Once you start using WordPerfect Office 12, you won’t miss Microsoft Office. That’s not to say that Microsoft’s dominant productivity suite isn’t great software, or for that matter that Corel Corp.’s blows it away; both are first-class, formidably powerful word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation combos, though extra conveniences ranging from friendlier formatting help to built-in Adobe Acrobat PDF output make WordPerfect Office an at least arguably preferable alternative.

And once they install the Corel trio, users will get all the migrate-from-Microsoft hand-holding they could want. A new Workspace Manager lets you change settings, toolbars, and menus from WordPerfect Office’s own interface to one that mimics the Microsoft Office programs’, including saving documents in Brand M file formats by default. You can also choose a Lotus 1-2-3 mode for Quattro Pro, or WordPerfect modes that hark back to the white-text-on-a- blue-background version 5.1 for DOS or emphasize the word processor’s popularity for pleadings and other law-office work.
The imposture isn’t 100 percent (Word’s word-deleting Ctrl-Del and Ctrl-Bksp work a bit differently in WordPerfect), but the Microsoft modes — along with a handy toolbar for importing and exporting documents in different formats, including XML, HTML, and PDF for WordPerfect and Presentations, Macromedia Flash SWF for Presentations, and XML for Quattro Pro, plus thorough documentation of compatibility details — go a long way toward easing the transition.
WordPerfect Office 12 is also noticeably more successful at reading Microsoft Office files — ranging from PowerPoint gradients to Word tables and text wrap around graphics — than version 11 was; most users should have no problems with most everyday documents. That said, it’s still easy to play gotcha games and find Office files that don’t import perfectly, whether fancy PowerPoint slide transitions (all converted to simple left-to-right wipes in Presentations) or Word AutoShapes and elaborately formatted, footnoted reports; one or two of our Microsoft documents still fared better in OpenOffice.org than WordPerfect Office. Quattro Pro ignores a couple of dozen esoteric Excel functions and, not so esoterically, macros, although the Corel suite includes Microsoft’s Visual Basic for Applications as well as its own PerfectScript language.

Buy Corel WordPerfect Office 12 SE – 69$

Corel has released a new version of Painter, the venerable painting and illustration program. Version X, which costs $429 for a full version and $229 as an upgrade, is faster than previous versions and includes new tools for artists and photographers.
Improved Performance, More Platforms

Some changes may not be visible, but they are definitely felt. Painter X is faster than Painter IX, which was itself very fast. Operations such as opening images and painting with the brushes are very speedy in this version. I run it on Windows XP, but version X also runs on Windows Vista and Windows 2000, and on PowerPC and Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.3.9 or higher.
The Last Word
I highly recommend Painter X, whether you’re painting from scratch, starting with a photo, or both.
Artist, author, and photographer Karen Sperling is the original Painter expert. She wrote the manuals for the first several versions of Painter, authored several Painter books, has had many Painter tutorials published in magazines, and currently publishes the Artistry Tips and Tricks e-zine. She has taught Painter to artists and photographers at movie companies, design firms, universities, and professional photographer organizations. Karen’s art will be included in her first New York gallery show in April 2007, coinciding with her NYC Artistry Retreat.

Buy Corel Painter X – 99$

Less than two years ago, as a staunch proponent of Corel WordPerfect, convinced it was far superior to any other word processing software, I decided to compare the features I felt were best and most important in each. After objective research and study (see “25 Reasons to Make the Switch,” May/ June 2005 LAT), I finally had to admit that Word 2003 was far superior to the last few versions of WordPerfect, specifically versions 9 through 11. In fact, I pronounced WordPerfect dead.

