Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 Reviewer's Guide Reviewer’s RNA

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Contents
1 | Introducing Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 ...........1
2 | Customer profiles ...........................................................5
Technical illustrators ........................................................................................... 5
Technical graphics users ...................................................................................... 6

3 | A walkthrough of Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 ...7
4 | What’s included .............................................................11
Applications ...................................................................................................... 11
Supporting applications ................................................................................... 11
Documentation ................................................................................................. 12
Training .............................................................................................................. 12
Minimum system requirements ....................................................................... 12

5 | Top new and enhanced features ..................................13
Access technical design assets .......................................................................... 13
Create better technical diagrams .................................................................... 17
Streamline the technical illustration workflow ............................................... 18
Discover advanced image-editing features ...................................................... 22

6 | Summary of new and enhanced features ...................25
7 | Upgrading to Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 ......27
Upgrading from Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite 12 ...................................... 27
Migrating from CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 ............................................... 29

8 | Glossary .........................................................................31

About Corel
Corel is a leading developer of graphics, productivity, and digital media software,
with more than 100 million users worldwide. The company’s product portfolio
includes some of the world’s most popular and widely recognized software brands,
including CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite, Corel® Paint Shop Pro®, Corel® Painter™,
Corel DESIGNER®, Corel® WordPerfect® Office, WinZip®, and iGrafx®. In 2006,
Corel acquired InterVideo, makers of WinDVD®, and Ulead, a leading developer of
video, imaging, and DVD authoring software. Designed to help people become more
productive and express their creative potential, Corel’s full-featured software
products set a higher standard for value in being easier to learn and use. The
industry has responded with hundreds of awards recognizing Corel’s leadership in
software innovation, design, and value. Corel’s products are sold in more than 75
countries through a well-established network of international resellers, retailers,
original equipment manufacturers, online providers, and Corel’s global Web sites.
With its headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, the company has major offices in the
United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Japan. Corel’s stock is
traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol CREL and on the TSX under the symbol
CRE.
Copyright © 2008 Corel Corporation. All rights reserved.
CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X4 Reviewer’s Guide
Protected by U.S. Patents 5652880; 5347620; 5767860; 6195100; 6385336; 6552725; 6657739;
6731309; 6825859; 6633305; Patents Pending.
Product specifications, pricing, packaging, technical support and information (“specifications”)
refer to the retail English version only. The specifications for all other versions (including other
language versions) may vary.
INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY COREL ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY OTHER WARRANTIES
OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF
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ALLOW EXCLUSIONS OR LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL
DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Corel, the Corel logo, ActiveCGM, Corel CAPTURE, CorelDRAW, Corel DESIGNER, Corel
PHOTO-PAINT, CorelTUTOR, Designer, iGrafx, Paint Shop Pro, Painter, PowerTRACE,
WinDVD, WinZip, and WordPerfect are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel
Corporation and/or its subsidiaries in Canada, the U.S., and/or other countries.
3ds Max, AutoCAD, Autodesk, DWG, DXF, and Inventor are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. CATIA is a registered
trademark of Dassault Systèmes in the United States and other countries. ConceptShare is
a trademark of ConceptShare Inc. in Canada, the United States, and/or other countries.
Deep Exploration and Right Hemisphere are trademarks or registered trademarks owned
by Right Hemisphere, Inc. Google and SketchUp are trademarks of Google Inc. Internet
Explorer, Microsoft, Visio, Visual Basic, Windows, and Windows Vista and are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or
other countries. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other
countries. Pro/ENGINEER is a trademark or registered trademark of Parametric
Technology Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and in other countries. SolidWorks is
a registered trademark of SolidWorks Corporation. Unicode is a trademark of Unicode,
Inc. Other product, font, and company names and logos may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.

1
Introducing Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite X4
Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite X4 is an essential software solution for
businesses that rely on the creation of technical illustrations to communicate the
strengths of their products and services.
Unmatched by any other technical graphics package, Corel DESIGNER Technical
Suite X4 provides industry-leading file compatibility, including 3D CAD import,
while delivering precision tools for illustrating, diagramming, bitmap-to-vector
tracing, and professional photo editing. With its optimized workflow, multilanguage support, and easy network deployment, this comprehensive suite is
equipped to meet the needs of companies that demand technical design
excellence.
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 is a member of the CorelDRAW® family of
products, leveraging the award-winning design power of that graphics suite and
extending it with tools and features tailored to the technical illustration
workflow. Complete compatibility between the two suites allows CorelDRAW
users to work in Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 with almost no learning
curve and facilitates a seamless exchange of ideas and information between
workflows and departments.

What is a technical illustration?
A technical illustration can be a drawing, diagram, image, or design that visually
structures and communicates complex technical information — even to nontechnical audiences. Technical illustrations appear in documents that vary widely
in scale and complexity — for example, furniture construction manuals, parts
catalogs, machine assembly instructions, and interactive electronic technical
training manuals (IETM). The media used for output are also diverse, ranging
from printed materials to interactive screen illustrations.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 1 ]

Complete technical graphics solution
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 provides powerful applications, compelling
new features, and unrivaled compatibility for technical graphic files.
Corel DESIGNER X4, the centerpiece of the suite, has been redesigned specifically
to support the processes of technical graphics professionals. This latest version
provides a streamlined workflow, easier access to intuitive drawing tools, and
new features for repurposing legacy data. The introduction of 3D CAD file
import, the enhanced support for industry-standard file formats, and a wide
array of new and enhanced tools and features dramatically speed the technical
illustration process.

