I’ve been training users of CorelDRAW for over 20 years and I can’t even guess how many I’ve met who were struggling to get tasks completed. Beginners expect to magically be able to create amazing art on the very first day. Users who claim to be power users often miss some of the most basic timesavers. As I watch and train these users, I make notes on the tasks they need to master in order to be as productive as possible. Users who are productive are much more likely to be profitable.

Those notes have then been translated into hundreds of magazine articles, thousands of blog posts and 13 books on CorelDRAW. There were certainly some frustrations with the first six books because of the limitations of the medium. They were all printed in grayscale with a very small number of color pages. I often asked myself how I could explain graphics software if I couldn’t even use color. Of course these limitations were because a full-color book would be very expensive to print.

Some features are very easy to explain with the written word. Other features really need to be shown in action. I did record videotapes (yes, good old VHS videotapes), but they weren’t directly tied in to the written words in the books. Clearly there had to be a way to create a learning resource that integrated the two learning methods while also improving the way the information was presented. Ideally it would be great if I could sit with you as you work with CorelDRAW and answer the questions you have.

While it just isn’t possible to sit at every user’s desk, I designed CorelDRAW X6 Unleashed to be as close as feasibly possible. For those using older versions, I’ve got solutions for you too. First, all of the pages are in full-color. Not only does it look better than the old grayscale pages, it makes it easier to explain all of the features to you. Below is a sample page so you can see it for yourself.

Sometimes there is more information on a subject and the Internet has given us a great tool in the hyperlink. Hyperlinks allows Web pages to link to other things. I use that extensively in CorelDRAW X6 Unleashed to link to information found in other locations in the book as well as Web pages with even more details. How many? I really have never counted the number of hyperlinks but it would easily be in the thousands. Keep in mind that the Table of Contents is also fully hyperlinked so you can click on a topic of interest and go right to that page. Try that with a printed book!

This page also shows a hyperlink to a movie. To get the most from the book, you’ll read a page or two of information and then click the link and watch the movie to get more details on that feature. Some users feel they must have a printed book. You are certainly welcome to print it if you like, but it is awfully difficult to click on the hyperlink and watch movies from a piece of paper.

As the best way to learn the software is to try what you’ve read and watched, I expect you’ll frequently switch back and forth from CorelDRAW X6 Unleashed to CorelDRAW itself. So for those who want a printed book because you can take it anywhere, you can take CorelDRAW X6 Unleashed everywhere you take CorelDRAW as they reside together on the computer.

For new users, CorelDRAW X6 Unleashed allows you to get up to speed as fast as feasibly possible. Experienced users can go straight to the nugget of information they need to learn at any given time. Some users have asked why there is no index? How can they find what they need? That’s yet another area where a PDF far exceeds a printed book. You can search for any term you like. Don’t know how to do that? I also include a PDF file with the book that explains how to do that and more so you get the most from the training DVD.

The best gift you can give yourself for the holidays is knowledge. Especially when that knowledge can allow you to be more productive and more profitable. Of course it would be a nice gift for me if you allow me to take up residence in your computer by purchasing a copy of CorelDRAW X6 Unleashed.

Some of you are concerned about getting the DVD shipped because you live outside the United States. We’ve shipped copies all over the world. Last week we had a day where orders went to Norway and Malaysia. When we posted this on the Graphics Unleashed Facebook page, one of our fans reminded us about the order we shipped to him in Libya. Please don’t let geography prevent you from increasing your productivity. The world is much smaller these days and I want to be a part of your world!