The vast majority of visitors to the Graphics Unleashed Web site use the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite in some way. This had led me to do some research on how people are using CorelDRAW. I know it is used in a wide variety of industries and I want to learn more.
I want to learn your story. What do you produce with CorelDRAW? Is it plaques or banners? T-shirts or embroidered button down shirts? Web sites or printed brochures?
I’d prefer that you leave a comment and tell me all about it. The more the better. If you’d prefer to keep it private, then drop me an e-mail. Make sure I know how to get back in touch with you if I have more questions. I’ll also want to get photos of the various products created. This could also be a way for you to get your name out there if you so desire.
OK, let’s hear it, what do you do with CorelDRAW?
This link finally works.
I make money with CorelDraw Suite in a couple of ways. I used Draw, Paint, and Ventura in concert to produce a large number of layouts for print advertising. These range from business cards to multi-page brochures, posters, and vinyl lettering. I work as a freelancer taking on design projects from companies too small to hire a full time designer but unwilling to leave it to the inhouse designers at the print houses. The advent of PDF as the universal format amoungst print adverstisers and the ability to create bullit-proof post script have allowed me to remain Corel based in an Adobe World.
Most recently, Photopaint has taken center stage in my freelance efforts. I have discovered a cottage industry of designing book, cd and dvd covers using original art created in Photopaint using Draw as a design tool and Ventura as an output conduit. Building on things taught by Sharon George and Paul Huntington at various CorelWorlds, I have contracted for several covers and am serving a growing number of authors and artists.
~Rikk
Hello,
I make money with CorelDraw in a couple of ways. First, I use CorelDraw in my “day job” making point-of-sale advertising for a beer distributorship.
Secondly I use CorelDraw as an independent contractor producing direct mail pieces, restaurant menus, ephemeral signage and Web graphics.Although I have used Paint Shop Pro (pre Corel), Photoshop, and Corel PhotoPaint to produce Web bitmaps, I find that converting .cdr images to the various raster image formats works best for me, and only use the “painting” programs for occasional tweaking of CorelDraw images.
T
I started using CorelDRAW back in ’92 with version 3. I started doing desktop publishing for small businesses and private users. Part of my core business was doing custom resumes which eventually turned into interactive HTML resumes on CD-ROM.
Later, I started doing website design and while I do an occasional print job, that has become my core business.
I’ve made use of primarily Draw and PhotoPaint, but have also used Rave and make quite a bit of use out of CorelTRACE.
– Troy R Schulz
Paper Airplane Desktop Publishing & Web Design
http://www.padp.com
http://www.aeroplayne.com
Foster:
I use corel draw in my sign business. Corel 9 was my mainstay for a long time, than I gave up and bought Corel 11. I had no thought of upgrading for quite a long time, but after reading your review for X3 I upgraded to it. Wow! reducing nodes and tracing alone made it wortwhile!! Stan Sonrise Sign & Design
I’m a quilt designer and teacher, so I use it in two ways–for designing quilts, and I also teach a class on designing with CorelDraw at http://QuiltUniversity.com
I am an independant graphic/web designer. I use CorelDraw to layout business cards, brochures, stationery designs and advertising for clients. I also use it almost exclusively to create logos, which if necessary are then imported to PhotoShop for extra treatment. Sometimes I layout web sites in CorelDraw as drafts because I am so comfortable with it, but I always take the final design to PhotoShop. I also use CorelDraw to create vector files for use in Flash, since I prefer the Corel tools to the Flash tools. (www.papyrusdocument.com)
I also use CorelDraw extensively to modify Bible Clips clip art for Sunday School Bible cards, which I sell online (with the clip artist’s written permission, of course) at http://www.eBibleTeacher.com/children/. I also create kids’ Sunday School worksheets, gameboards, flash cards, charts etc in CorelDraw.
I’ve been using CorelDraw since v4. I rarely use any other Corel tools, sometimes Trace. I never use PhotoPaint, as I am comfortable with PhotoShop and own CS2. As a previous poster indicated, PDF makes it possible to stick with Corel. Also, CorelDraw can export as .ai, which PhotoShop can import well.