The redesigned Corel DESIGNER X4 user interface

Right Hemisphere® Deep Exploration™, a 3D-to-2D graphics conversion
application, is included with Corel DESIGNER X4, allowing users to work with
3D CAD files.
Other applications in the suite help streamline the creation of technical and
business-oriented graphics for professionals who work in a technical
environment. Designed for use in a graphics workflow, Corel PHOTO-PAINT® X4
is a professional image-editing application that lets users quickly and easily
retouch and enhance photos. To help repurpose legacy drawings, the suite
includes Corel PowerTRACE®, a bitmap-to-vector tracing application that
converts scanned technical illustrations into editable vector images. Rounding
out the suite is Corel CAPTURE™ X4, an advanced screen capture application.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 2 ]

Streamlined technical-illustration process
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 simplifies the workflow of technical
illustrators, especially during the collaborative stages of a project. By using Deep
Exploration, technical illustrators can work with 3D CAD files without having to
obtain a 3D CAD license. Enhanced support for the industry-standard AutoCAD®
DWG™ and DXF™ formats saves users time by eliminating file-conversion errors.
Corel DESIGNER X4 also offers improved compatibility with a wide range of
standard file formats for business and engineering environments, including PDF,
Microsoft® Visio®, Microsoft® Publisher, and Microsoft® Office files.
An array of dedicated technical-illustration features helps users work quickly
without compromising precision. By using the enhanced tools for creating halos
and connector lines, users can add an unprecedented level of clarity to their
drawings. Improved dimension, arrowhead, and line tools let users easily and
intuitively create and fine-tune technical illustrations and diagrams. In addition,
the projected drawing modes dramatically increase productivity by letting users
actively draw on the projected plane, which eliminates the need to draw the
object first and then project it in a second step.
To facilitate collaboration, Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 offers
CorelDRAW® ConceptShare™, which lets users share their designs and ideas
with colleagues or clients in real time. What’s more, enhanced PDF capabilities
allow users to add password protection to their designs and to archive files in a
format compliant with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Reviewer’s Guide [ 3 ]

2
Customer profiles
Technical illustrators
Technical Illustrators have formal training in a technical or graphics field. They
work for small to medium-sized technical-illustration service providers and for
large companies within technical documentation departments. Some technical
illustrators are self-employed.
The graphics created by technical illustrators are used in assembly instructions,
user guides, parts catalogs, maintenance manuals, schematics, or wiring
diagrams. These documents are output to various media, such as print, the Web,
and interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs).
The files that a technical illustrator receives from colleagues and clients are
created with various industry-standard applications. As a result, a wide range of
file formats must be easily integrated into the technical illustrator’s workflow.
With tight deadlines, technical illustrators also need to streamline their
processes, especially within a collaborative environment. Therefore, they greatly
value the ability to save time by basing new projects on legacy documents.
Corel DESIGNER X4 addresses these needs by allowing technical illustrators to
import 3D CAD files and by providing enhanced support for AutoCAD formats.
Technical illustrators can get right to work without having to spend time
correcting errors that occur during format conversion. Corel DESIGNER X4 also
lets technical illustrators easily access legacy documents, whether in digital
format or on hard copy, by providing enhanced support for older Corel
DESIGNER files. What’s more, technical illustrators can now convert scanned
drawings and blueprints to vector graphics by using Corel PowerTRACE, a
dedicated bitmap-to-vector conversion application that is integrated into Corel
DESIGNER X4.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 5 ]

Users can leverage data from a variety of sources when creating technical illustrations.

New drawing tools help technical illustrators quickly improve the clarity of their
work. CorelDRAW ConceptShare, a new collaborative tool, lets technical
illustrators share and review files within Corel DESIGNER X4. In addition,
technical illustrators can customize the workspace to best suit their working
style and can save valuable time by automating tasks.

Technical graphics users
Technical graphics users work in large-enterprise environments. Among their
many tasks and responsibilities is the need to create a variety of graphics,
including diagrams used in presentation material, floor plans, and schematics.
These users may create graphics from scratch or base them on legacy files. They
often work collaboratively, and the graphics they create may later be imported
for reuse with office-productivity, diagramming, and desktop-publishing
software.
Self-taught in graphic design, these users can confidently turn to the enhanced
diagramming tools in Corel DESIGNER X4 to modify existing graphics.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4, a professional-caliber image editor, allows them to work
with photos in a wide variety of formats — including raw files from over 300
camera models — to create presentation and marketing collateral.
With its extensive collection of learning tools, Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4
makes it easy to create impressive images — even for users without a technical
design background. Furthermore, technical graphics users can work seamlessly
with clients and colleagues in other departments, thanks to the enhanced
compatibility with industry-standard file formats, including Microsoft Visio,
Microsoft Office, Microsoft Publisher, and PDF 1.7.
With a collection of learning tools, Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 makes it
easy for technical graphics users to create impressive images without training.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 6 ]

3
A walkthrough of Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite X4
Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite X4 was conceived with a specific focus on the
technical illustrator’s needs — design precision, collaboration efficiency and
flexibility, and the ability to repurpose legacy data and drawings.

