Using the Blend Tool and Power Clip in CorelDRAW

This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
In the following tip, you will see how the Blend Tool and the PowerClip tool were used to create a business
card and logo for a locksmith service.
1. Select a key shape from the Transportation symbol font (symbol 061).
2. Select the key and convert it to curves (Ctrl+Q) or Arrange/Convert to Curves.
3. Remove the fill from the key and select a heavy (6 - 7 pt) stroke outline color of your choice.
4. Copy and paste the key (Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, or Edit/Copy and Edit/Paste). Make the stroke on this
duplicated key lighter (.2 pt) and make the outline color white.
5. Select the white key, then select the Blend tool and drag to the larger stroked key.

6. Select the Interactive Drop Shadow tool and add a drop shadow to the blended keys.

7. Create a box to represent the size of the business card you want and fill it with a radial, gradient fill.
Select your key and PowerClip it to the box (Effects/PowerClip/Place Inside Container). You can also
edit the positioning of the key by selecting Effects/PowerClip/Edit Contents/Finish Editing This Level.

8. Select the Text tool and add your text.

You're done!
Interactive Fit Text to Path Tool
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. This tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
It’s never been easier to attach text to a path with precision – a common effect used in creating signs and logos.
The interactive Fit Text to Path tool, introduced in CorelDRAW X3, lets users simply select text, move the
pointer along a path, and click to set the text’s position. Users can also easily control the text’s offset distance
from the path.
In addition, users can scale the text after it has been placed on a path by simply selecting both the text and the
path and dragging one of the handles.

Using the interactive Fit Text to Path tool

1. Click the Freehand tool, and draw a curved line to use as a path.

2. Click the Text tool, click anywhere in the drawing window, and type.

3. Click Text > Fit Text To Path.

The pointer changes to the Fit Text to Path pointer. As you move the pointer along the path, a
preview of where the text will be fitted is displayed.

4. Move the pointer along the path, and click to fit the text.
With a closed path, the text is centered along the path. With an open path, the text flows from the point
of insertion.

5. On the property bar, adjust the value in the Distance From Path list box.

6. On the property bar, adjust the value in the Horizontal Offset list box.

7. In the Mirror Text area on the property bar, use the Mirror Horizontal or Mirror Vertical
buttons to choose the text's orientation.
Working with layers in CorelDRAW
The applications and features described in this tip require CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 or newer to be
installed.
Now you can work with layers on individual pages in CorelDRAW, as well as Master layers and Guide layers.
If certain pages (such as the cover page) have their own specific content, it often makes sense to use separate
layers for this.

In the picture above you can see two pages with their own layers. You can also see the Master Page layer.
Everything you put on the Desktop part of the Master Page will be shown on all pages. Using the Guides and
Grids of the Master Page will reveal guides and grids on all pages.
You can also use guides and layers on individual pages, so these will only apply to the page you have selected.
In this example, each page contains layers with text in different languages as well as a "background" and
"pictures" layer.
To create a new layer, click the New layer button at the bottom of the Object Manager Docker.

As soon as you have clicked this button, you can rename the layer.

To the left of the layer name you can lock the layer (click on the pencil icon), hide the layer (click on the eye
icon) and make it printable or non-printable (click on the printer icon).
By making a layer non-printable, you can create a layer for comments to other people involved in the process of
creating the document. The layers will be visible but not printable.
Reducing the number of nodes in curve objects
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
Did you know that you can automatically reduce the number of nodes in curve objects? Often, complex curve
objects contain overlapping or redundant nodes that are not necessary for editing the object. By reducing the
number of nodes in a curve object, you can more easily edit and prepare it for output to a variety of devices and
file formats.
The steps below show you how easy it is to automatically reduce the number of nodes in a curve object without
compromising the object's quality.

Figure 1
This curve object was created in another program and imported into CorelDRAW®.
Duplicate the object by pressing Ctrl + D, so that you can later compare the two curves.
Step 1: Select all nodes in the original curve object

1. Open the Shape edit flyout , and click the Shape tool .
2. Click one of the objects.

Figure 2
The status bar, at the bottom of the program window, displays the number of nodes in the selected object.
Step 2: Reduce the nodes

1. Click the Select all nodes button on the property bar.

2. Click Reduce nodes .

Figure 3
The number of nodes in the object has been significantly reduced.
Click anywhere in the drawing window to deselect the curve. Notice that the original object does not appear to
be significantly altered. Next, we'll view the curve object in wireframe mode, in order to see the nodes more
clearly.
Step 3: Display the curve object in wireframe mode
1. Using the Shape tool, click the object.
2. Click View > Wireframe.
Figure 4
Wireframe mode lets you view the nodes more clearly.
The Reduce nodes command removes overlapping and redundant nodes from the curve object, yet it allows
you to retain the same level of control over the object. In our example, the original object (1) contains 154
nodes, whereas the edition version (2) contains only 101 nodes.
Fast ways to copy and position objects
By Lori Kerfoot
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
If you want to copy one or more objects within CorelDRAW®, you can use a faster method than copying and
pasting. Here are two fast ways to copy objects:
• Use the Duplicate command.
• Use the new Step and Repeat docker to create and position multiple copies at one time.
Let's take a closer look at these options.
Duplicating objects
Duplicating an object with CorelDRAW creates a copy of a selected object and positions the copy
according to the offset distance that you set. Unlike copying and pasting, duplicating does not
place a copy of the object on the Clipboard, and it allows you to control where the copy is placed
in your drawing. With CorelDRAW, setting an offset distance for the duplicate is easier than ever.

To duplicate an object
1. Select one or more objects.
2. Click Edit > Duplicate (or Ctrl + D).
When you duplicate objects for the first time in CorelDRAW, the Duplicate offset dialog box
appears. To specify the distance between the duplicate and the original object along the x-
axis and y-axis, type values in the Horizontal offset and Vertical offset boxes.
Note: Offset values of 0 place the duplicate on top of the original; positive offset values place
the duplicate up and to the right of the original; and negative offset values place the duplicate
down and to the left of the original.
You can change the default offset for duplicates at any time. To do this, click Tools > Options, click General
in the Document list of categories, and type values in the Horizontal offset and Vertical offset boxes.
Creating and positioning multiple copies
The new Step and repeat docker in CorelDRAW lets you create multiple copies of an object and control how
they are positioned.
To create and position multiple copies of an object
1. Select one or more objects.
2. Click Edit > Step and repeat.
3. In the Step and repeat docker, type a value in the Number of copies box.
4. In the Horizontal settings and Vertical settings areas, specify the settings you want.