From that point forward, I exclusively used Word 2003, never looking back. That is, until recently, when I heard the news that WordPerfect’s newest version, X3, unleashed a full frontal attack on Word’s market dominance by breaking down compatibility barriers, including challenges presented when attempting to exchange data between the programs of these two word processing titans.
In my view, there are two features alone in WordPerfect X3 that make it worthy of a second look (or an initial look if you have not used it before), and an absolutely essential upgrade for current WordPerfect users — enhanced Word compatibility and the ability to publish to Portable Document Format.
The enhanced Word compatibility allows Word documents to be opened, edited and created in WordPerfect. When running in Word mode, WordPerfect X3 can be configured to save documents in Word (.doc) format by default. While I experienced a few minor conversion errors and the output was less than 100 percent accurate, the results nonetheless were impressive and required little cleanup. You also can save in Word format from WordPerfect mode. Similar capabilities are available in two of WordPerfect X3’s other applications — Presentations X3, Corel’s presentations program and Quattro Pro X3, Corel’s spreadsheet program.
Perhaps the most powerful and even revolutionary new feature in WordPerfect X3 is the built-in ability to import and publish any document as a PDF — a substantial value-added feature, considering the additional cost to purchase a PDF program such as Adobe Acrobat or other third-party plug-in programs. In fact, WordPerfect X3 can open, edit and save more than 150 different formats, maximizing and streamlining content reuse and repurposing, all within a single program. This truly exciting feature worked beautifully.
Consistent to its overall goal of breaking down compatibility boundaries and surmounting user-friendliness issues, WordPerfect X3 features a Workspace Manager that allows a user to choose among four workspace interface modes: WordPerfect, Word, Classic (Word­Perfect version 5.1) and Legal (you must add this feature as an installation option). In addition, there is a Microsoft PowerPoint mode for Presentations X3, and Microsoft Excel and IBM Lotus 123 modes for Quattro Pro.
Of interest to the legal professional, operating in Legal mode provides specialized tools for creating legal documents and pleadings. Of course, while running WordPerfect X3 in Word mode doesn’t exactly replicate the execution and precise feel of Word, it certainly makes finding and accessing features and functions much easier for those used to Word.
Other WordPerfect X3 features similar to those available in Word include QuickFormat (which came about in WordPerfect 6). This is comparable to Word’s Format Painter, which allows formatting to be “picked up” and applied elsewhere in a document. Document Map (also called Document Map in Word) was added in WordPerfect Office 11, and lists the document’s headings in a separate pane so you quickly can navigate through a document — an extremely desirable tool for those who work with lengthy documents and briefs.
“Save Without Metadata,” a timely new tool (similar to Word’s optional “Remove Hidden Data” tool), addresses security concerns presented by transmitting documents electronically. This tool permanently removes private and perhaps hidden information (i.e., meta­data), such as a document’s summary, comments, hidden text, undo and redo history, headers and footers, and more. The “Save Without Metadata” tool also features the unique ability to choose among the various types of metadata to remove.
Of course, any discussion of WordPerfect would be incomplete without mentioning its most revered and unique feature, Reveal Codes, which simplifies locating and changing a document’s formatting. Although Word’s Reveal Formatting feature exposes formatting in use (such as font, paragraph alignment, margins, etc.), Reveal Codes allows you to view and edit the actual code in an easier and faster manner. In the past few versions, WordPerfect further improved its Reveal Codes feature by adding drag-and-drop functionality and immediate access to a myriad of formatting options by simply double clicking any revealed code.
In addition to a host of other improvements in WordPerfect X3, including integrated Web browsing capabilities, the Office X3 suite introduces a robust and feature-rich e-mail program, WordPerfect Mail, and includes other core programs such as Quattro Pro X3, Presentations X3 and Presenta­tions Graphics X3, a program for editing original drawings and pictures.

The future seems very bright indeed for WordPerfect Office X3, although I am somewhat hesitant to give my wholehearted recommendation at this time, mostly because I experienced regular and predictable program crashes.
For example, at times, WordPerfect X3 was unable to open one PDF file while it opened another flawlessly. Certain operations, such as attempting to switch to Document Map view in a pre-existing document, regularly caused the program to shut down. Of course, these kinds of issues are not unexpected in initial releases or major software upgrades, but do cause some concern for those eager to make an immediate, full-blown migration or upgrade to X3.
Overall, compatibility is indeed WordPerfect Office X3’s strong suit — specifically its built-in PDF publishing capabilities and interchangeability with Word and other file formats. Combined with its comparatively low cost, this re-establishes WordPerfect as a contender in the word processing and office suite software war.
As with most initial software releases or major upgrades, there are bugs to be worked out. However, Corel’s battle cry resonates. With the release of Microsoft Office 2007 looming on the horizon, stay tuned for WordPerfect vs. Word redux.