Accommodating the technical illustrator’s workflow
The creation of technical illustrations can be complex, especially when designs
are intended to serve multiple departments within an organization. The
diagram for a single part may need to be used in product documentation and
later repurposed for use in marketing materials. In such cases, users must be able
to collaborate with internal and external department resources and work
seamlessly with external data in various file formats.

Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 integrates with the workflow of technical illustrators.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 7 ]

Minimizing data loss through AutoCAD® compatibility
Today, most technical illustrations originate from data created by CAD engineers
in 2D or 3D files. Often, a technical illustrator uses multiple applications before
finishing a design. The ability to exchange this information between
applications without losing data is critical to a technical illustrator's workflow.
Corel DESIGNER X4 offers technical illustrators improved support when they
work with both 2D and 3D CAD files. Compatibility with AutoCAD 2D files has
been upgraded, and enhanced support for a range of 3D design files —
including AutoCAD, Google® SketchUp™, and 3ds Max® — helps overcome
obstacles in the technical illustration workflow. What’s more, users don’t need a
CAD license to work with 3D CAD files. Deep Exploration, an application that
converts 3D files to 2D files, has been added to the suite, so 3D files can be
opened and modified with Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4.

Users can work with 2D and 3D CAD drawings using projected drawing modes.

Converting legacy designs
Technical graphics professionals often base a new illustration on an existing one
to save time. Legacy designs can range from bitmaps of scanned hard copies to
drawings created with older versions of Corel DESIGNER.
Corel PowerTRACE offers the new Centerline Trace method, which is perfect for
tracing line drawings and lets users produce more accurate strokes. In addition,
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 has been enhanced to make working with
legacy Micrografx Designer® (DSF) files easier than ever.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 8 ]

Creating better diagrams
Diagrams are used frequently these days to communicate with clients and to
map projects and processes with colleagues. Professionals with diverse
backgrounds in graphic design are often tasked with creating diagrams.
To that end, Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 has optimized diagram creation
by offering an enhanced Connector tool. Corel DESIGNER X4 can automatically
recognize and convert freehand shapes and lines into diagram-ready connector
lines. Users also benefit from enhanced support for Microsoft Visio files, so they
can easily import and work with files saved in the latest versions of that file
format.

Using the right tool for the job
Technical illustrators require tools designed for very specific tasks. For instance,
they need to be able to work quickly and intuitively when adding or fine-tuning
dimension lines and text, two-point lines, detailed annotations, callouts, and
measurements. The ability to call attention to an element in an illustration by
providing a magnified view is also critical.
Dimension tools have been enhanced so that users can create custom dimension
styles and offer dynamic dimension text, which can be modified independently.
In just a few clicks, users can add clarity to technical illustrations and diagrams by
adding halos on overlapping connector lines and callouts, and by highlighting
axes in an exploded view of a drawing object.

Corel DESIGNER X4 lets users easily add clarity to their technical illustrations.

Users also gain more control when they access the new Object Coordinates
docker, which lets users create a drawing component by specifying size and
position. The docker also provides users with a live preview while they work.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 9 ]

Collaborating effectively
Technical graphics professionals may create several iterations of an illustration,
each one based on feedback from colleagues. With a focus on saving time, they
seek to streamline the process of sharing, editing, and finalizing technical
graphics.
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 offers CorelDRAW ConceptShare, a valuable
online collaboration tool. In a Web-based environment, CorelDRAW
ConceptShare lets users share their technical documents and drafts with
colleagues and invite others to provide feedback in real time.

Users can collaborate in real time.

Leveraging single-source publishing
The diagrams, graphics, and illustrations that are created by technical graphics
professionals are viewed on a number of platforms — print, the Web, online
Help systems, and IETMs. These deliverables are often incorporated into larger
documents that contain content created from many different applications.
Corel DESIGNER X4 users need no additional software to save a design as a PDF,
which can be secured with a password or stored in an ISO-compliant PDF/A
archiving format. In addition, Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 helps ensure
perfect printing results through its color management system and advanced
preflight capabilities. Users can also export their work to Microsoft Office, as
well as to other industry-standard formats used in content management systems
(CMS), product data management (PDM) systems, and desktop publishing.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 10 ]

4
What’s Included in Corel DESIGNER® Graphics Suite X4?
Applications
•

Corel DESIGNER® X4: Created to meet the demands of technical
illustrators for precision vector drawing and layout, Corel DESIGNER X4
streamlines the technical graphics workflow. The application offers new and
enhanced drawing tools, an intuitively redesigned application interface, and
more features for repurposing legacy drawings.

•

Corel PHOTO-PAINT® X4: With this professional image-editing application,
users can quickly and easily retouch and enhance photos.
Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4 is specifically designed for use in a graphics
workflow.