Figure 1
The figure above shows the new Step and Repeat docker.
Examples:

Figure 2
The Step and Repeat docker settings for the figure above are:
Horizontal Settings: Spacing between objects, Distance = 0.25"; Direction = Right
Vertical Settings: No offset

Figure 3
The Step and Repeat docker settings for the figure above are:
Horizontal Settings: No offset
Vertical Settings: Offset, Distance = –0.5"

Figure 4
The Step and Repeat docker settings for the figure above are:
Horizontal Settings: Offset, Distance = 0.25"
Vertical Settings: Offset, Distance = –0.25"
Cropping graphics in CorelDRAW®
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
Whether you are working with a drawing or an imported bitmap, the new Crop tool lets you remove portions of
your graphic quickly and easily. You no longer need to ungroup objects, break linked groups apart, or convert
objects to curves to remove unwanted areas in a graphic.

The Crop tool is located in the toolbox, on the Crop tool flyout.
To crop objects, you define a rectangular area (cropping area) that you want to keep. Portions of the graphic
outside the cropping area will be removed. You can specify the exact position and size of the cropping area, and
you can rotate and resize it.

Cropping clipart

Cropping an imported bitmap

To crop a graphic

1. Open the Crop tool flyout , and click the Crop tool .
Important note: If an object or bitmap is selected, only the selected item will be cropped. If
no objects are selected, the entire graphic will be cropped.

2. Drag to define a cropping area.

The cropping area indicates which portions of the graphic you want to keep.
3. If you need to adjust the cropping area, perform any of the following tasks:

○ To move the cropping area, click inside the cropping area and drag it to a new
position. If you want to specify the exact position of the cropping area, type values
in the Position boxes on the property bar.

○ To resize the cropping area, drag any of its handles. If you want to specify the exact
size of the cropping area, type values in the Size boxes on the property bar.

○ To rotate the cropping area, click inside, and drag a rotation handle. You can also
type values in the Angle of rotation box on the property bar.
 Rotating the cropping area
4. Double-click inside the cropping area.
Cropped objects, including text objects, are automatically converted to curves.

A cropped graphic
Positioning objects as you draw
Here's a time saving trick! Did you know that you can position an object with any object-creation tool (any tool
found in Rectangle, Ellipse, Object, or Perfect Shapes flyout) without having to go to the Toolbox? This tip is
particularly useful if your drawing contains several objects.
By right-clicking an object with any object-creation tool, you can move or copy it to a new location in your
drawing.
1. With any object-creation tool active, right-click the object, and drag.
A blue outline of the object follows the pointer as you drag.

2. After you positioned the object, release the right mouse button.
A menu appears.

3. Choose one of the following:

○ Move here
○ Copy here
The object is moved or copied.
electing objects in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
To modify objects in a project, you need to select them first by using the Pick tool. The following tips will help
you select objects more easily.
• To activate the Pick tool after using other tools from the toolbox, press Ctrl + Spacebar. This keyboard
shortcut activates the Pick tool even if you've just used the Text tool.

Pressing Ctrl+Spacebar activates the Pick tool.

• To marquee select objects, you drag the Pick tool diagonally to enclose the objects in a marquee box
with a dotted outline. If you hold down Alt while dragging the Pick tool, you need to enclose only a
small portion of the objects to select them. This method is useful for selecting specific objects in
complex projects that contain overlapping objects.

To select the two flowers in the upper-right corner, hold down Alt, and using the Pick tool, drag a
marquee box to enclose a portion of each flower.
Customizing the user interface in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X4. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 and newer versions only.
For commands that you use frequently, it is practical to use a shortcut key to apply the command. But with all
the available commands, it can be difficult to remember all the shortcut keys.
To make this easier, you can create customised buttons for your favourite commands. You can then move these
buttons to a place where you can easily find and use them while working with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.
The command Convert to Curves is a good example.
Convert to Curves
When you have created a star and then want to reshape it to move some of the points further away from the
centre, you need to convert the star to curves first.
In the drawing below, a polygon with 12 points is reshaped with the shape tool by dragging the nodes in the
polygon. All the nodes move simultaneously.

But the result is supposed to be like in the drawing below.

You can only get this result by converting the star to curves.
You will find this command by selecting the Arrange-menu | Convert to curves
This command is frequently used in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, and therefore deserves its own place in the
program. You can use it to convert rectangles, ellipses, polygons, stars and text to editable objects.
Creating a customised button — example "convert to curves"
In the Tools menu, select Customization and you will see the Options dialog box. Click on Commands.
Scroll to the Arrange area in the Search field, and find the command Convert to Curves.
Click on the command, and drag the highlighted field to a place in the program where it will always be visible,
e.g. to the right of the Standard Bar or below the tools in the Tool Box.
Now the command appears as a button.

In the picture above, you can see the Convert to Curves button, as well as the buttons Move to front of page,
and Move to back of page. This way, you can customise the user interface of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite to
streamline your workflow and save time when you frequently complete similar tasks.
If you need to remove a button, just right-click on the button, select Customize | Toolbar Item | Delete.
Creating custom keyboard shortcuts in CorelDRAW® X3
The preset keyboard shortcuts available in CorelDRAW® X3 help you complete commonly performed tasks
faster. Did you know that you can become even more productive by creating custom keyboard shortcuts that
suit your working style? For example, if you use the Bèzier tool often, you can assign a keyboard shortcut for
activating the Bèzier tool.
To assign a keyboard shortcut to a command
1. Click Tools > Customization.
2. In the Customization list of categories, click Commands.
3. Click the Shortcut keys tab.

The Commands page of the Options dialog box lets you create custom keyboard shortcuts for commonly used
menu commands and tools. Click the Shortcut keys tab to access the controls you need.
4. Choose a shortcut key table from the Shortcut key table list box.
5. Choose a command category from the top list box.