Buy Corel WordPerfect Office X3 Professional – 69$

Now that the name Adobe is synonymous with imaging, the CorelDraw Graphics Suite is often lost in the noise. But Corel has long offered very powerful illustration and photo-editing programs, complemented by tools, tutorials, and on-screen guidance that make it easier even for nongraphics professionals to be creative and productive. CorelDraw Graphics Suite 12 delivers incremental improvements to an already strong graphics suite for art and business professionals.

The suite consists primarily of CorelDraw 12 (for illustration), Photo-Paint 12 (for photo and image editing), and Corel R.A.V.E. 3 (Rave Animated Vector Effects, for animation). Version 12’s interface is virtually the same as Version 11’s smooth, easy-to-understand layout.
Previous versions of the suite already offered an impressive array of intuitive tools and features, providing users with easy access to tremendous power, especially for photo/image editing and illustration. Photo-Paint’s natural media brushes, for instance, as well as CorelDraw’s Artist Media brushes, are among the most extensive on the market. They are simple to control and come with a wide range of options for texture, shape, pressure, color variability, and more.
Similarly, CorelDraw has a heritage of first-rate illustration tools. Its typography handles text almost as well as a desktop publishing program, with the ability to lay out long documents up to at least 99 pages.
Though not as powerful or versatile as other animation programs (like Macromedia Flash), R.A.V.E. 3 uses CorelDraw’s excellent object creation and manipulation tools to animate sophisticated geometric shapes.
The most impressive innovations in the new Graphics Suite are the intelligent drawing tools in CorelDraw and R.A.V.E. 3, which make it easier to create and place objects quickly and precisely. With the new Smart Drawing tool, freehand–drawn shapes are recognized and automatically converted into perfect geometric objects, such as circles, ellipses, rectangles, and so on. The curves are smoothed and extra nodes removed on the fly, leaving you free to sketch out your ideas rather than waste time worrying whether a square is actually square.
Turn on Dynamic Guides and alignment lines pop out as you draw, showing you precisely the angles and relationships between what is already on the page and what you are drawing. The Guides work interactively with the improved Snap to Objects tool. Point to a current object with your cursor and start drawing or placing another object, and words will actually display as you work, telling you whether you are snapping to a node, intersection, edge, midpoint, or center. Similarly, you can align to the tangent or perpendicular of an object, or even to the baseline or bounding box of text.
The Eyedropper tool in pick up color from anywhere on your desktop. It also lets you copy a range of properties, such as outline, fill, size, rotation, effects, and other attributes, and apply them to other objects.
Photo-Paint is virtually unchanged in this version, other than the suite-wide improvements regarding language and export. The one new tool is a Touch-Up brush which, like Photoshop’s popular Healing brush, lets you easily paint away imperfections.
Corel has always offered extensive import and export options covering a wide range of file formats. Version 12 takes compatibility even further, including more robust AutoCAD DXF/DWG support. Unfortunately, it still does not support digital camera RAW formats, which will disappoint photographers who shoot with digital SLRs.
With the product’s Unicode support, sharing files across international borders is better enabled, since it includes more than 65,000 characters for all written languages. The Export to Microsoft Office or WordPerfect Office dialog offers the option of optimizing a graphic for presentation, desktop, or commercial printing.
In addition to the three main programs, the Graphics Suite includes CorelTrace 12 (which converts bitmapped images into vector shapes), CorelCapture 12 (a screen-capture utility), Microsoft’s Visual Basic for Applications 6.3 (for macro building), Bitstream Font Navigator 5.0, QuickTime 6.0 Player, and Kodak Digital Science color management, plus a large library of clip art and fonts.
The competing Adobe Creative Suite is an indispensable tool for graphics professionals—especially those who must be seen to be using the top brand-name product in their field no matter what it costs ($749 and up). The Adobe suite features the industry-defining Photoshop and Illustrator. Adobe’s suite also offers more than CorelDraw Graphics Suite—specifically Version Cue’s file management and Acrobat Professional.

Buy CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 – 119$

WordPerfect provides excellent desktop publishing–like control over formatting. Moreover, Real Time Preview lets you see how typesetting changes would affect a document if applied; for example, you can scroll through fonts and automatically see how your document looks with each. There is also a new drop cap toolbar icon. Moreover, WordPerfect now offers enhanced user control over tables and formulas. Convert Text to Tables (and vice versa) works quickly and intuitively.