•

Corel® PowerTRACE™: Technical illustrators often need to convert
scanned copies of legacy diagrams into high-quality vector images for
illustrations, schematics, and graphical items. Corel PowerTRACE X4 solves
this problem by letting users quickly and accurately convert scanned
technical drawings into editable vector graphics.

•

Right Hemisphere® Deep Exploration™: With this new application, users
can quickly transform 3D CAD models into accurate 2D graphics, export
directly to Corel DESIGNER X4 or create bitmap renderings for retouch with
Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4, and leverage existing CAD assets without expensive
CAD software or engineering.

•

Corel CAPTURE™ X4: This one-click screen-capture utility lets users capture
images from their computer screens.

Supporting applications
•

Microsoft® Visual Basic® for Applications 6.4: An object-oriented
programming language, Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) lets
users create macros to automate tasks and extend functionality within
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4. Users can create custom solutions that
integrate with other applications and increase productivity for technical
illustrators.

•

Barcode wizard: This wizard lets users generate bar codes in a wide range
of industry-standard formats.

•

Duplexing wizard: This wizard helps users optimize their work for printing
two-sided documents.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 11 ]

Documentation
•

User Guide: Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 includes a comprehensive
660-page printed user guide that provides conceptual and procedural
information about Corel DESIGNER X4 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4. The user
guide is also available in PDF format.

•

Online Help: Users can find answers to common questions, detailed
reference information, and step-by-step procedural information about
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 by clicking Help menu ` Help Topics.

•

VBA Programming Guide: Available in PDF format, the Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite X4 Programming Guide for VBA helps users automate tasks
and create custom solutions with Microsoft® Visual Basic® for Applications
(VBA) software.

•

Deployment Guide: A comprehensive resource in PDF format, the
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 Deployment Guide provides detailed
installation and deployment information (licensed customers only).

Training
•

CorelTUTOR™: From within Corel Designer X4 and Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4,
users can access online, project-based tutorials that help them learn to use
each application. In addition to providing tours of both workspaces,
CorelTUTOR helps users learn to work with dimension lines and callouts,
create projected drawings, draw a wiring diagram, and much more.

Minimum system requirements
•

Windows Vista® Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, or Business (32-bit
or 64-bit), with latest Service Pack and Critical Updates; or Windows® XP
Home, Media, or Professional Edition, with latest Service Pack and Critical
Updates

•

512 MB of RAM

•

800-MHz processor (Pentium® III, or equivalent)

•

600 MB of hard-disk space for full installation of all included applications

•

1,024 × 768 or better monitor resolution (768 × 1,024 on a tablet PC)

•

CD-ROM drive

•

Mouse or tablet

•

Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7 or higher

Reviewer’s Guide [ 12 ]

5
Top new and enhanced features
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 helps technical graphics professionals quickly
and effectively communicate the strengths of their products and services.
With industry-leading file compatibility and design features, technical
illustrators can quickly retrieve design assets and repurpose legacy documents.
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 also offers an array of new and enhanced
tools and features that streamline the creation of technical illustrations, intuitive
diagramming tools, and professional photo-editing features unmatched by
those in any other technical graphics package.

Access technical design assets
With market-leading compatibility features and convenient file searching,
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 makes it easy for users to exchange files and
find the right technical design asset for the job. In addition, Corel PowerTRACE
allows users to convert scanned blueprints and illustrations from bitmaps to
vector graphics, unlocking and repurposing the data in legacy files.

Feature Spotlight
New! 3D CAD import
Corel DESIGNER X4 users do not need a CAD license to work with 3D CAD
files. With Right Hemisphere® Deep Exploration™, an integrated 3D-to-2D
conversion application, users can open 3D CAD files — such as 3D DXF/DWG,
SketchUp, or 3ds Max — and choose the 2D view that the file will have
when opened in Corel DESIGNER X4. Users can also specify the projected
view, line thickness, and fill of the converted 2D drawing. With an add-on
license, technical graphics professionals can choose additional support for
native 3D CAD file formats, including CATIA®, Pro/ENGINEER®, UG,
SolidWorks®, Autodesk® Inventor®, and more.

Users can import 3D CAD files.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 13 ]

Enhanced! AutoCAD® DWG™/DXF™ support: Users never have to worry
about file format compatibility when working with customers or project
partners. Improved support for AutoCAD DXF and AutoCAD DWG (R2.5 to 2008)
ensures easy, error-free data conversion when these files are imported into Corel
DESIGNER X4.
Enhanced! Support for legacy Micrografx Designer® (DSF) files:
Technical graphics professionals can open legacy Corel DESIGNER files and use
the latest technology while working with these older graphics. Corel DESIGNER
X4 offers enhanced support for DSF files that contain filled text and multiple
layers per drawing page.

Feature Spotlight
New! Corel® PowerTRACE™
With Corel PowerTRACE, technical graphics professionals can unlock legacy
technical illustrations. Users can quickly and easily trace scanned data,
converting it into an editable and scalable vector image. The new
Centerline Trace method produces more accurate strokes and is perfect for
tracing line drawings. To control which colors appear in the traced results,
users can easily edit, merge, or delete colors on the ColorTRACE color
palette. In addition, improved smoothing and corner control help users
optimize their traced results.