The top list box lets you choose a command category such as a menu, a toolbar, or the toolbox.
6. Click a command in the Commands list
In this example, we choose Toolbox from the top list box and Bèzier tool in the Commands list.
7. Click in the New shortcut key box, and press a key combination.

If the key combination is already assigned to another command, that command is listed in the Currently
assigned to box.
8. Click Assign.

In this example, we assign Shift+D as the keyboard shortcut for activating the Bèzier tool.
Note: If the same keyboard shortcut is already assigned to another command, the second assignment overwrites
the first. By enabling the Navigate to conflict on assign check box, you can automatically navigate to the
command whose shortcut you reassigned and assign a new shortcut.
Using keyboard shortcuts in CorelDRAW® X3
You can use keyboard shortcuts (also known as hotkeys) to quickly activate many menu commands and tools in
CorelDRAW® X3. The keyboard shortcut for a menu command is displayed to the right of the menu item; the
keyboard shortcut for a tool is displayed in a ToolTip when you hover over the tool.

This example shows the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+N) for starting a new project.

This example shows the keyboard shortcut (F10) for activating the Shape tool.
Below are the keyboard shortcuts for some commonly performed tasks.

Task Keyboard shortcut

Open a file Ctrl+O

Save a file Ctrl+S

Import a file Ctrl+I

Export a file Ctrl+E

Print a file Ctrl+P

Note: For a complete list of keyboard shortcuts, see the CorelDRAW X3 Quick Reference Card included in
your software package.
Highlighting New Features in CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. This tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
You now have a simple way to identify the features that were new in earlier versions of CorelDRAW®
Graphics Suite — from versions 9 through 12. You can highlight all menu commands and tools that were new
for a specific version of CorelDRAW® or Corel PHOTO-PAINT®. This feature is especially useful if you are
upgrading from an earlier version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.
To highlight what's new in CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite
1. Launch CorelDRAW or Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

2. Click Help > Highlight What's New, and click one of the following commands:

○ Since Version 12 — highlights menu commands and tools introduced in version

○ Since Version 11 — highlights menu commands and tools introduced in versions 12

and

○ Since Version 10 — highlights menu commands and tools introduced in versions 11,
12, and

○ Since Version 9 — highlights menu commands and tools introduced in versions 10,
11, 12, and

Any new tool or menu command is highlighted in orange.

To turn off the highlighting, click Help > Highlight What's New > No Highlight.
Learning from the experts with CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. This tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
Have you ever looked at a professional design created with CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite and wondered how
the design was created? Which of the many powerful tools did the designer use to create an impressive visual
effect? Insights from the Experts, a series of tutorials included with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, gives you a
chance to learn from experts in graphic design.
The international team of authors who contributed to Insights from the Experts come from different corners of
the graphic design world. What they have in common is that they all use CorelDRAW Graphics Suite to create
their designs. In their tutorials, the authors deconstruct their own designs to share with you their ideas, tips,
methods, and techniques, showing you how you can benefit from the powerful tools and features of
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.
Accessing Insights from the Experts
Insights from the Experts is available as a printed publication and in PDF format. The printed publication is
included in the boxed version of the product. It is an exquisite book with full-color illustrations. The PDF
version of the tutorials can be accessed from CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT® by clicking Help >
Insights from the Experts, or, from the Welcome Screen > Learning tools tab which can be accessed by
clicking Help > Welcome Screen if not open by default upon launching CorelDRAW.

Insights from Experts in the Welcome Screen

PowerClip™ vs. the Crop tool in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
CorelDRAW® gives you two ways to crop vector objects or bitmap images. You can quickly remove unwanted
areas in objects and imported graphics by using the Crop tool. You can also place vector objects and bitmaps,
such as photos, inside other objects or containers by using the PowerClip™ feature. The object placed inside the
container takes the shape of the container.
Using the Crop tool
When cropping objects, you define a rectangular area (cropping area) that you want to keep.
Object portions outside the cropping area are removed. You can specify the exact position and
size of the cropping area, and you can rotate and resize it. You can also remove the cropping
area.

To crop objects by using the Crop tool

1. Select the objects that you want to crop.

If no objects on the drawing page are selected, all objects are cropped.

2. Open the Crop tool flyout , and click the Crop tool .

3. Drag to define a cropping area.

To rotate the cropping area, click in the cropping area, and move a corner rotation handle

4. Double-click inside the cropping area.

The Crop tool lets you crop rectangular areas.

Using PowerClip™
A container in CorelDRAW can be any object — for example, artistic text or a rectangle. When
you place an object into a container that is larger than the container, the object, called the
content, is cropped to fit the form of the container. This creates a PowerClip object.

To create a PowerClip™ object

1. Select an object.
2. Click Effects > PowerClip > Place inside container.
3. Click the object you want to use as the container.
 Artistic text and a bitmap before becoming a PowerClip object.

In the PowerClip object, the artistic text is the container, and the bitmap forms the contents. The bitmap is
shaped to the letters of the artistic text.
Importing Adobe® Illustrator®, Adobe Photoshop® and PDF files
This tip has been updated for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X5. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 and newer versions only.
CorelDRAW® provides enhanced support for the latest Adobe® Illustrator® (AI) CS 4, Portable Document
Format (PDF) files and Adobe® Photoshop® (PSD) CS 4 file formats. It is now even easier to open, import,
and edit files in these formats. Some important enhancements include:
• support for PDF/A and Acrobat 9 (PDF 1.7) file formats & Bates numbering
• support for defining page size by object during PDF export
• CorelDRAW X5 preserves the appearance of adjustment layers and Masks palette effects
of imported PSD files
• support for AI multiple artboards, preservation of gradient transparency, blob brush
strokes and a new Preflight section
• Corel PHOTO-PAINT® X5 preserves editable vibrance, grayscale, and camera filter lenses
of imported and exported PSD files
You can open AI and PDF files by using the File > Open command as you would any CorelDRAW file, or you
can import them. When you open AI and PDF files, they are opened as CorelDRAW files. When you import AI
and PDF files, they are imported as grouped objects and can be placed anywhere within your current drawing.
To import an Adobe Illustrator (AI) or Adobe Photoshop (PSD) file
You can import all AI & PSD files including CS 4 files. For files saved in Adobe Illustrator CS or
higher, text can be imported as text or curves if the files are PDF-compatible. If a file is not PDF-
compatible, you first need to convert all text to outlines by using the Type > Create Outlines
command in Adobe Illustrator for text to be imported.