WordPerfect now supports digital signatures, allowing users to determine if a document has been changed since it was last edited and to review those changes. Unlike Microsoft Word, WordPerfect can export documents to PDF files without additional software.
Other enhancements extend WordPerfect Office’s versatility. For instance, by using the CorelDraw engine, QuattroPro’s charts have been revamped, allowing greater creativity. Wizard-like interfaces let you customize charts, change fonts, plus use 3-D texture rendering with light controls and semitransparency. Presentations 10 now supports Macromedia Flash, MP3 and Windows Media Audio sounds, animated GIFs, and TrueDoc (for font-embedding and matching). CorelCentral also features e-mail digital signature and encryption support.
A piece of advice: If you use WordPerfect Office 2002 on Microsoft Windows 2000, be sure to download the service pack, which solves a sporadic memory allocation problem.
For those who like to have comprehensive, hands-on control over the appearance of their documents, plus robust compatibility with industry-standard formats (including Microsoft Office), WordPerfect Office continues to be a stellar choice. We can find no flaws. But if this is your first time investing in an office suite, consider that, compatibility aside, sometimes it’s easier to work with a package that your colleagues already use.

Buy Corel WordPerfect Office X4 Professional Edition – 69$

There’s not a dramatic difference between Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11 and 11.5, as testified by the fact that this new version is available as a free upgrade for those who own the earlier one. That upgrade is accessible via the Corel site, for those looking to simply do that.

But there is quite an improvement, particularly for those looking to deal with high definition camcorders and movie formats. For instance, VideoStudio will now happily supports the AVCHD format, and there are options to easily output to HD DVD and Blu-ray should you have the requisite technology. H.264 encoding is also supported, and you can now output your content directly to something like YouTube. These are welcome, well-implemented additions.
Also differentiating 11.5 from 11 is the inclusion of a number of templates and overlays, which are welcome and useful. And then there’s the MediaOne Corel digital management solution, which aims to keep all of your media organised. It’s quite a generous upgrade, which now comes as standard in the VideoStudio 11 retail box.
The core application, of course, hasn’t really changed, and it’s still a user-friendly and quite impressive tool for taking video content and converting it into something decent at the end. Working from a welcoming menu screen, it allows you to jump quickly between the full editing application, a wizard-driven approach replete with templates, and the option to take digital video footage and output it directly to DVD without bothering with the editing process at all.
The wizard-driven system is useful enough, and gently guides even the less experienced user through editing their footage, applying a few effects and outputting something of a decent standard. It’s not where the real meat of the application lies, though, and we prefer the option that something such as Pinnacle Studio has in flipping between differing levels of working complexity.
Should you opt for the full-on editing tool, then while VideoStudio still doesn’t click quite as well as Premiere Elements and the aforementioned Pinnacle product, there’s little doubt that Corel’s product is still worth checking out. There are plenty of powerful yet easy-to-work-with features, and as we concluded in our original review of VideoStudio 11, it’s a fast, rounded and tight video editing tool that particularly lends itself to less experienced users.
The improvements in the jump to 11.5 are clearly aimed at those who are working with high definition content, and what’s pleasing is that VideoStudio does cope well with the added demands. There’s a speed hit, obviously, but it doesn’t have quite the impact on system resources that we were expecting.
Unless you’re a less experienced user, however, VideoStudio still isn’t the best option for your money – and we’ll throw Sony’s products in with the alternative names we’ve already mentioned – although it is still good value. It’s a stable, useful application, but one that’s not beating its competition just yet.

Buy Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus – 29$

The package delivers the Corel Photo-Paint photo editor, CorelDRAW layout and illustration package, the Corel PowerTRACE program for converting bitmap files into editable graphics files and an advanced screen-capture utility (Corel Capture). Beyond the programs themselves, the real attraction is the clip-art (10,000 images), royalty-free photos (1,000), fonts (1,000) and the wealth of professionally designed templates to use as a starting point.