I’ve never taken to layout programs such as pageMaker, though I use it when necessary. I much prefer to layout items in CorelDraw for the freedom to manipulate text. I only wish the layers feature was easier to use, then it would be perfect!
Kim Dailey
I’m in the sign business and I’ve used Corel Draw exculsively to layout all my signs since 1997. Corel Draw 7 is what I started with. I then bought 8, 9 and stayed with 9 until this year when I bought 13. I admit I did use 12 for a while though I hadn’t actually “purchased that one (oops :-).
Anyway, I LOVE Corel Draw!!!!!! I’ve tried several “sign” making programs and ALL of the ones that are supposed to be the top of the line but NONE offer the fine, precise, accurate, minute and detailed control that Corel Draw does. And for the price, it’s a no brainer!!!!!
Corel cuts just fine without ANY add-on software too by the way for those who don’t know. Simply select .001 line widths for all your letters and designs and give them no fill. Set the Corel Draw page size to the page size of your cutter and Ctrl-P, Enter… Presto!
Thanks for all your insight into this powerful program. Even after all these years I still learn something new on occasion when reading your newsletter and the various links you provide.
Eddie Davis
Eddie Davis Signs
Richlands, Virginia
I’ve been using Draw since version 8 for doing laser engraving, a little logo design, t-shirts, etc.
I’m on X3 now and it’s the best of all. Use Photopaint occasionally and like the cut out lab.
Graphics Unleashed has been a big help since the first day.
Mike Null
St. Louis Laser, Inc.
I started using CorelDRAW with Version 2, but had to teach myself as in South Africa we use PAL TV standard and the instruction video was in NTSC.
From there I started using it primarily for typesetting in the Printing Industry and have been using it ever since for thet purpose. I now lecture CorelDRAW to students in the Printing Industry. I am constantly blown away by what a great program this is. There is almost nothing it can’t do!
A user since v4 (now CGS13) and a tech writer by trade, there are few days that I am not in some component of CGS. I create operation and maintenance manuals for machinery. DRAW is a convenient way to convert engineering drawings to line illustrations. I use PhotoPaint to adjust equipment photos and then add callouts in DRAW. As a “resource” in the company, I get to help with forms and signs. I use CGS to do the company newsletter. Where there are graphics around here, CGS has probably touched them along the way.
Separately, I use DRAW and PhotoPaint at home to produce real estate sales literature for a few friends.
On the way out.
I’ve been using Draw since version 3 for all my graphic design works and it fed me well. Corel became my “right hand” for years. And then, few years back, they left Hebrew users behind and no longer provide full Hebrew sapport, completely deserting the Israeli market.
Now, with no longer local support and the wonderfull advanced Illu and Photoshop, they shwoed me the way out…
I have been using CorelDraw since version 3 in my sign business coupled with CoCut Pro 9. I am now using version X3 but have to export to version 9 to use CoCut as their upgrade is very pricey.
I use CorelDraw in a variety of ways. I create or redesign logos, modify clipart, create or refine graphs or other elements provided by my customers to be used in conjunction with their publishing projects done in Ventura. I also create graphics for magazine articles.
I use PhotoPaint to convert, resample, and color correct photographs for books, manuals, and other publications.
I also provide training for CorelDraw, PhotoPaint, and Ventura, so the core Corel products are my tools for generating my income.
Carol Lovelady
Lovelady Consulting
I mainly use X3 for producing vinyle decals. The trace feature is unparalleled to no other. This feature cleans scanned or existing bitmap files with little or no work left. We sell hundreds of decals a month we could not do it without Corel X3.
As editor/writer/photographer/designer of an employee newsletter, I utilize Corel Draw and Corel Photo Paint to publish a monthly newsletter that is distributed to 5,000 employees and retirees of the Arizona Department of Transportation. The 10-14 page publication is posted as a pdf on our web site.
