CorelDRAW: Design software for professionals
Embarking on a design journey demands not just creativity but also the right set of tools to transform concepts into captivating visuals. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite stands tall as a comprehensive suite of professional graphic design applications tailored explicitly for Windows users.
What is CorelDRAW?
CorelDRAW is a powerful graphic design software developed by Corel Corporation, renowned for its versatile tools catering to various design needs. It's a comprehensive suite encompassing several applications tailored to aid designers, illustrators, and creative professionals in their work. You can try the graphics suite for a 15-day free trial period - credit card details aren’t required.
Here are its core components:
- Vector illustration: CorelDRAW is particularly lauded for its vector illustration capabilities. It allows users to create intricate artworks using fundamental shapes and lines, providing tools for precision and creativity. This feature is fundamental for creating logos, illustrations, and scalable graphics.
- Page layout: This software excels in page layout, enabling the creation of multi-page documents, brochures, newsletters, and other materials. Its tools and features assist in arranging content in an aesthetically pleasing and organized manner.
- Image editing: The integrated Corel PHOTO-PAINT offers robust photo editing functionalities. Users can manipulate images, adjust colors, remove imperfections, and correct perspectives, making it a valuable tool for photo retouching and enhancement.
- Typography and font management: CorelDRAW provides comprehensive typography tools, allowing users to manipulate fonts with precision. Users can tailor font attributes like size, spacing, shadows, contours, and manage font libraries efficiently using Corel Font Manager.
- AI-powered tools and non-destructive editing: The suite integrates AI-powered features such as bitmap-to-vector tracing, upscaling images, and removing artifacts. Additionally, it supports non-destructive editing, allowing users to edit images and vectors without altering the original files.
- File compatibility and output: CorelDRAW supports a wide range of file formats, ensuring compatibility with various platforms and software. Its color management engine ensures consistent and accurate colors for professional print output.
The software is optimized for ease of use, offering touch and stylus compatibility, making it convenient for users working on tablets or touch-enabled devices. It's compatible with Windows Real-Time Stylus pens and devices like Microsoft Surface and Wacom tablets.
Loaded with essential programs
The graphic design software includes 7 main applications that are, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, PowerTRACE, CorelDRAW.app, Corel Font Manager, and AfterShot 3 HDR, among others. These powerful photo editing, enhancement, and vector creation software tools can help users create both web and print-based designs.
The PHOTO-PAINT tool comes integrated with CorelDRAW so you can enjoy a seamless workflow. Moreover, you can use the CorelDraw.app to work on your designs even if you don’t have your computer nearby. An added benefit for Windows users is a CAPTURE tool, which allows them to capture and save screenshots of the entire page, menu, or individual windows, with a single click.
Professional-quality studio
Some of the new features included in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite help in enhancing designs with very little input from the designers. Users can effectively turn a bitmap or a photograph into a vector illustration using the machine-learning tool, PowerTRACE. Moreover, the PHOTO-PAINT tool also uses AI to clean-up low-resolution images so you can use them instead of discarding them.
The software also includes numerous Art Styles so that you can add different effects to vector images or photos. These effects can get applied to the complete picture or parts of it. CorelDRAW suite also includes a non-destructive bitmap lens, so you can apply effects and easily get rid of them later.
Apart from offering various tools to create graphic illustrations, the photo editing software is also used as a publishing tool. Therefore, the new variable fonts are such a popular addition. You can easily use the suite to make changes to the font, so it fits into the desired layout. The tool has also taken into account user suggestions and has improved find and replace, align and distribute, and the shadow effects features.
It can be used for various purposes
You can use the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite to create vector illustrations, logos, car and bus wraps, letterheads, ads, website layouts, posters, documents, and more. The comprehensive AI-powered tool comes with various features that make it suitable for designers, artists, and both big and small businesses.
The education edition software is widely used in the apparel, advertising, and print industry, as well as in the fields of construction, engineering, and manufacturing. Moreover, the tool’s collaboration feature allows clients, customers, and colleagues, to view, save watermarked PDFs, and leave comments and annotations for the designer to reject or approve.
Provides all-round support
CorelDraw Graphics Suite comes with a set of training tools that can help novice designers in understanding the tool’s various functionalities. They can go through detailed webinars and documentation to learn how to use the graphics design software.
On downloading the tool, users get access to a quick start guide, a reference card, as well as numerous online help files. Users can also visit Corel’s Knowledge Base for any questions they have. The company also offers various ‘how-to’ tutorials and different online communities that you can easily join.
Is the software free to download and use?
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite offers a free 15-day trial period allowing users to download and use the software without sharing their credit card details. After the trial period ends, users can either buy the product or enrol in a subscription model. The graphics design software also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
CorelDRAW system requirements
- Architecture: x64
- OS: Windows 10 version 0.0 or higher
- Touch: Integrated Touch
- Keyboard: Integrated Keyboard
- Mouse: Integrated Mouse
- Memory: 8 GB
- Processor: Intel Core i3/5/7/9 or AMD Ryzen 3/5/7/9/Threadripper, EPYC
Best CorelDRAW alternatives
While the CorelDRAW suite is a powerful graphic design software for Windows, it does have a few good alternatives. If you’re looking for something similar, you may want to check out the ones below:
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a well-known graphic design software used for creating logos, vectors, and illustrations. It's a popular choice among designers, providing versatility and a professional touch.
Key features:
- Creates high-quality illustrations
- Works on desktops or tablets
- Available through a subscription
Affinity Photo
Affinity Photo is an impressive photo editing software that excels in speed and efficiency. It's designed for creative and photography professionals, offering a compelling alternative to established tools like Photoshop.
Key features:
- Fast and efficient editing
- Tailored for creative and photography professionals
- Offers a variety of tools for retouching and composition
Inkscape
Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor, comparable to Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW. Its unique feature is its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as the native format.
Key features:
- Open-source platform
- Utilizes Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
- Similar to Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW
Should I download CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020?
If you’re looking for a professional graphics editor, you should download CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. The software has a set of tools and applications that allow designers to tackle any project that comes their way. It’s even improved since its last version by considering user suggestions. Since it’s free, users can download and review the software before committing.
The professional tracing, vector illustration, photo editing, and page layout software is loaded with features and is also powered by machine-learning capabilities. With its help, you can easily create logos, turn sketches into vector images, enhance typography, and create high-end graphics. The tool also comes with collaboration functionality allowing you to share designs with clients so they can leave feedback via comments. For a professional graphic designer, it’s a suite worth having!
