Certificate in Introduction to CorelDRAW X5 Online Course

We'll get started with a quick tour of CorelDRAW to see how some of the menus and tools are arranged, and then you'll draw simple shapes with the Smart Drawing tool. Next, we'll explore how to use the Zoom tool, the Pan tool, and the Pick tool. Finally, we'll take some time to talk about vector and bitmap formats. Did you know that CorelDRAW is a vector-based imaging software? It differs from other applications, such as Adobe Photoshop, and we'll discuss why.

Creating Shapes

This lesson is all about the meat and potatoes of CorelDRAW: the shape-creation tools. We'll start with the basics—using the Ellipse tool and the Rectangle tool to draw circles, squares, and rectangles. Then you'll practice using the Polygon tool, the Spiral tool, the Star tool, and the Perfect Shape tool to draw more intricate shapes. Afterward, you'll form your shapes into images using the weld function. Finally, you’ll get a chance to practice filling your newly created designs with colors.

Line Tools

We're going to dig a little deeper into CorelDRAW drawing tools as you learn how to create lines. You'll start with the Freehand tool, which simulates drawing with a pen or pencil on a piece of paper, but with an automated twist that makes it much easier to use. Then we'll explore the Outline tools. Outlines are the lines that form and surround shapes and objects, and you'll use the Outline tools to format, shape, and color those same lines. Afterward, we'll move on to curves, and you'll learn how to use the Three-Point Curve tool and the Bézier tool to draw both simple and complex curves. Next, you'll learn about the Artistic Media tool, which enables you to apply effects, styles, and objects to ordinary lines.

Working With Layers

We're going to concentrate on layers in this lesson. Layers are invisible planes that contain information about each object. You'll use them to organize, edit, and manage your drawings. Just as shapes are the building blocks of a drawing, layers are the frames that support those building blocks. We'll begin by layering one of your designs from a previous lesson, and then I'll show you how to layer as you draw.

Create a Multipage Newsletter

Did you know that CorelDRAW supplies you with a complete desktop publisher? In today's lesson, you'll create a two-page newsletter using this feature. As you assemble your newsletter, you'll also learn how to set up a drawing page with the Page tab, apply and use guidelines, input and import text with the Text tool, and import objects into designs.

Develop an Original Logo

We'll continue our discussion about working with text in this lesson, but this time we'll concentrate on artistic text. You'll learn how to shape, form, and adjust artistic text to follow the path of an object or line. You'll also fill objects with color transitions, patterns, textures, and elaborate designs using CorelDRAW fill tools. Then you'll apply what you've learned to create an original logo.

Applying Special Effects

We're going to take it a step further in this lesson by enhancing your designs with special effects. We'll cover techniques such as casting shadows on objects using the Drop Shadow tool. This is an excellent effect to use when you want to add a little realism to your objects. Then you'll learn how to create see-through objects using the Transparency tool. You'll also practice transforming ordinary 2-D shapes into 3-D objects using the Extrusion tool.

Digging Deeper With Shaping Tools

In this lesson, you're going to learn how to mold, shape, and adjust your designs using the Knife and Eraser tools and the Smudge and the Roughen Brushes. You'll also get a chance to put all your CorelDRAW skills to work, because we're going to pull together as many different elements as possible from this course and apply them to an apple design. This will give you more insight into how CorelDRAW tools interact while you discover practical applications for these same tools.

PowerClips, Distortion, and Copying Object Attributes

Today, we'll continue our exploration of special effects as we discuss PowerClips and the Distort tool. You'll start with the PowerClip effect to contain one object inside of another. This is a great way to incorporate photographs into your designs. Then we'll take some ordinary shapes and completely transform them into amazing objects using the Distort tool. Finally, you'll draw some balloons as you learn how to use the Attributes Eyedropper, which allows you to copy the properties from one object into another object, quickly and with ease.

Page Layout and Templates

We'll concentrate on page layout for this lesson. You'll create a custom-designed envelope, business card, and address labels while learning to use the Page Size and Label windows. You'll also explore CorelDRAW templates. Not only will you discover how to choose from the selection of available templates, you'll also create your own stationery template to accompany the envelope, business card, and address labels you just designed. Then, to top it all off, you'll design an original greeting card.

Working With Photographs

This lesson is all about photographs. You'll start by bringing some life into a dull-looking photo using the Crop tool and the Image Adjustment Lab. Then you'll learn how to change ordinary photos into stunning works of art by applying spectacular effects with 3D, artistic strokes, and abstract patterns. You'll also learn how to convert photographs into sleek designs using the PowerTRACE window.

Sharing and Showing Off Your Artwork

In our final lesson, you'll design a presentation using drawings you've created throughout this class. Then you'll learn how to export each of the slides from the presentation into different formats. This will enable you to post your designs on the Internet, insert them into electronic documents, or email them to a friend in an easy-to-open format. We'll start by going over the Export window, which converts CorelDRAW designs into various formats and in turn allows you to view and update these same designs using all types of software. Then we'll focus on specific formats, including JPG, PNG, and PDF. Finally, we'll conclude the course by creating an original web page!