot of benefits to this method with freelance artists who require fast feedback and approvals to finalize work. Instead of waiting for an e-mail with a file attachment to go back and forth between a designer and client, it is now possible to send a link and then create a virtual desktop on which you can open a design file preview and get real-time feedback from multiple viewers.

NEW TEXT TOOLS
Whatthefont.com integration into the program is a cool idea to help artists identify font names and families quickly. I tested it on quite a few rough-looking fonts from scans and imported screen captures with very good results. The process is quite similar to using a screen shot utility like CorelCapture, and it works very fast. You just draw a marquee around the font area you're trying to identify, click on it and the program automatically sends the clip to whatthefont.com for identification. It sure beats paging through hundreds of fonts in the old clipart book collections.

Also, X4 includes a collection of specialized fonts, including several for sign makers, single-line engraving fonts and OpenType cross-platform fonts. In addition, Live Text formatting allows designers to preview text effects in real time before they are applied. Finally, the upgrade now allows designers to mirror paragraph text in any direction.

JUST THE BEGINNING
CorelDraw X4 has loads more features than could be highlighted here. A few that I predict will be popular are a new Print Merge Wizard for mass production from supplied text, updated Corel PowerTrace and an expanded menu of file compatibility. This includes enhanced compatibility with Adobe products — including better PDF management — and new support for Microsoft Publisher, AutoCAD (DFX and DWG), as well as with Corel's own legendary Painter. Corel PhotoPaint, the bitmap editing application in the X4 suite, includes new support for raw digital camera files and some new image enhancement tools, such as a Straighten Image dialog and upgraded interface.

CorelDraw has long been a favorite for screen printers and sign makers due to its simplicity, ease of use and affordability compared to other professional graphics art editing suites. The software has really grown in the last two versions and now has reached a level where competitors might have to catch up to some of X4's powerful and time-saving features.

The biggest advantage to this upgrade — like its predecessor, X3 — is Corel's continued commitment to developing solutions based on the needs of the screen printing, embroidery and sign making industry. This latest release includes more interactive design methods and training (two hours on DVD), intuitive design tools and templates, and totally new workspace concepts. Together, these X4 improvements can provide both new and experienced users with an even wider selection of ways to wow customers.

Thomas Trimingham has worked in screen printing for more than 15 years as an artist, art director, consultant and head of R&D for high-volume screen printers. He is an award-winning illustrator, designer and author of many articles on graphics for screen printing.

For information or to comment on this article, e-mail Thomas at ttrimingham@yahoo.com.

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