1. Click File > Import.

2. Locate the folder in which the file is stored.

3. Choose AI - Adobe Illustrator from the Files of type list box.

4. Click the filename, and click Import.

If you are importing a PDF-compatible file containing text, the Import PDF dialog box
appears. In the Import text as area, enable the Text or Curves option. If you are not
sure which option to choose, see To import a PDF file.

When you are importing text as text, the Font substitution for missing fonts dialog
box appears if you don't have all the fonts used in the file installed. Choose the settings
you want, and click OK.

5. When the import cursor appears, do one of the following:

○ Click the drawing page to maintain original file and position top-left corner where
you click.

○ Click and drag on the drawing page to resize the file. The import cursor displays the
dimensions of the resized file as you drag on the
drawing page.

○ Press Enter to center the file on the drawing page.

The import cursor shows you the filename and

dimensions of the file you are about to import.
Adobe Illustrator graphics are imported into the program as a group of objects. Click Arrange > Ungroup to
manipulate objects in the imported graphic.
To import a PDF file
You can get the best possible results for text in your PDF documents by choosing to import the text as text or as
curves. The following pointers will help you make the right choice:
 • When text is imported as text, the font and text are preserved, and the text is fully
editable as artistic or paragraph text. However, some effects and formatting may be lost.
This option is recommended if you have a PDF file that contains large blocks of text, such
as a newsletter, and you want to reformat the text or add text content.

• When text is imported as curves, the appearance of the text, including all effects applied
to it, are preserved, and each letter is converted to a curve object. With this option, the
text formatting features can no longer be used to edit the text. If you have a PDF file that
contains a small amount of text that does not require editing, or if you do not have the
fonts used in the PDF file, you should import the text as curves.
1. Press Ctrl + I.

2. Locate the folder in which the file is stored.

3. Choose PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format from the Files of type list box.

4. Click the filename, and click Import.

If the file is protected by a password, type a valid password in the Password box.
5. In the Import PDF dialog box, choose one of the following options in the Import text as
area:

○ Text - lets you edit and reformat the text from the PDF file. If any of the fonts used
in the PDF file are missing, choose the settings you want in the Font substitution
for missing fonts dialog box, and click OK.

○ Curves - converts text to curves, letting you maintain the appearance of the
original text

The Import PDF dialog box

If you are importing a multipage document, select the pages you want to import, and click OK.

When you are importing a multipage PDF, the Import PDF dialog box expands to let you choose what pages to
import.
7. When the import cursor appears, click the drawing page.

You can also click and drag to resize the file, or press Enter to place the file in the center
of the document.
Using preview modes in Image Adjustment Lab
When working with files that have poor color balance and contrast, you need to use many different tools to
make adjustments. You can save valuable time by using the Image Adjustment Lab, which is accessible from
both Corel PHOTO-PAINT® and CorelDRAW®. By uniting the most important manual and automatic controls
required for common color and tone corrections, the Image Adjustment Lab offers a fast, intuitive way to
achieve professional results with your image files.
With the Image Adjustment Lab, you can use different preview modes for evaluating the color and tone
adjustments you make. You can preview the corrected image in a single window, view the original and
corrected images in separate windows, or view the image split into original and corrected portions within one
window.
The Image Adjustment Lab also lets you create snapshots of your adjustments with just one click. The
snapshots appear below the working preview, which lets you easily compare each snapshot against the original
version and then choose the best result.

The preview mode buttons (A) and the Create Snapshot button (B)
To open the Image Adjustment Lab
Do one of the following:

• If you're working in CorelDRAW, click Bitmaps > Image Adjustment Lab.

• If you're working in Corel PHOTO-PAINT, click Adjust > Image Adjustment Lab.

To preview the corrected image in a single window

• After correcting the image, click the Full Preview button .

To view the original and corrected images in separate windows

 • After correcting the image, click the Before and after full preview button .

To view original and corrected portions of an image in one window

• After correcting the image, click the Before and after split preview button .

To capture the current version of your image

• Click the Create Snapshot button .

Thumbnails of the snapshots appear in a window below your image. Each snapshot is
numbered sequentially and can be deleted by clicking the Close button in the upper-right
corner of the snapshot title bar.
Filling objects with color in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
You can use the default color palette in CorelDRAW® to fill objects with color quickly and easily. The default
color palette contains colors from the CMYK color model and is located along the right side of the program
window.
• To fill any object with color, drag a color swatch from the color palette to the object.

Dragging a color swatch to an object

The object filled with color

• To change the fill color of a selected object, click a color swatch.

• To change the outline color of a selected object, right-click a color swatch.

• To choose from a range of different shades of a color, click and hold a color swatch to display a pop-up
color picker, and then click a color.

A pop-up color picker

• To remove the fill, click the No Fill button at the top of the color palette.

• To expand the color palette, click the flyout arrow at the bottom of the palette.
CorelDRAW provides many color palettes in addition to the default CMYK color palette. To access the color
palettes, click Window > Color Palettes. For more information about using color in CorelDRAW, see "Working
with color" in the CorelDRAW Help menu.

Alternatively, you can fill objects by using the Eyedropper tool together with the Paintbucket tool , the Fill

tool , the Interactive Fill tool , or the Interactive Mesh Fill tool . You can also fill object overlaps by

using the Smart Fill tool . For more information about these tools, see the CorelDRAW Help menu.
Drawing basic shapes with CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
With CorelDRAW®, drawing basic shapes — such as rectangles, ellipses, polygons, and stars — is quick and
easy. All the tools you need are easily accessible from the following flyouts in the toolbox: the Rectangle flyout,
the Ellipse flyout, and the Object flyout.

Top to bottom: the Rectangle flyout, the Ellipse flyout, and the Object flyout
Drawing rectangles and squares

You can draw a rectangle or a square by dragging diagonally with the Rectangle tool or by
specifying the width and height with the 3 point rectangle tool. You'll find the 3 point rectangle
tool very useful for creating rectangles at an angle. Both tools are located on the Rectangle
flyout.

