CorelDRAW X4 - Cool things, and some Quick Fixes

Some new things about the recently released CorelDRAW X4:

Powertrace doesn't always "knock-out" the trace results anymore, this is much better IMO.. for everyone, really. Why?

1. Vinyl guys can layer stuff properly again
2. No more workarounds for exporting art that in X3 had those dreadful anti-aliasing lines between shapes.

Other stuff I'd lobbied hard for:

An overflowed paragraph text frame border now turns red to indicate text will be cut off. Even if viewing frame borders is disabled.

When an interactively transparency/merge mode is applied to a bitmap on Draw's page, it is retained during round trip workflow to PP and back.

There is some new "custom docker" capability, but only useful for the really advanced folks. But at least it's possible now. This means that some future macros can be designed for their own dockers.

2 glitches:

->Text Tweaking...
If the numerous text dockers (since X3) drive you bananas with adjustments scattered everywhere, go here for a solution:

->Bitmap Resolution at a glance...
A major ommission (IMO) already has a semi-solution. Bitmap DPI is not shown in X4's Status Bar.(!)

Os, one of the resident macro geniuses at Macromonster.com has already engineered a solution. Go get it!

Using Photo-Paint's Selective Color command

I stumbled across this photo where the person has a serious color issue on his face.

To follow along;

1. Double Click on the image for a clear version.

2. Copy this image right off this web page (right click on it, copy ) and paste into Photo-PAINT. Open PP, got to File | New From Clipboard.

3. Mask the top image of the person. Use rectangle mask tool.

4. go to Adjust menu | Selective Color

5. Use the settings shown in the tutorial.

Jeff's Sooper Dooper "Must Have" Macros V2

The are 6 more powerful macros over at macromonster.com that help solve problems for CorelDRAW users.

1. You can now have feathered shapes in CorelDRAW, with full control over everything. :-)

2. Find and delete objects with no fill or outline. These little surprises can appear when importing PDF's from Word or Publisher. If you have one of them selected as part of many shapes, and you try to Weld etc. - CorelDRAW can crash. This macro helps keep your files clean.

3. You can force text to Sentence Case or ALL CAPS using Shortcut Keys. Changing text cases is tedious using Corel's menu commands. When you are designing an advertisement etc. and want to see how something looks in ALL CAPS, now it's easy!

4. When a customer wants text that's 3" tall (this would be for vinyl cut signs etc.), they aren't taking descenders into account. This macro helps create the correct sized text from the start.

5. Auto-delete phantom Shapes when converting Outlines To Objects. This gets rid of the "leftover interior shape" that Draw leaves behind (in Version X3 or earlier). Simply change Ctrl+Shift+Q from Corel's default command to run the macro instead.

6. The Align-Outside Macro enables you to line up shapes so that they are butt-aligned. There is even a new option where the width of the outline is taken into account!

Go HERE to see them. There's a movie you can download to see them in action.

wOxxOm Zoom Out from Center Macro

If the "crazy zooming" drives you up the wall in CorelDRAW X3 (I think it does this in CorelDRAW ver. 12 too), install this macro and assign your F3 key to run it.

Then when you "back out" from your document by pressing F3, the document will always be centered on your screen.

Many users prefer this, since it was how older versions of CorelDRAW worked.

wOxxOm Multipage Export to Bitmaps

If you ever need to export multiple pages out of Draw to a bitmap format, this macro will be very handy. The options for exporting your pages are comprehensive!

Here's more info, including a screen shot of the dialog.

Definitely worth having this one around...

wOxxOm Save Old Version

Some of you might use multiple versions of CorelDraw, or interact with others who do.

Let's say you are working with X3. Wellll... you should be right? :-) Upgrade here...

Another artist sends you a file made in an older version. You work on their file and send it back. But, you forgot to "down-save" it to their older CorelDRAW version! The other person can't open your file! What do you do? You have to down-save it and re-send...

For those who don't know, you can save to older CorelDRAW versions by expanding the save dialog box, then the option appears.

It's possible to automatically save the CorelDRAW file to it's pre-existing version level behind the scenes. How? Assign Ctrl+S to launch the macro. Good Job, Os! Here's the macro.

Automatic Rectangle Fixer for CorelDRAW

This CorelDRAW macro fixes those rounded corners that go funny when you stretch or skew a rectangle.

This macro has the best corner correction I've seen... check out the corners of the skewed rectangle.

What's really cool is how this macro can be set up to fix corners for you "on the fly"!