Hi,
I work proffessionally as an illustrator (& artist, painter) and I use on a daily basis both Coreldraw & Photo-paint in my work as an illustrator. I do illustrations mostly for different newspapers, magazine & ad-agencys. And sometimes bookpublishers.
I do illustrations in both programs.
C-DRAW & Photo-Paint.
In P-Paint I draw with my wacom intuos sometimes from scratch and sometimes scan my drawings on paper into p-paint and I useally colour my illustrations in P-paint.
With C-draw I do my vector illustrations as well as all my own advertising materials like my presentation catalogues I give to clients, buissness cards and so on.
I only use photo-paint & coreldraw for my illustration work and no other software. Maybe painter will be used more in the future, but no adobe stuff because the corel suite is enough and great to work with.
Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator, Stockholm, SWEDEN
http://www.canvas.nu
Since the early 90’s I have made money with CorelDRAW both as a freelance designer and screenprinting consultant as well as by equipping the screen printing company for which I work full time with it. Midwest Screen Printing and Graphics,Peoria, Illinois prints everything from T-shirts to Dash board and Instrument panels for two of the largest heavy equipment and Off Road truck manufacturers in the world. Additionally, we produce Control Panels for companies that build custom generators and switching gear that is used to control the large engines produced by these giants. CorelDRAW allows us to create the production films and seperations with AutoCAD accuracy and even use the requesting engineer’s files directly.
In my role as a Consultant, CorelDRAW lets me quickly and easily set up customer situations and “what-if” them until a design, printing, trapping or other solution is found.
Hi,
I started with version3 and am now using X3. I am a watercolor artist and have been using draw and paint to enhance my scanned paintings and incorporate them into posters, ads and so forth.
For the past 5 years I have been using CorelDraw (and Paint) for dye sublimation. I produce t-shirts, mugs, cutting boards, ceramic tiles, aprons and much more using CorelDraw and dye sublimation equipment. I also use Corel for flyers, business cards and brochures — and to produce a monthly newsletter for our local Koi & Goldfish club. I design cloisonne pins for
some of the clubs, also. The pin manufacturer is an Adobe nut so I’ve been happy to see the improvements over the versions for transferring corel files to an Adobe version for this supplier.
Foster,
I work for an Aerospace Contractor who used to be Hughes Aircraft Co and is now Raytheon Co. I have worked on the same government contract for almost 25 years and am now the lead for a graphics and web design group. I use Corel (V10) for all the following;
Logo Design, Web Graphics, Newsletters, Presentation Graphics, Technical Illustration, and Engineering Diagramming. Whew! I fail to realize how many different things I do until I actually write them down.
I also use CorelDraw (V12) at home for freelance work usually involving logo design and small jobs like business card art. I am also an amature astronomer and belong to the local Denver Astronomical Society and am using Draw to create handouts and flyers for our open house events.
This sounds like an awful lot of work but actually, Corel has made all these things so easy that I have no real trouble keeping up. I have been using the Draw Suite since V3 and have been to one Corel World Conference and several of Rick Altman’s workshops. I dont know about others but I find Draw and the rest of the suite to be kind of addictive. I cant stay away :o)
I use Corel Draw and Painter to create greeting cards which I print and assemble myself. Most of my clientele have come by word of mouth and at shows. I have my greeting cards in two gift shops, one in Michigan and one in New York. Many of my paintings have been displayed at the “Dominican Institute for the Arts”. I love both of these programs and also taught CorelDraw to High School Students before retiring.
I have recently started to use Photodex ProShow to have my items available on the web. You might want to make a visit and see how I make the programs work for me. Paste this web address in your browser: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewalbum.html?bm=108838
I use CDR for at work for almost all business graphics, photo retouching and advertising. We do most of the above in-house. I also use it for newsletter layout. Off hours we use it for personal graphics… from the family christmas letter to cards and pictures.