Corel PowerTRACE lets users convert scanned
technical drawings into editable vector graphics.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 14 ]

New & Enhanced! File format support: By adding support for more
file formats, and for new versions of previously supported file formats,
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 maintains its position as market leader in file
format compatibility.
Users can expect seamless compatibility with Microsoft Visio 2007, Microsoft®
Word 2007, and JPEG 2000, making it easier than ever to exchange files with
colleagues and clients. New support for Microsoft Publisher files also allows
users to work with the latest versions of the PUB format (2002, 2003, and 2007).
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 gives users enhanced PDF capabilities with
support for PDF 1.7, which allows users to protect their PDFs with a security
password. In addition, users can save files to the PDF/A format — the file format
approved by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for
long-term archiving of electronic documents.

Feature Spotlight
New! Raw camera file support
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 now supports raw camera file formats
for more than 300 different types of cameras. This lets users import raw
camera files directly from their digital camera for use in technical
documentation projects without the need for additional software. With
interactive controls that provide real-time previews, users can view file
properties and camera settings, adjust image color and tone, and improve
image quality.

Users can work with raw files from more than 300 camera models.

New! Windows Vista® integration: Designed to take advantage of the
latest innovations from the Windows Vista operating system, Corel DESIGNER
Technical Suite X4 lets users search for their technical graphics assets from within
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4. From the operating system dialog boxes,

Reviewer’s Guide [ 15 ]

users can search for files by author, subject, file type, date, keyword, or other file
property. To better organize their projects, users can easily add keywords or
other notes when saving files in order to better organize their projects. In
addition, users can edit file properties from within the suite’s applications or
from Windows Explorer or Windows Vista Search. Users of Windows XP can use
Windows Desktop Search or any other desktop search application that supports
the iFilter specification.

Users can search for their technical design assets from
within Corel DESIGNER X4 Technical Suite.

New! Thumbnail previews: New, high-quality thumbnail previews make it
easy to find and organize Corel DESIGNER and Corel PHOTO-PAINT files.

New! Welcome screen: With a new Welcome screen, Corel DESIGNER
Technical Suite X4 provides users with a centralized location from which to
access recently used documents, templates, and learning tools, including tips and
tutorials. What’s more, the Welcome screen also informs users about
Corel DESIGNER updates and news.

New! Template search and preview: In Corel DESIGNER X4, the New
From Template dialog box has been completely redesigned to provide users with
more information so that they can easily choose the right template for the job.
Users can now preview templates by type or industry. Users can also search for
custom or industry-standard templates by keyword, category, or other search
criteria.

New! CorelDRAW® community site: Accessible from within the
application, the CorelDRAW.com community site gives users a place to get
together to share information and learn from other Corel DESIGNER users.
Combining forums, blogs, samples, and other resources, CorelDRAW.com is a
valuable information resource for technical illustrators and technical graphics
users alike. Visit the site today to discover the work and ideas of this growing
community.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 16 ]

Create better technical diagrams
Corel DESIGNER X4 helps users create enterprise-class diagrams by providing
new and enhanced diagramming tools plus support for Microsoft Visio 2003 and
2007 files.

Feature Spotlight
Enhanced! Connector lines
Corel DESIGNER X4 offers new and enhanced connector lines, so users can
create flowcharts and business diagrams quickly and easily. With Smart
Drawing technology, the paths of connector lines are automatically
adjusted to circumvent other objects and freehand strokes are converted to
basic shapes and smoothed curves.

Advanced connector lines let users draw detailed,
multi-point flow lines in wiring diagrams and flow charts.

Enhanced! Support for Microsoft Visio files: Users can easily bring
Microsoft Visio 2003 and 2007 files into their workflow. Updated handling of
shapes and connector lines provides a seamless workflow between Microsoft
Visio and Corel DESIGNER X4. Files in older versions of the Microsoft Visio format
are also supported.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 17 ]

Streamline the technical illustration workflow
With tools designed specifically for technical illustration, independent page
layers, and live text formatting previews, Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 can
help users accelerate technical design.

Enhanced! Dimension tools: Corel DESIGNER X4 lets users reverse
arrowheads for small dimension lines, customize the extension lines on which
dimension lines rest, and work with both dynamic and static dimension text. In
addition, users can choose new standard-compliant dimension styles.

Corel DESIGNER X4 offers flexible dimension-line options.

Feature Spotlight
New! Halos on curves
To make wiring diagrams and flow charts easier to read and edit, users can
now apply halos to connector lines that cross over one another. In addition,
users can use halos to highlight the axes of an exploded view in a technical
illustration. Halos can also be saved as part of a preset line style.

Corel DESIGNER X4 lets users do more with halos.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 18 ]

Feature Spotlight
Enhanced! 2-Point Line tool
Users can now draw lines that are tangent or perpendicular to two objects,
making it much easier to draw objects such as cylinders. Technical
illustrators can easily add missing detail to drawings by using the 2-Point
Line tool in the projected mode.

Users can easily draw cylinders by using the 2-Point Line tool.

Feature Spotlight
Enhanced! Arrowheads
Advanced arrowhead tools let users enhance dimension, callout, and
connector lines. Users can specify arrowhead attributes such as size, offset,
and rotation angle. In addition, custom arrowhead attributes can be saved
as arrowhead presets.