CorelDRAW is now in its 14th incarnation, and Graphics Suite X4 has a loyal following and a wide target audience, ranging from students to professional designers. But its real strength is as an affordable option for business owners who juggle graphics-creation tasks along with many other responsibilities.
If you spend a couple hours each week laying out brochures, creating ads or planning marketing collateral, Graphics Suite X4 is for you. Sure, professional artists are unlikely to be swayed from Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. But considering those apps are extremely hard to master and cost $649 and $599, respectively, Graphics Suite X4 is better suited to the rest of us.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 screen shot
Graphics Suite X4 provides a host of professionally designed, industry-specific templates to get you started (and note the handy Hints pane on the right).
Fully Documented
All the modules in Graphics Suite X4 load easily from a single DVD (a welcome change from the CD shuffle of the previous version). It comes with plenty of in-program help, including a 10-minute tutorial accessible from the program’s clean new welcome screen and 2.5 hours of video training on the DVD (accessible via the Learning Tools menu).
You also get plenty of tips and tricks, and design notes that show the nitty-gritty details (fonts, colors and so on) of a project template. Graphics Suite customers who upgrade will appreciate the “What’s New” video tour of the programs’ new features as well as the choice under the Help menu that highlights new and changed features (back to version 9).
We’re also happy to see an actual printed User Guide (all 480 pages of it!) to use as a reference while you work, plus the Digital Content Manual that has thumbnails of the clip-art and photos contained on the DVD. Corel has also reprised the Insights from the Experts book from the suite’s previous version; in it professional designers show how they created each featured design.
With Graphics Suite X4, Corel has concentrated on a three-step workflow to keep projects moving: find assets (from previous projects, scanned images, clip art and photos), design and layout (most people will opt to start with one of the package’s excellent templates), and output and collaboration (readying a project for print or the Web, or sharing it with colleagues and clients). The modernized.
Jump Right In
While professional designers won’t be put off by the stark white canvas presented when you start a new blank document from scratch, most people will likely feel more comfortable selecting the “New from template” choice under the Quick Start tab. That dialog box presents a filter pane on the left that lets you view templates by type (business cards, flyers, ads, stationery, catalogs, posters/signs, newsletters and more) or by industry (hospitality, retail and services, such as landscaping).
Simply pick a template, type over the pre-existing text (or, for longer documents, cut-and-paste from a word processing file), change the images if need be and you’re in business. Naturally, you can make more granular changes, such as changing the template’s default color to your preferred color and changing the size and position of text boxes and images. If you’re not happy with a change, Undo is just a click away.
If you have existing documents you would like to work with, Graphics Suite X4 can import a wide range of file types; this version includes support for Adobe Creative Suite 3 files, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word 2007 and PDFs with comments. If you are working with an imported document and don’t know the fonts that were used, Corel has partnered with Bitstream to incorporate that company’s WhatTheFont.com font-ID service into CorelDRAW.

Buy Coreldraw Graphics Suite X4 14 – 119$

My first encounter with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite took place in the early 1990’s before the arrival of Windows 95. What impressed me the most at the time about the application was its overall layout and general user “friendliness.” Rather than offering intimidating menus and cryptic icons, this application seemed to literally invite the user to creatively play with an amazing array of accessible features. For PC users Corel was the only real powerhouse application for this OS at the time. Well that was then, this is now and we are into the eleventh incarnation of Corel’s Flagship Graphics Suite, CorelDRAW 11.

