These can all be remapped, but it feels like some extra thought could go into the default options – including adding a default shortcut for the basic Pick tool, which is regularly used to select and move objects around the canvas. There is one odd thing that bothered me, though – the keyboard shortcuts for common tools are a strange mix of QWERTY keys and function keys (F1, F2, etc.), which makes for some slower-than-normal tool switching. Overall, the interface is quite effective for all of CorelDRAW’s primary tasks, and the customization options are excellent. You can even customize the way that paths, handles, and nodes are drawn for vector shapes, ensuring that the interface will work exactly the way you want it to. Once you dive down the customization rabbit hole, it turns out that you can customize almost every aspect of the interface, from the color to the scale of various UI elements. I’m not sure I understand the reason for this extra step, as it would be simple enough just to leave them all unlocked, but it’s a minor issue. It is also possible to customize the layout of some of the UI aspects, such as the color picker and the contents of the docker panel on the right, but the toolbars are fixed until you go into the customization options to unlock them. CorelDRAW wearing an Adobe Illustrator Hallowe’en costume Interestingly, Corel is actively attempting to ease the transition for users who are switching from Adobe Illustrator by going so far as to offer a custom workspace specifically geared towards imitating the Illustrator layout – although even the default is fairly similar already. One is aimed at new users who want a simplified interface, but there are also custom workspaces designed for illustration tasks, page layout tasks, and touch-based hardware, as well as the simplified ‘Lite’ workspace for new users who don’t want to be overwhelmed with features right away. The docker panel on the right is currently displaying the ‘Hints’ section, a helpful built-in resource that explains how each tool functionsĬorel has included a number of custom interface layouts known as workspaces. The CorelDRAW user interface follows the fairly standard pattern for graphics editing programs: a main working window surrounded by tools on the left and top, with customization and adjustment options appearing on the right in a customizable area known as the ‘docker’ panel. Note: The documents shown in the screenshots below are from Corel’s premade templates. Instead, we’ll focus on the user interface and how effective it is at the primary tasks it’s designed for vector drawing and page layout, as well as looking at a couple of the most appealing features. Detailed Review of CorelDRAWĬorelDRAW combines a lot of features into a single program, so we don’t have time or space to explore everything it can do in this review. All of this combines nicely with my love of computers and technology to give me a unique perspective on software, and I use it to help people sort the good image editing apps from the bad.ĭisclaimer: Corel provided me with no compensation or consideration for writing this review, and they have had no editorial input or review of the final content. This career has given me experience with a wide range of graphics and image editing programs, from small open-source software efforts to industry-standard software suites, as well as some training in user interface design. Hi, my name is Thomas Boldt, and I’ve been working in the graphic arts for over 15 years.
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