• To draw a rectangle, open the Rectangle flyout, click the Rectangle tool , and drag in the
drawing window until the rectangle is the size you want.

• To draw a square, click the Rectangle tool, hold down Ctrl, and drag in the drawing window
until the square is the size you want.

• To draw a rectangle at an angle, click the 3 point rectangle tool . In the drawing window,
point to where you want to start the rectangle, drag to draw the width, and release the
mouse button. Move the pointer to draw the height, and click.

Drawing a rectangle at an angle with the 3 point rectangle tool

• You can draw a rectangle from its center outward by holding down Shift as you drag with
the Rectangle tool.

• You can draw a square from its center outward by holding down Shift + Ctrl as you drag
with the Rectangle tool.

• You can draw a rectangle that covers the drawing page by double-clicking the Rectangle
tool.

Drawing ellipses, circles, arcs, and pie shapes

You can draw an ellipse or a circle by dragging diagonally with the Ellipse tool, or you can draw
an ellipse by using the 3 point ellipse tool to specify its width and height. The 3 point ellipse tool
lets you quickly create an ellipse at an angle, eliminating the need to rotate the ellipse. Both
tools are located on the Ellipse flyout.
After you draw an ellipse or a circle, you can easily change it into a pie shape or an arc.

Left to right: a circle, a pie shape, and an arc

• To draw an ellipse, open the Ellipse flyout, click the Ellipse tool ,and drag where
you want to place it. Holding down Ctrl while dragging with the Ellipse tool draws a circle,
while holding down Shift draws an ellipse from the center.

• To change the ellipse into a pie shape or an arc, click the Pie button or the Arc button
on the property bar.

• To draw an ellipse at an angle, click the 3 point ellipse tool , and drag in the drawing
window to draw the centerline of the ellipse at the angle you want. Next, move the pointer
to define the height of the ellipse, and click.
Note: The centerline runs through the center of the ellipse and determines its width.

Drawing an ellipse at an angle with the 3 point ellipse tool

Left to right: a circle, a pie shape, and an arc

Drawing polygons and stars

You can draw polygons and two types of stars: perfect stars, which have a traditional star
appearance and complex stars, which have intersecting sides. With perfect stars, you can apply
a fill to the entire star shape. With complex stars, you can produce unique results when you
apply a fill.

Left to right: a polygon, a perfect star, and a complex star, each with a fountain fill applied
The tools you need to create polygons and stars are located on the Object flyout.
• To draw a polygon, open the Object flyout, click the Polygon tool , and drag in the
drawing window until the polygon is the size you want. You can draw a polygon from its
center by holding down Shift as you drag. Also, you can draw a symmetrical polygon by
holding down Ctrl as you drag.

• To draw a perfect star, click the Star tool , and drag in the drawing window until the star
is the size you want.

• To draw a complex star, click the Complex star tool , and drag in the drawing window
until the star is the size you want.
Getting the most out of the rulers in CorelDRAW
Whether you need to move, size, create, or align objects and text in your project, you can accomplish the task at
hand with precision by using the rulers available in CorelDRAW®. The rulers consist of a vertical bar and a
horizontal bar. Both bars are marked off in units and are displayed by default in the upper-left corner of the
drawing window.

The rulers displayed in CorelDRAW

When you move the pointer in the drawing window, the rulers find the pointer's position in relation to their
origin. The ruler origin is the point on the drawing page that corresponds to the points marked by zero on both
rulers. By default, the ruler origin is located at the lower-left corner of the drawing page. The pointer's position
is displayed on the status bar, which is useful when you need to use precision in dragging an object to a new
position.

The pointer's position in relation to the ruler origin is displayed on the status bar.
The following tips can help you get the most out of the rulers in CorelDRAW.
• To display or hide the rulers, click View > Rulers.

• To move a ruler, hold down Shift, and drag the ruler to a new position. Note that moving a ruler changes
the ruler origin.

• To move both rulers at the same time, hold down Shift, and drag the intersection point of the two rulers.
 Moving the rulers
• To return the rulers to their original position, hold down Shift, and double-click a ruler.

• To customize the ruler settings, double-click a ruler, and specify the settings you want on the Rulers
page of the Options dialog box. For example, you can change the unit of measurement from inches to
millimeters or centimeters. Note that the unit of measurement used for the rulers applies to other areas,
including page and object size, duplicate distance, and nudge values; unless you disable the Same units
for Duplicate distance, Nudge and Rulers, and Same units for Horizontal and Vertical rulers check
boxes, any changes you make to the rulers' unit of measurement will apply to other tools.

You can also change the ruler origin and specify how many marks appear between values on the ruler.

The Rulers page in the Options dialog box

For detailed information about using the rulers and other layout tools, consult "Working with pages and layout
tools" in the CorelDRAW Help files.
Adding and Selecting Text in CorelDRAW
There are two types of text you can add to designs— artistic text and paragraph text. Artistic text can be used to
add short lines of text to which you can apply a wide range of effects, such as drop shadows. Paragraph text can
be used for larger bodies of text that have greater formatting requirements.

Artistic text (left) and paragraph text (right)

To modify text, you must first select it. You can select entire text objects as you would any other object, or you
can select specific characters. To add artistic text, click anywhere in the drawing window by using the Text tool

insert , and type.

To add paragraph text, click the Text tool, drag in the drawing window to size the paragraph text frame, and
type.

To select an entire text object, click the text by using the Pick tool insert ,.

A bounding box appears around a selected text object.

To select specific characters, drag across the text by using the Text tool.

Selecting part of a text object

For detailed information about working with text, see "Adding and formatting text" in the CorelDRAW Help
files.
Coloring clipart in CorelDRAW
By Ludmila Minkova
This tip has been updated for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X5. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5 only.
Be creative with CorelDRAW clipart by changing its colors! Just drag a color swatch for simple changes, or
use Fill tools for more intricate effects.
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite includes a huge collection of clipart to help you with your projects. To customize
clipart, you can change its colors. Often, changing the color of clipart is as easy as dragging a color swatch from
the default color palette, or applying a fill with the Interactive Fill tool. Sometimes, clipart contains enclosed
areas, which can be filled only with the Smart Fill tool. In other cases, you may first need to prepare the clipart
by creating closed paths.