I work in a trophy shop which uses laser engravers; Corel has always been the software of choice for this industry. I’m the layout person and I live in Corel nine hours a day, not only for setting up jobs to send to the lasers but for in-house brochures, signage, and customer proofs (which I send as PDF files made by Draw) plus I own it for personal use also and do almost everything at home in it as well (newsletters, greeting cards, cartoons, etc.)
I’ve been using the software since version 3 – it’s by far the easiest vector illustration software I’ve ever used but still enormously powerful.
Hi Foster,
I’m a former Boot Camper who has used Corel Draw since version 3 and I love it. I work for the health insurance end of the Michigan Education Association and use Corel Draw daily as a graphic designer. I produce newsletters, business cards, flyers, brochures, CD covers/labels, small booklets and just about anything required of me on the job. I am surrounded by Adobe/Mac users and find that Corel can hold its own among all of them. In my home business, D&M DesignWorks, I have done some freelance graphic work and am now using the program for various print projects pertaining to my bead design and knitting crafts.
I use CorelDraw for sublimation. I put logos, photos and designs on t-shirts, mugs, plaques, puzzles, tote bags, name tags, and much more. I also use CorelDraw to clean up artwork before I digitize a design for embroidery. The time spent cleaning up artwork rather than trying to digitize from pixel junk – is well worth it.
Elaine @ FabriGraphx
I’ve used CorelDraw since 3 and use X3 now, and find that it just keeps getting better.
I’ve used Corel in almost all of my work efforts in one way or another, but my main income is as a casino design consultant. We create everything from finished furniture, millwork and themed areas to sign design packages. I use it not only for client presentation/review, but also create shop drawings, all in full color. Some of this work involves detailed views with perspectives and cutaways (using the lens effect).
I also use Corel for my other creative outlets…logo design, page layouts, CD/DVD label design and photo layout. I even use it for creating airport diagrams for use in our Civil Air Patrol Squadron.
It really is amazing what can be done with this software with a little creativity.
We’ve used Corel since version 1.1 which begs the question – was there a 1?
However I stopped upgrading with every version at 7 jumping to 9 then 12. Not so happy with the bugs remaining in 12- it deserved a 2nd service pack, though I seem to have learned to work around. “Not being able to leave crop marks on by default for instance”
I like it for Forms and short items which is 90% of my work. Corel Trace and PhotoPaint launching from Corel makes a nice suite, the imposition and tiling capabilities for output are great.
I remember talking with Corel about the need for a dictionary and voila.
My 1st CD drive was from a Corel upgrade.
I’ve bought and junked Ventura, though I did use it to create a 400 page book., junked Word Perfect before Corel ownership as everyone brings in Word.
Pagemaker is pretty much done. Don’t see the point in working in CS2. My clients don’t have it. They are much happier if I can print their document or return a document in Word or cringe, Publisher.
I would like to see Corel finish support for long documents in Corel. They might have kept WordPerfect alive had they bundled it with Corel upgrade and had it launch the Corel Products. Not if it was like the buggy Ventura release that came with one version of Corel however. Actually Wordperfect launching from within Corel would be my choice.
I am a freelance graphics / web designer and use CorelDraw for business cards, letterheads, logos, presentation folders and simple flyers. I also use CorelDraw for producing web graphics and rough layouts for webpages. I use Photo-Paint for converting, resampling, correcting and enhancing images supplied by clients and finalising webgraphics produced in Draw. I use Ventura – the best publishing tool available, for multi-page brochures and other publications.
Files for sending to printers is output to PDF directly from within Corel Graphics Suite and Ventura. Resulting PDFs are checked using Acrobat Professional.
I have been a CorelDraw / Photopaint user since version 4 and an avid Ventura user since this software was owned by Xerox
Graham Bond
GBvisual.com
I’d say about 80% of my work is for the screenprinting industry and the rest is pretty varied: logos, web design, incentives design, posters, etc. Been a Corel cat since the beginning; became a traitor and moved to Photoshop for all of my bitmap work about mid-nineties. But CorelDraw is still my go-to for vector work and hopefully always will be.