While high end computer graphics has been dominated by Adobe and Macromedia, Corel has always positioned their Graphics Suite as a high end professional tool. In this version, as well as previous ones, there are powerful editing features that make this anything but an amateur application. The big question is will it be adopted by high end users?
For those that do not need to contend with existing structures or graphic studios with a decided preference for one application over another, it will remain to be seen if Draw 11 will be able to hold its own among the heavyweights. It may even take time to see if serious non-professionals in need of a potent, but cost effective, graphics program will turn to CorelDRAW.
What will not take time to discern is the user friendliness of the suite. The staunchest critics of the application have applauded Corel for developing a perspective on design that is infinitely more intuitive than the competition. Even though Adobe Illustrator 10 is a powerful package, using it to maximum effect is not easy. The learning curve is still rather steep. The emphasis in CorelDRAW is on ease of use and availability of features. That consistency in approach to design is still present in this version as it was in the early ones that I first encountered.
From my very informal tests with CorelDRAW 11 running on Windows XP, things went smoothly. I experienced no real hang-ups or stalls. The interface is much more refined than I recall with previous versions. Although some have been critical of the new icons, I have to admit that I am rather fond of the purple icons as well as the general appearance of the interface. This is not so much a dramatic reworking of the original format as it is a refinement. Menus, toolbars and Dockers seem and feel much more accessible. There is a noticeable smoothness here that was not present before, and it makes a huge difference.
It is apparent that optimizing for Windows XP was an important feature. This makes all the sense in the world since CorelDRAW Suite began as a Windows application. Through the various incarnations, some of which I have experienced indirectly, the suite has grown and expanded with Windows. In some respects Draw 11 is still a bit Windows-centric. However, the differences between the PC and the Mac versions are slight ones. Editor’s Note: CorelDRAW was also “carbonized” for Mac OS X. Mac users have praised the app as much more Mac-centric than past releases.
I discovered that CorelDRAW, unlike other applications in this arena, invites you to play with its array of features, which are still impressive. I found myself creating designs at 3 in the morning without so much as a glitch. The experience of creating in CorelDRAW 11 is inviting. To me this is the ultimate test of graphic software. If you can create on an application during the wee hours and find the process to be fun, then there is something to be said for that program.
On the feature side are such elements as: symbol support, beefed up color management, interactive drop shadows, a roughen brush, artistic media and the lens filters. For me the lens filter was fascinating. It allows you to turn a bitmap into an effect that impacts the image directly beneath it without altering the original image placed below. The roughen brush, another feature that caught my eye, permits lines to have a less polished antiseptic look. Naturally there are others, but the list is simply too long to go into detail here. The point being is that there is a great deal here.
The combination of effects, tools and fly out menus are as amazing as they are logical. For those seeking a vector design and page layout program that can do both with aplumb, one has to seriously consider CorelDRAW 11 as a complete package. There are few applications that come out of the box with this many features.
In a response to user demands, CorelDRAW 11 now includes user manuals. While the trend in software has been to include documentation on CD’s and omit dense manuals, it is nice to see the return of the thick documentation that powerful software demands. There are simply too many instances when a user needs a book rather than files on a screen to see how things are done. It is too bad that other software makers are not following Corels’ lead in this area. One of the elements that makes using Draw easier is the included documentation. With technical jargon kept to a minimum, the manual is an exercise in minimal efficiency that is comprehensive enough to be more than a perfunctory addition to the suite.
Coming in at 464 pages for the CorelDRAW manual and 263 for the PHOTO-PAINT, it is well worth the time for first time users to go over these documents. My advice to anyone using this program is to keep them handy. Although there are certain conventions common to vector design applications, there are some marked differences in the way Corel approaches them. Certain names and functions deviate a bit from those used by Adobe Illustrator. For those coming to Corel from other applications, as well as those new to this kind of software, referring to the books enclosed will alleviate a great deal of confusion and blind hunting and pecking for functions and features.
Another big plus for Corel Graphics Suite is the inclusion of those little “extras” that aid in the design process. In CDGS 11 these features include: Bitstream Font Navigator, (available only in Windows), Corel Capture (Windows only), CorelTRACE, Duplexing Wizard and interestingly enough Ominpage SE. While these applications may not be essential, they are certainly worth having and certainly add value to an already feature dense application.
As if that were not enough, Corel also adds additional CD’s that include art work, photos, fonts and clip art. Encompassing five CD’s, the sweep of the suite is broad. Just as far reaching are the supported file formats. JPEG 2000, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Flash, Adobe PDF, XML, GIF, Flash and many others are supported by CorelDRAW. In my very informal tests, I had no difficulty exporting to Adobe Illustrator 10 and Photoshop 7. These relatively new programs read the files created in Draw 11 without issue.
Revved up and improved for version 11 is R.A.V.E. 2. Basically it is Corel’s answer to Macromedia’s Flash. This program permits quick and easy animation with a minimum of fuss and confusion. Much like the enclosed Photo-Paint 11, which is Corel’s answer to Photoshop, both can be best seen as accessories rather than replacements for those respective programs.
While both R.A.V.E 2 and Photo-Paint 11 have their merits, I doubt that serious users of either Flash MX or Photoshop 7 will abandon either. This is not to say they are not solid worthy applications, they are. R.A.V.E, is certainly user friendly and great for new comers to animation. I just doubt that power users are going to gravitate towards these applications.
With Adobe Photoshop’s dominance taken as a fact, software makers, at least for now, may have to concede the crown to Adobe. On one level Corel has already made this admission by not making Photo-Paint 11 available as an independent program. In the past it was possible to do so, but apparently no more. If you want Photo-Paint, you must purchase the Suite. Oddly enough, CorelDRAW 11 is available as a stand alone application minus Photo-Paint.
I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of this version of CorelDRAW. What truly turned me around was working in the Corel environment. There is a certain understanding of how people use computers that makes this feature rich suite less daunting than others in this area. After spending a few hours working with CorelDRAW it becomes clear that there is more here than meets the eye, and certainly more power than one might expect from just a brief glance.
While CorelDRAW is user friendly, this application does not hold your hand. As well written and as helpful as the tutors may be, this is very much a professional tool that demands an investment of time to get the full effect. For those that simply want Web pages or resumes fast, this is not the application for you. There is an implied assumption on the part of the program that the user be somewhat familiar with working in a vector based program. On the plus side, it is not difficult to do. It simply requires time spent going through the enclosed documentation first.
In a bold move, Corel has wisely opted to include both the Windows version and the Mac version in one box, thus releasing them simultaneously. Not only does this alleviate a lot of problems for Corel, it makes sense for end-users as well. Both versions are optimized for their new respective operating systems. So you should not experience any issues running CorelDRAW 11 on OS X or Windows XP.
While the box mentions the minimum requirements for Windows, I would strongly suggest running CorelDRAW under XP with at a least 512 MB or more of RAM, on a 40 GB hard drive. There is a lot here, and I feel the best effects may be achieved by running the suite under the latest OS with as much processing power and memory as you can find.
The addition of clip art, extra fonts, and the various attendant applications round out what is already an excellent value. When one factors in the manuals and the extra CD’s, totaling five in all, CorelDRAW 11 emerges as a powerful application with enough muscle for demanding users. While there are those who view CorelDRAW as little more than an application past its glory years as the premier Windows graphics application, there is enough in this rendition to make a cynical user think twice. For those seeking value and features, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 11 makes a convincing case for being taken very seriously as a unique powerful professional application.

