Typing text at 270 degrees

Note: I don't mean temperature!!! LOL...

Type some text on your CorelDRAW page.

Then, try Ronny Axelsson's tip:
Ctrl + period will rotate text 270 degrees.
Ctrl + comma reverts back to normal.

Cool macro from new author

Alexander Penkin's Highlights is available. Check out this cool macro from our newest macro author.

RasterControl details updated

RasterControl is a commercial product that allows one to chose an alternate bitmap editor for CorelDRAW.

Outside of enhanced linking, a round-trip workflow from Draw to PS and back is my fav part (even though I use PP most of the time).

Something that users have wanted for a long time: the ability to send numerous bitmaps from Draw into another editor at once. If that's desirable for some users, RasterControl does it. PP can be chosen as an editor also for this purpose too!

Here's an English help file which should answer any questions.

Getting CorelDRAW into schools

Foster had another good post on this. My comment:

I love your school idea, and truly believe some kids would be there on weekends and evenings instead of getting into trouble or just wasting time.

I wonder if their could even be special gov. assistance for this kind of thing "outside" the school system, through a community outreach program to get kids or the unemployed doing something rather than moping around in depression.

There are some other benefits. These days I've been getting somewhat political. More than ever, I think kids should embrace:

1. The process of capitalism. Design, create, sell: The kids can meet a real need in the community, with a real product.
2. The evaporating concept of freedom of expression. If kids want to put flaming skulls on a shirt, bunnies and flowers, controversial ideologies and slogans (regardless of far right or far left position)... it's all fair game. First Amendment Rights!!!

Another idea: Corel should have a full-time rep that only deals with product manufacturers. Not a sales rep to give them bulk deals, more a technical dude that shows WHY Draw should be #1 choice to drive their equipment, whether preparing files for CNC, garmet output, vinyl cutting, plasma cutting, xerox, canon etc.

Corel's position in the industry

Foster had a very interesting post on this, and here was my comment:

I think many designers consider CorelDRAW a guilty pleasure.

Corel - and often their users also - have a self-esteem problem. We're victims of a very successful marketing strategy from the competition.

There is a basic truth that keeps us hanging on. CorelDRAW is a fantastic product, regardless of price. When price IS brought into the equation, the value is undeniable.

So how can Draw users turn the tables? In 1998, no one was shy to say they liked CorelDRAW. Now we are mocked and demonized, because of fashion, not because of the capabilities of our preferred product.

IMO, it's easier to deal with a fashion issue through a reverse campaign than to compete based on features/benefits of the software itself (esp for the price). Draw has already won that war.

2 ways to go:

One way is to ensure people understand that CorelDRAW is a viable alternative in 2009.

I'm brazen and would go for the gold, since life is short. That means being ultra-aggressive and declaring war.

After my campaign Adobe users would be shaken and hopefully feel like Adobe has offered them poor software, at enormous cost, for a very long time. And, for their users? It's time for a change.

If Adobe is outraged, the forums are buzzing about this campaign, the campaign invokes great emotion and yet backs up the claims with facts? Now we are selling, not just existing.

Patti Anderson's Gradient Map Tones

This macro is now available for Photo-PAINT X4.