Original clipart (left); clipart with changed colors (right)

To fill clipart with color

1. Start Corel CONNECT (Go to Start > All Programs > CorelDRAW Graphics Suite >
Corel CONNECT)

2. In Corel CONNECT, navigate to the CDGS Content Library and pick the file you want.
Alternatively search for a file using keywords in the Search bar in Corel CONNECT.

3. Select the file you want from the main window in Corel CONNECT and click Open in
CorelDRAW

4. Drag a color swatch on the on-screen color palette to the part of the drawing you want to
color, and release the mouse button when a filled square appears with the cursor

To use the Smart Fill tool

By simply dragging a color swatch, you can color objects in clipart. If you want to color areas enclosed by
objects, however, you need to use the Smart Fill tool.
 This design contains areas that are enclosed by objects: the interior of the diamond shape and
loops (shown in top inset at a larger zoom level). These areas can be filled only by using the
Smart Fill tool.

1. Open the Smart tools flyout, and click the Smart Fill tool.

The Smart Fill tool is located in the toolbox, on the Smart Tools flyout.

2. On the property bar, choose one of the following options from the Fill Options list box:

○ Specify lets you choose a solid color from the Fill Color picker on the property bar.

○ Use default lets you use the default setting of the Fill tool. No fill applies no fill to
the area.

3. Choose one of the following options from the Outline options box:

○ Use default lets you apply the default outline setting.

○ Specify lets you choose a line width from the Outline Width box and a line color
from the Outline Color picker.

○ No outline applies no outline to the area.

4. Click inside the enclosed area that you want to fill.

A new object is created from the enclosed area, and the current fill and outline styles are applied to it.
The new object appears on top of the existing objects in the layer.

The design filled with color

To create closed paths in clipart

Clipart contains curve objects that are made up of components called paths. A path may be open
(for example, a line) or closed (for example, an ellipse). You can add color to the inside of closed
paths. To apply a fill to an open path, such as a line, you first need to join its start and end nodes
to create a closed path.

In the example below, the four small loops in the design cannot be filled by dragging a color swatch nor by
using the Smart Fill tool. A higher zoom level shows that the loops are not closed paths and are not fully
enclosed. To fill the loops, closed paths need to be created first.

1. Select the entire clipart in the drawing window, and press Ctrl + U to ungroup it.

2. Using the Pick tool, drag a marquee around an area with an open path while holding down
Alt.

Dragging a marquee around an open path

3. Click Arrange > Close Path, and choose a command.
Now that the path is closed, you can fill it with color.

The four small loops are closed by using the Arrange > Close Path > Closest Nodes with Curvy lines command.
Then, they are filled by dragging a color swatch from the color palette.
Using paragraph spacing options in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
You can use the paragraph spacing options in CorelDRAW® to tailor the look of paragraph text in your
drawings. When you don't have a lot of room for text, you can modify the spacing before and after paragraphs.
You can also change the amount of space between lines within a paragraph.
With hanging indents, in which all but the first line of text is indented, you can apply a different look to both
paragraph text and bulleted lists. If you type beyond the first line in a bulleted list, you'll find that the text drops
to the left, against the text frame. By applying a hanging indent, you can have this text indent so that it aligns
with first word in the first line of the bulleted list.
You can access the settings for line spacing and hanging indents in the Paragraph Formatting docker, which you
can open by clicking Text > Paragraph Formatting.
To adjust spacing between paragraphs
1. Select the text.

2. In the spacing area of the Paragraph Formatting docker, choose a unit of measurement
from the list box.

3. Type a value in the Before Paragraph or After Paragraph box.

 The space after the first paragraph is increased to 14 points.
To modify line spacing in paragraph text
1. Select the text.

2. In the Paragraph formatting docker, type a value in the Line box in the spacing area.
 The line spacing in the first paragraph is increased.
To indent paragraph text
1. Select the paragraph text.

2. In the Paragraph Formatting docker, type values in one of the following boxes in the
Indents area:

○ First line — indents the first line of paragraph text

○ Left — creates a hanging indent in which all but the first line of text is indented

○ Right — indents the right side of paragraph text

 Typing .5 in the Left box created a hanging indent of 0.5 inch in the first paragraph.

To create a hanging indent in a bulleted list

1. Select the paragraph text.

2. Click Text > Bullets.

3. Enable the Use bullets check box.

4. Enable the Use hanging indent style for bulleted lists check box.
A hanging indent is applied to the bulleted list.
Get the most out of the Pick tool in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
Have you ever found it time-consuming to select objects in complex projects, or to size objects and paragraph
text? Or perhaps you've tried to reshape a curve object quickly and then found that you had to switch tools to
select the object's nodes? The following procedures show you how to perform all these tasks swiftly and easily
by using the Pick tool.

To select an object
• Using the Pick tool, drag a marquee around an object to select it. If parts of the object are
hidden behind other objects, hold down Alt while dragging, and enclose only a portion of
the object. Using the Alt modifier helps you quickly select objects in complex projects.

The sky in this clipart is selected by dragging a marquee around a small portion of the sky
while holding down Alt.

The color of the selected sky is changed to dark blue with one click on the on-screen color
palette. The color of the water is changed to a darker blue by dragging a color swatch.

• To select all objects in a drawing, double-click the Pick tool.

To size an object
• To size a selected object proportionally, drag a corner handle. To switch to free-size mode,
hold down Alt while dragging. Free-size mode lets you size the object however you want.
You can even flip the object while holding down Alt.
 You can size a selected object proportionally by dragging a corner handle.

You can size a selected object non proportionally and flip it by holding down Alt while
dragging a corner handle.

To size paragraph text

• To size the text frame, click the paragraph text with the Pick tool, and drag a corner
selection handle. To size the text frame and text simultaneously, hold down Alt while
dragging a corner handle.

Selected paragraph text can be resized proportionally by dragging a corner handle.

 Only the text frame has been resized in this example. Note that the text in the frame now
spans five lines instead of four.