Buy CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 – 119$

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 bundles a combination desktop publishing and illustration program (CorelDRAW) with an image editor (PHOTO-PAINT). In addition to a gaggle of new features, the suite also includes two new applications: Corel PowerTRACE X3 and Pixmantec RawShooter essentials.

PowerTRACE isn’t entirely new; it is actually a reworked version of CorelTRACE, a bitmap conversion program last seen in CorelDRAW 12. PowerTRACE can convert bitmap images, including scans, into vector shapes that you can reproduce at any size without sacrificing image quality. Pixmantec RawShooter essentials can open RAW files from digital cameras and convert them to other image file formats.
If you have previously used a word processor for your basic desktop publishing needs, you may find that CorelDRAW has a somewhat steep learning curve. A new Hints feature can help you get past any bumps in the road. The Hints docker (similar to a palette) provides context-sensitive tips when you select a tool, a step above merely labeling a tool in a pop-up window. When you select a tool, the Hints docker, located on the right side of the screen, also includes links to related tasks.
A new Step and Repeat docker makes quick work of creating repeat graphics elements. The docker includes horizontal and vertical offset settings.
New text handling tools offer greater control over type and paragraph formatting, one of the hallmarks of higher-end desktop publishing programs. An improved Interactive Fit Text To Path tool makes it easier to fit text precisely to a curve.
Other new features include an Overprints preview, which lets you see how colors in overlapping elements will look when you send a document to a commercial printer; and a Crop tool, for lopping off unwanted parts of photos or other bitmap or vector images.
The suite also includes CorelCAPTURE X3, a screen capture utility that can capture the entire screen, or selected portions of a screen.
An impressive collection of extras rounds out the package, including 100 templates, more than 10,000 clip art images, and 1,000 fonts. The CDs also include tutorials and training videos.
Pro: Outstanding value. Improved text handling, as well as many other new or improved features. Supports a wide variety of import and export formats.
Con: Lacks some of the advanced features of higher-end desktop publishing and illustration software. No direct support for RAW files.

Buy CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 – 119$