Users can save custom arrowheads as presets.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 19 ]

Feature Spotlight
New! Object Coordinates docker
The Object Coordinates docker lets you draw, size, and rotate shapes and
lines with precision. A live preview facilitates the drawing and editing of
objects.

The live preview associated with the Object Coordinates
docker helps users draw with precision.

New! Independent page layers: Corel DESIGNER X4 gives technical
illustrators complete control when importing multilayered CAD files. Users can
control every layer during the creation of multipage documents that combine
complex imported CAD files and new components. Users can also set multiple
layers to a single page Users can also add independent guidelines for individual
pages and master guidelines for an entire document, giving them the ability to
create different layers on a page-specific basis, unconfined by a single document
structure. In addition, the new Duplicate Page command gives users the
flexibility to copy a page with all objects or just the layer structure included,
making it easier to repurpose existing designs.

New! CorelDRAW® ConceptShare™: The new CorelDRAW ConceptShare
docker is a valuable online collaboration tool. In a Web-based environment,
CorelDRAW ConceptShare lets users collaborate on technical illustrations and
diagrams with colleagues or clients in real time. Users can easily create multiple
workspaces, upload their designs, and invite others to provide feedback or
submit their own ideas.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 20 ]

New! Interactive tables: The new, interactive Table tool included in
Corel DESIGNER X4 lets users create tables to provide a structured layout for text
and graphics. Users can easily align, resize, or edit tables and cells to tailor them
to their designs. What’s more, technical illustrators can import information —
such as parts lists — from spreadsheets or from tables that were created in a
word processor.

New! Modernized user interface (UI): New high-contrast icons, menus,
and controls on a redesigned user interface give each application in the suite a
fresh, more modern appearance and provide a more intuitive working
environment.

New! Smart Fill tool: The unique, new Smart Fill tool lets Corel DESIGNER X4
users apply a fill to any enclosed area by creating a new object from an enclosed
area, including line drawings in imported CAD files. Unlike conventional fill tools
that fill only objects, the Smart Fill tool detects the edges of an area and creates
a closed path so that the area can be filled. For example, the Smart Fill tool can
fill holes, overlapping areas, or cut objects created when users are working in a
projected drawing mode. The Smart Fill tool creates a path around the area, so
the filled object can be moved, copied, or edited.

New & Enhanced! Text formatting: The new Paragraph Formatting
docker simplifies the process of adjusting the paragraph text formatting by
offering quick access to common settings such as alignment, word and
paragraph spacing, and indents. Users can also now add a color background to
paragraph text frames, the bounding box of artistic text, or selected text
characters.
In addition, Corel DESIGNER X4 introduces live text formatting, which lets users
see how a text formatting change will look before applying it to a document.
This handy and time-saving formatting aid reduces the need to undo and redo
unsatisfactory changes. Users can now scroll through and preview many
different formatting options, including fonts, font size, and alignment.

New! Crop tool: A significant time-saver, the new Crop tool lets users quickly
remove unwanted areas in objects and imported graphics — both bitmap and
vector. This handy addition to the Corel DESIGNER X4 toolbox eliminates the
need to ungroup objects, break linked groups apart, or convert objects to curves.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 21 ]

Discover advanced image-editing features
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 provides advanced image-editing features
that help users get expected results the first time.

The Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4 workspace has been redesigned
for the technical illustration workflow.

New! Image Adjustment Lab: The new, integrated Image Adjustment Lab
saves users valuable time and is accessible from both Corel DESIGNER X4
and Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4. Technical graphics professionals have to optimize
images destined for technical illustrations and documentation. These images
often have poor color balance and contrast, and adjustments require the use of
multiple tools. The Image Adjustment Lab addresses this problem by uniting a
number of manual and automatic controls for common color and tone
corrections, providing an intuitive and fast way to achieve professional image
adjustments. The Image Adjustment Lab also lets users create snapshots of their
adjustments with just one click. The snapshots appear below the working
preview, which lets users easily compare each snapshot against the original and
choose the best result.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 22 ]

Feature Spotlight
Enhanced! Corel PHOTO-PAINT® Cutout Lab
The enhanced Cutout Lab includes new controls to simplify the process of
cutting out image areas and to improve accuracy. The new Add Detail and
Remove Detail tools make it easy to refine the cutout area. For easy
reference when defining the cutout area, users can preview their cutout
against the original image, or transparent, white, gray, or black
backgrounds. For maximum flexibility, users can choose to save the cutout
object and discard the original image, save the cutout object and keep the
original image, or save the cutout object as a clip mask added to the
original image. In addition, the Cutout Lab includes Undo and Redo buttons
for the quick correction of any mistakes.

The Cutout Lab includes new controls to simplify the process of
cutting out image areas and to improve accuracy.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 23 ]

Feature Spotlight
Enhanced! Tone Curve adjustments
In Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4, the Tone Curve dialog box has been enhanced to
help users precisely adjust their technical documentation images. With an
integrated histogram, users now receive real-time feedback as they
optimize the quality of their images. In addition, the new Eyedropper lets
users pinpoint specific color locations on the tone curve of their image.