In this example, both text and frame have been resized by holding down Alt while
dragging a corner handle. Note that the text spans four lines, as in the original paragraph
text.

To select a node
1. Click Tools > Options.

2. In the Workspace list of categories, click Display, and make sure that the Enable node
tracking check box is enabled. When the Enable node tracking check box is enabled, the
snapping feature is not available.

The Display page of the Options dialog box. The Enable node tracking control is circled in
red.

3. Using the Pick tool, click a curve object.

4. Move the pointer over a node until the tool's shape state cursor appears, and click the
node.

The node is selected with the Pick tool.

sing VBA macros in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
Macros are recorded series of actions that let you perform tasks quickly. The macros in CorelDRAW® are
based on Microsoft® Visual Basic® For Applications (VBA), which is included in the installation of
CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite.
You can take advantage of the VBA macros available in the program, and you can record your own macros to
automate tasks that you perform frequently. Recording macros is easy — you don't need to know VBA to get
started.
Simple VBA macros let you complete basic operations, such as saving files to a different file format or drawing
shapes. However, VBA can also be used to create richer macros and applications to help you with complex
tasks. For example, using the Calendar Wizard included in the program, you can create multi-page and single-
page custom calendars in different languages.
If you want to access your favorite macros quickly, you can add buttons to your workspace.
To run a VBA macro
1. Click Tools > Visual Basic > Play.

2. From the Macros in list box, choose All Standard Projects to view available macros.

A list of the macros included in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

3. In the Macro name box, click a macro, and then click Run.

The names of the macros suggest their use. For example, Converter.Start lets you convert
multiple files to a different file format. CorelMacros.CreateColorSwatch lets you generate
rectangles filled with the colors of the color palette that you choose.

To record a macro
1. Click Tools > Visual Basic > Record.

2. In the Save Macro dialog box, type a name in the Macro name box. Also, you can add a
short description in the Description box.
 The Save Macro dialog box
3. From the Store macro in box, choose GlobalMacros.gms, and click OK.

Note that you can save the macro with your project (Graphic1 in the following example),
or you can save it to GlobalMacros.gms, which is an open global macro storage (.gms) file.
Storing a macro with your project lets you reuse the macro only in this project; storing a
macro in the GlobalMacros.gms module makes it available in any CorelDRAW project.

The Save Macro dialog box

4. Perform the actions you want to record. For your first macro, you can begin by drawing
and filling a few simple shapes and adding drop shadows as shown in the following
example.

1. Click Tools > Visual Basic > Stop.

To try out your new macro, follow these steps:
1. Delete all shapes from your project.

2. Click Tools > Visual Basic > Play.

3. From the Macros in list box, choose GlobalMacros.gms.

4. In the Macro name box, click the macro name (RecordedMacros.MacroTest in the following
example), and then click Run.

Note that the names of all recorded macros start with RecordedMacros.
 The newly recorded macro is displayed in the CorelDRAW Visual Basic for Applications Macros dialog box.
Running the macro will add the shapes back to the drawing window.

If you want to delete the macro, you can select it in the CorelDRAW Visual Basic for Applications Macros
dialog box, and then click Delete.
To create a button for a VBA macro
1. Click Tools > Customization.
2. In the Customization list of categories, click Commands.
3. From the Commands list box, choose Macros, and select the macro you want.

The Commands page of the Options dialog box. The chosen settings are indicated in red.
4. On the General tab, write the tooltip text for the button in the Tooltip Help box, and drag
the macro name to a toolbar in the program window. When a black handle appears,
release the mouse button.
 Dragging the macro name to the standard toolbar

A button for the test macro has been added to the standard toolbar. When you point to the button, the tooltip is
displayed.
From here...
To learn more about VBA and VBA macros, you can consult the CorelDRAW VBA Help and the VBA
Programming Guide for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.
• To access the CorelDRAW VBA Help, click Tools > Visual Basic > Visual Basic Editor, and
press F2. In the Object browser, choose CorelDRAW from the Library list box, and press F1.

• To access the VBA Programming Guide for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, on your Windows
taskbar, click Start > All programs > CorelDRAW Graphics Suite > Documentation.
Working with styles in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
With CorelDRAW, styles provide an easy way to save time when working with text and graphic objects. A style
is a set of formatting attributes which you can apply to an object, or several objects, in one step. Styles are
especially useful when working on documents containing multiple common elements, such as text formatting
and graphic colors.
The Graphic and Text Styles docker makes it a breeze to create or apply a style. For example, if you have a
graphic with a color fill or outline that you know you will use again, simply drag that graphic onto the Graphic
and Text Styles docker. Then, when you want to reuse the color fill or outline for another graphic, simply drag
the style name from the docker onto the graphic. From the docker, you can also rename, edit, or delete a style
by right-clicking and using the options in the drop-down menu.
To create a graphic or text style from an object
1. Press Ctrl + F5 to open the Graphic and Text Styles docker.

2. With the Pick tool, select a graphic or text object that contains the properties you want to
preserve as a style, and drag the object to the Graphic and Text Styles docker.

Depending on the type of object used, a style labeled "New Graphic", "New Paragraph
Text", or "New Artistic Text" appears in the Graphic and Text Styles docker.

To rename your new style

1. In the Graphic and Text Styles docker, right-click the new style and choose Rename from
the drop-down menu.

2. Type a unique name for your new style and press Enter.
To apply your new style to an object
1. With the Pick tool, drag the style name from the Graphic and Text Styles docker onto the
object.

To apply your new style to multiple objects

1. With the Pick tool, select the first object.
2. Press Shift and select the second object.
3. In the Graphic and Text Styles docker, double-click the style.

Note: If you make property changes to an object after you've applied a style, the style will
be overridden. This means that you'll no longer be capable of dynamically updating the
object's properties.

Editing the properties of a style

Another advantage of using styles is the ability to dynamically update multiple graphic or text
objects within a document. For example, if you have a style applied to several graphics, you can
update all instances at once by editing the properties of the style. This also applies for any text
objects that use a style to specify formatting attributes.

To edit the properties of a style

1. In the Graphic and Text Styles docker, right-click the style and choose Properties from the
drop-down menu.

The Options dialog box opens to the Styles page.

