Can Corel Draw do a true outline (rather than adding line weight) to a shape?
Currently, I am creating in Corel 11, and sending to either CoCut (if I am done editing) or CasMate (If I am adding a shadow).
Also, creating a shadow is pretty easy in corel, but is it able to do drop shadows, or perspective shadows?
Thanks in advance, Mark
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Mark, Corel has a "contour" feature that creates any number of inlines or outlines you specify. I'm using Corel 12 and it's sometimes hit or miss. It may add more nodes to an object than what is necessary. I sometimes find it easier and cleaner to add a stroke, then convert the stroke to curves. The way I get to the contour feature is to go to Window>Dockers>contour.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Go to "Effects" ans click on "Contour"for your outline.
For perspective shadow, you can use "Envelope" in the same "Effects" and distort it till your heart is content!
Arrrghhh...someday I will learn to use Spelchek!
[ August 22, 2006, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
Posted by Stevo Chartrand (Member # 2094) on :
Hi Mark, Once you've added your contour you'll have to go to arrange and "break contour apart". If this isn't done any resizing you do to your text the contour will stay at the same thickness as you had originally assigned to it. And yes watch out for a bazillion nodes on your curves.
I've never used the envelope tool for a perspective shadow. There is the extrude tool but its pretty much useless for a vynull ready graphic.
For a perspective shadow I'll duplicate the object resize it smaller (holding shift), then weld the two together and then edit the nodes on the corners changing them to lines.
Stevo
Posted by Mike O'Neill (Member # 470) on :
Contour is one of the tools that was greatly improved in the X3 version. It greats way fewer nodes and few if any flatspots or flyaway nodes that earlier versions were prone to.
Having said that every version of Corel since ver 10 has the ability to convert outline to curves. Its found under the arrange tab. If you want to create outlines using this method you will find it helpful to create outline with fhe following properties (outline pen tool) round corners, behind fill and scale with image. If you're working on signs you'll also want to change the unit of measure for outlines from points to inches.
[ August 22, 2006, 11:41 AM: Message edited by: Mike O'Neill ]
Posted by Tracie Johnson (Member # 6117) on :
Also Mark, to address your first question, I'm not sure if this is what you're referring to, but when you draw in Corel it automatically adds a hairline stroke to all the shapes. You can go to the outline tool, above the fill tool, and there's a place to turn that off in the flyout menu.
Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
Hi Mark,
Make sure when you are using the outline tool, you check the box that says "behind fill" and "scale with image". That will stop the outline from thickening the object you are working on.
Suelynn
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
corel will also do a SINGLE LAYER DROP SHADOW(meaning it will do all the cut-thru where the shadow will be and nothing behind the main text)
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
Wow. In Casmate, you "group" the text or object, select one of many shadow styles, either drag for the dimension or set the perimeters, then click. Too bad it's a dead software. Outlines are even easier. Scan to vector still the best. I find that I can do most things in Casmate with one or two steps that require multiple steps in Corel. Casmate is also the most intuitive software I've ever used. I'm begrudgingly learning both Corel and Flexi.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
casemate...corel....almost alike....casmate has more features, but alot of the commands are similar....
Posted by Doug Phillips (Member # 5708) on :
The trick I use on the extrude function is to, after separating, weld the extrusion together [eliminates all the overlap lines] easy-peasy (maybe two or three small node selections to delete).
Steps for extruding contour in Corel Draw (in at least ver 9-X3)
1. create text or object 2. contour text or object 3. separate contour 4. extrude contour 5. separate extrusion 6. weld extrusion 7. (in nessesary) minor node selections to delete
Posted by Stevo Chartrand (Member # 2094) on :
Hi Doug! I just tried that out and it works pretty good! Thanks I'll have to remember that one.
Stevo
Posted by Tim Whitcher (Member # 685) on :
7 steps to create a shadow. Ouch.
Posted by Doug Phillips (Member # 5708) on :
Tim, actually it's three steps for a cuttable shadow and one step for the contour, I just mapped out a start to finish project.
![[For Your Information]](graemlins/fyi.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Outlines are even easier. Scan to vector still the best. I find that I can do most things in Casmate with one or two steps that require multiple steps in Corel. Casmate is also the most intuitive software I've ever used. I'm begrudgingly learning both Corel and Flexi.
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