-big John
Rimshot Graphix
i have a one man sign shop, working from my home. I do custom design: logos, vehicle lettering, a coupon book 8 times a year, large format digital printing, and whatever pays the bills. Most of my work is designed w/ CorelDRAW, but often output using FlexiSIGN. I find Corel to be intuitive, easy-to-use and stable. I use photopaint for much of the special effects in my designs.
I made money out of CorelDraw by designing neon and other type of signs, i also did some logo design for local companys, But most was desiging concepts for Powerpoint presentations. I am a governonment employee – that way i don’t realy spend more time on making profits by desiging – most are as s favors for friends in my spare time.
Best regards,
AjIsCoool
I use CorelDRAW to create the artwork I need to print on coffee cups and golf balls. I’ve been using CorelDRAW since version 3, and for the past 10 years have used many of the versions in the process.
I use PhotoPaint to edit scanned images, CorelTrace to convert bitmaps to vecor images, and CorelDRAW to resize and print the images.
I attended a Corel BootCamp in Ottawa, Canada the day after Michael Cowpland (sp?) stepped down. I truly enjoyed the experience.
Thanks,
David
wow? how can someone not use coreldraw?
startd with v9 skipped 10 and 11 (except a demo copy) then 12 and now x3. always keeping updated with hot patches and service packs. (right now downloadin x3′ sp1 and word perfect 12’s sp 3.
started using cd in my son’s sign business. doing all design work and sending files to a win98 machine that ran the plotter.
added a couple of epson 3000’s to do sublimation on pretty good variety of products. started using more and more of corelpaint.
the sign shop was located in a small town w/o a printer (and my background was printing) so we also began using cd for designing everything from business cards to large posters. all printing was farmed out to job shops around so california.
we added a roland pc600 and an epson 9600 so naturally cd and cp took on added responsibilities. roland color choice and onyx rips worked seamlessly with corel.
taught a high school woodshop teacher some of the finer points of coreldraw for designing for the school’s universal laser engraver. in the process made some really neat wedding gifts the seemd to be totally appreciated.
another son has a cnc plasma. he has turned out some really beautiful metal work with his designs created in coreldraw. again i am facinated just how easy it is to move files designed in cd to the plasma.
as a final use. another son has a high end cnc mill and cnc lathe. i have designed parts in cd that he moved into featurecam to do final prep for the mill.
so i ask, what can’t you do with coreldraw.
i only wish that corels drawings had been available when needed to send jobs out for embrodiery.
dick
Foster, I have used v9 for many years to create plasma cut metal art. I will take a photograph of a car, scan it into PhotoPaint, convert to line art image with just enough detail to keep the image identifiable. I then use trace to convert to an Autocad DXF file. This is imported into Draw. I then make a seperate layer for each object. The internal objects are ‘layered’ first, the last external object is the highest number layer- so that it becomes the last object cut by my CNC cutting system. The Plasma cutter is attached to CNC table and the software imports the DXF file and converts to cut paths. I will scale the image an appropriate size, and becasue I have already converted to vector, there is no pixelation. I take my desigs to arts & craft shows for sale as well as using online auctions. That’s how I make money with CorelDraw/Photopaint Graphics suite!
cheers,
Frank
AutoArtSilhouettes
how can i send diagrams from coreldraw to my blog (bloggerbeta)?
Foster, I have made well over half a million dollars with Corel Draw over the last 10 years….for advertising graphics, web design work, and my own direct response business.
Far and away the easiest application that produces professional work. X3 is the best yet and I hope Corel is around forever!
Bruce
http://www.daytradeforincome.com
How I can make money using coreldraw? Is there a company that pays on a project base? I use coreldraw and photoshoppe
This comment has been removed by the author.
I’ve used CorelDRAW since Ver 3. I have used the program to illustrate 2 US Army Field Manuals, and most of the illos on my web site at http://www.zhibit.org/nealnaughton
Neal Naughton
http://www.zhibit.org/nealnaughton
nealnaughton@aol.com