 2. In the Styles list, click the plus sign (+) beside the style that you want to edit.

Note:For graphic styles, you can edit the outline and fill properties. For paragraph or
artistic text styles, you can edit outline and fill properties as well as the font, alignment,
spacing, indents and margins, and text effects properties.
3. Use the Edit buttons to adjust the various properties of the style.
Styles are document specific. If you have created a style that you want to use for multiple documents, simply
click the flyout button in the Graphic and Text Styles docker, and choose Template > Save As Default For New
Documents from the drop-down menu. This will preserve your style for future use.
ow to set the miter limit in CorelDRAW
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
Introduction: The miter limit determines whether sharp corners in objects appear pointed or beveled. In
CorelDRAW, you can quickly change the miter limit for any object in a project and enjoy the flexibility of
having objects with different miter limits.
When an object contains lines that meet at sharp angles, you can determine their corner shape by setting the
miter limit. Corners with angles above the miter limit are pointed (mitered); corners with angles below the miter
limit are beveled (squared off).

Changing the miter limit affects the appearance of sharp corners.

Since CorelDRAW X3, setting the miter limit is easier than ever. The miter limit is no longer an application
setting that applies to all objects in a drawing. Instead, it is now an object's outline property that can be changed
in the Outline pen dialog box. This enhancement gives you the flexibility of having objects with different miter
limit values in the same project.
To set the miter limit
You'll draw a star, apply two different miter limit values, and compare the results.
1. Open the Object flyout, click the Star tool, and drag in the drawing window to draw a star.
On the property bar, choose 2.0 pt from the Outline width box. You can also apply a fill to
the star.

The Star tool is located on the Object flyout.

A star with an outline width of 2.0 pt and a fountain fill applied

2. Open the Outline tool flyout, and click the Outline pen dialog button.

The Outline pen dialog button is located on the Outline tool flyout.
The Outline pen dialog box appears.
 Note: Make sure that the first option is enabled in the Corners area as shown above.
3. Type 45 in the Miter limit box, and click OK. All sharp corners with angles that are smaller
than the miter limit of 45° appear beveled.

4. With the star selected, open the Outline pen dialog box, type 5 in the Miter limit box, and
click OK. Zoom in on a corner and observe the change of shape. The corners now appear
pointed because their angles are bigger than 5°.

The star with a miter limit of 45° and beveled corners (left); the star with a miter limit of 5° and pointed
corners (right).
Continue to experiment with miter limit settings to get the most out of this feature. You'll find that the miter
limit can be very useful for controlling the appearance of corners in text objects.
Creating secure PDF files for the Web
This tip has been written for CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite X3. While similar features might be available in
previous releases the tip will be fully applicable to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X3 and newer versions only.
CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite lets you create a single PDF file from one or more documents, optimize it for
online viewing, and control the way it can be accessed, edited, and reproduced by others.
Saving multiple documents as a single PDF file
CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite lets you save multiple documents as a single PDF file. A PDF file can
be viewed, shared, and printed on any platform provided that users have Adobe® Acrobat®,
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®, or a PDF-compatible reader such as Corel® WordPerfect®
Lightning™, installed on their computers.

• Click File > Publish to PDF.

• Click Settings.
• Click the General tab.
• Enable the Documents option.
• Enable the check box for each document you want to save.

Choose the documents you want to save from the list in the Export range area.
Reducing the file size of a PDF file
You can reduce the size of a PDF file by compressing bitmaps, text, and line art.

Options for bitmap compression include JPEG, LZW, and ZIP. Bitmaps that use JPEG compression have a
quality scale ranging from 2 (high quality, less compression) to 255 (lower quality, more compression). The
higher the image quality, the larger the file size.
1. Click File > Publish to PDF.

2. Click Settings.

3. Click the Objects tab.

4. To compress bitmaps, choose one of the following from the Compression type list box:

○ None
○ LZW
○ JPEG
○ JP2
○ ZIP

5. To compress text and line art, enable the Compress text and line art check box.
You can also downsample color, grayscale, or monochrome images or convert complex fills to bitmaps.
To downsample bitmap images in a PDF file
1. Click File > Publish to PDF.

2. Click Settings.

3. Click the Objects tab.

4. Enable any of the following check boxes, and type a value in the corresponding box:

○ Color
○ Grayscale
○ Monochrome

To convert complex fills to bitmaps

1. Click File > Publish to PDF.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. Enable the Render complex fills as bitmaps check box.

Optimizing PDF files for the Web

You can optimize a PDF file for viewing on the Web. Optimizing a PDF file speeds up processing
time by loading one page at a time.

1. Click File > Publish to PDF.

2. Click Settings.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. Enable the Optimize for Web check box.

Setting security options for PDF files

You can set security options to protect your PDF output. The security options are controlled by
two passwords: the Permission password and the Open password. The Permission password is
the master password that lets you control whether a file can be printed, edited, or copied. The
Open password lets you control who can access the file.

You can set security options for a PDF file from the Security tab in the Publish to PDF Settings dialog box.
To set permissions for a PDF file
1. Click File > Publish to PDF.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Enable the Permission password check box.
5. Type a password in the Password box.
6. Retype the password in the Confirm Permission password box.
7. In the Printing permissions box, choose one of the following options:
 ○ None — lets users view the PDF on-screen but prevents them from printing the PDF
file

○ Low resolution — lets users print a low resolution version of the PDF file. This option
is available for PDF files compatible with Adobe Acrobat 5 or higher.

○ High resolution — lets users print a high resolution version of the PDF file

8. In the Editing permissions box, choose one of the following options:

○ None — prevents users from editing the PDF file

○ Any except extracting pages — lets users edit the PDF file but prevents them from
removing pages from the file
If you want to allow copying of content from the PDF file to other documents, enable the Enable copying of
text, images, and other contents check box.
To set a user password for a PDF file
1. Click File > Publish to PDF.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Enable the Open password check box.
5. Type a password in the Password box.
6. Retype the password in the Confirm Open password box.
Note: It is not recommended that you set an Open password without setting a Permission password because
users would then have unrestricted access to the PDF file — including the ability to set a new password.