Users now receive real-time feedback when adjusting the tone curve of an image.

Feature Spotlight
New! Straighten image
Images used in technical documentation often combine vector and bitmap
graphics, so precise horizontal or vertical alignment is critical. With
Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite X4, users can quickly and precisely
straighten images that were scanned or photographed at an angle.
Interactive controls, a grid with vertical and horizontal guidelines, and an
integrated histogram for providing results in real time make it easier than
ever to fine-tune alignment in crooked images. In addition, users can
choose to have their images automatically cropped.

Users can quickly and precisely straighten crooked images.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 24 ]

6
Summary of new and enhanced features
The following is a list of the new and enhanced features offered by
Corel DESIGNER Graphics Suite X4.

Access technical design assets
•

Access 3D CAD data directly with the new 3D CAD import application.

•

Collaborate more easily with colleagues and clients thanks to enhanced
AutoCAD® DWG™/DXF™ support.

•

Enhanced dimension tools let users create custom dimensions and styles.

•

Enhanced support for the DSF format lets users easily work with legacy
Micrografx Designer® files.

•

Quickly unlock data in legacy blueprints by using centerline tracing in the
enhanced Corel® PowerTRACE™.

•

Experience new support for raw camera files more than 300 camera
models with interactive controls that let users preview adjustments in real
time.

•

Enjoy seamless compatibility with commonly used file formats,
including new support for Microsoft® Publisher, as well as AutoCAD DXF,
AutoCAD DWG, PDF 1.7, PDF/A, and JPEG 2000.

•

Take advantage of the enhanced Windows Vista® integration to easily
organize projects and search for files.

•

Easily find files with new, high-quality thumbnail previews.

•

Quickly access recently used documents, templates, learning tools, and
inspiring designs from the new Welcome screen.

•

Use the new, redesigned New From Template dialog box to find the
right template for any job.

Create better technical diagrams
•

Communicate more effectively with clearer visual pieces created with new
and enhanced diagramming tools.

•

Import the latest Microsoft® Visio® formats to ease collaboration with
colleagues and clients.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 25 ]

Streamline the technical illustration workflow
•

New technical drawing tools make it easier to identify curves and
connector lines and add precision and clarity to illustrations.

•

Easily add precise arrowheads to connector, callout, and dimension lines.

•

Draw, size, and rotate shapes and lines with precision using the Object
Coordinates docker.

•

Use the new CorelDRAW® ConceptShare™ feature to collaborate with
colleagues or clients in real time.

•

Save time and steps when removing unwanted object areas with the new
Crop tool.

•

Use the unique, new Smart Fill tool to apply fills to any enclosed object
area, such as the loops of a freehand line that crosses over itself.

•

Use the new, interactive Table tool to provide structured layouts for text
and graphics.

•

Experience greater layout control with new independent page layers.

•

Enjoy the convenience of new, live text formatting to preview formatting
changes before they are applied.

•

Quickly access common settings for formatting paragraph text, such as
alignment, word and paragraph spacing, and indents, with the new
Paragraph Formatting docker.

Discover advanced image-editing features
•

Achieve professional-quality color and tone correction with the new Image
Adjustment Lab.

•

Gain control, improve accuracy, and simplify the process when cutting out
image areas with the enhanced Cutout Lab.

•

Use new, interactive controls to quickly and easily straighten images.

•

Preview image-editing changes in real time by using histogram feedback,
available with more features than ever before.

•

Adjust images with more precision by using the enhanced Tone Curve
dialog box.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 26 ]

7
Upgrading to Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite X4
Upgrading from Corel DESIGNER® Technical Suite 12
The following table lists the new and enhanced features of Corel DESIGNER
Technical Suite X4 if you are upgrading from Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite 12.

Technical Feature

Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite X4

Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite 12

Importing
3D CAD import
AutoCAD® and
DWG™/DXF™ support
Raw camera support
DSF support

New
Enhanced
New
Enhanced

Illustrating
Custom arrowheads

New

Live-preview precision
illustration

New

Smart Fill tool

New

Interactive Table tool

New

Independent page
layers

New

Live text formatting

New

Paragraph Formatting
and Character
Formatting dockers

New

Connector line tool

Enhanced

Crop tool

Enhanced

Reviewer’s Guide [ 27 ]

Technical Feature
Review and
collaboration tools

Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite X4

Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite 12

New

Diagramming
Microsoft® Visio®
support
Dimension tools

2007 and 2003
Enhanced

Accessing assets
Windows Vista®
integration

New

Thumbnail previews

New

Streamlined template
management

New

Photo editing
Precise image
straightening

New

Histogram feedback

New

Flexible tone curve
adjustment

New

Automatic image
adjustment

New

Simplified image
cutting

New

Reviewer’s Guide [ 28 ]

2003

Migrating from CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X4
The following table lists the unique technical illustration features of Corel
DESIGNER Technical Suite X4 if you are working with CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X4.

Technical Feature

Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite X4

CorelDRAW®
Graphics Suite X4

Importing
3D CAD import
AutoCAD® and
DWG™/DXF™ support
Raw camera support
DSF support
Bitmap-to-vector
tracing

3
Enhanced

3

3

3

Enhanced

3

3

3

Illustrating
Reverse dimension
line arrowheads

3

Projected drawing
modes

3

Hatch fills

3

Enhanced line tools

3

Hotspotting

3

Callout tools

3

CGM v4 (WebCGM,
ATA Grexchange,
ActiveCGM)

3

Curve-to-ellipse
conversion

3

Gravity snapping
keyboard shortcuts

Enhanced

3

Connector line tool

Enhanced

3

Crop tool

Enhanced

3

Review and
collaboration tools

3

3

Custom arrowheads

Enhanced

3

Live-preview precision
illustration

3

Reviewer’s Guide [ 29 ]

Technical Feature

Corel DESIGNER®
Technical Suite X4

CorelDRAW®
Graphics Suite X4

Technical symbol
library
Clipart library
Diagramming
Diagramming tools

Enhanced

Microsoft® Visio®
support

Enhanced

Accessing assets
Windows Vista®
integration
Thumbnail previews
Streamlined template
management
Photo editing
Precise image
straightening
Flexible tone curve
adjustment
Automatic image
adjustment
Simplified image
cutting

Reviewer’s Guide [ 30 ]

(ISO, ANSI)

(layout, design)

8
Glossary
•

Bounding box: The invisible box indicated by the eight selection handles
surrounding a selected object.

•

Color palette: A collection of solid colors from which users can choose
colors for fills and outlines.

•

Control points: The points that extend from a node along a curve that is
being edited with the Shape tool. Control points determine the angle at
which the curve passes through the node.

•

Curve object: An object that has nodes and control points, which users can
manipulate to change the object’s shape. A curve object can be any shape,
including a straight or curved line.

•

Dimension line: A line that displays the size of objects or the distance or
angle between objects.

•

Drawing: A document created in Corel DESIGNER.

•

Drawing page: The portion of a drawing window enclosed by a rectangle
with a shadow effect.

•

Drawing plane: The area bounded by two axes in the drawing profile. The
top drawing plane is bounded by the x and z axes. The front drawing plane
is bounded by the x and y axes. The right drawing plane is bounded by the y
and z axes.

•

Drawing profile: A group of settings that determines how threedimensional objects are represented in two dimensions.

•

Duotone: An 8-bit color mode that displays images using 256 shades of up
to four tones. An image in the duotone color mode is simply a grayscale
image that has been enhanced with one to four additional colors.

•

Dynamic guides: Temporary guidelines that appear from the following
snap points in objects — center, node, quadrant, and text baseline.

•

Encoding: Determines the character set of text, letting users correctly
display text in the appropriate language.

•

Fill: A color, bitmap, fountain, hatch, or pattern applied to an area of an
image.

•

Filter: An application that translates digital information from one form to
another.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 31 ]

•

Guideline: A horizontal, vertical, or slanted line that can be placed
anywhere in the drawing window to aid in object placement.

•

Halo: A mask behind a line that makes it easier to see when the line is on
top of another object. Halos are usually the same color as the page.

•

Hotspot: The area of an object that users can click to jump to the address
specified by a URL.

•

Hotspotting: The process of adding data to objects or groups of objects, so
that they respond to events, such as pointing or clicking. For example, users
can assign a URL to an object, making it a hyperlink to an external Web site.

•

Nodes: The square points at each end of a line or curve segment. Users can
change the shape of a line or curve by dragging one or more of its nodes.

•

Object: A generic term for any item users create or place in a drawing.
Objects include lines, shapes, graphics, and text.

•

Outline: The line that defines the shape of an object.

•

PANOSE font matching: A feature that lets users choose a substitute font
if a file contains a font not installed on their computer. Users can make a
substitution for the current working session only, or can permanently make a
substitution so that when the file is saved and reopened, the new font
automatically displays.

•

Rotate: To reposition and reorient an object by turning it around its center
of rotation.

•

Segment: The line or curve between nodes in a curve object.

•

Skew: To slant an object vertically, horizontally, or both.

•

Snap: To force an object that is being drawn or moved to align
automatically to a point on the grid, a guideline, or another object.

•

Symbol: A reusable object or group of objects. A symbol is defined once
and can be referenced many times in a drawing.

•

Tangent: A straight line that touches a curve or an ellipse at a point, but
does not cross the curve or ellipse at that point.

•

Text baseline: The imaginary horizontal line that text characters appear to
be placed on.

•

Transparency: The quality of an object that makes it easy to see through.
Setting lower levels of transparency causes higher levels of opacity and less
visibility of the underlying items or image.

•

Unicode®: A character encoding standard that defines character sets for all
written languages in the world by using a 16-bit code set and more than 65,
000 characters. Unicode lets users handle text effectively regardless of the
language of the text, operating system, or the application.

•

Vector graphic: An image generated from mathematical descriptions that
determine the position, length, and direction in which lines are drawn.
Vector graphics are created as collections of lines rather than as patterns of
individual dots or pixels.

•

Workspace: A configuration of settings that specifies how the various
command bars, commands, and buttons are arranged when users open the
application.

Reviewer’s Guide [ 32 ]



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