CorelDraw 10.0 review: CorelDraw 10.0

You won't find another app with the flexibility and power of CorelDraw 10.0. Add the new and improved Web graphics creation and optimization tools (including Corel's Flash movie creator) to CorelDraw's already high-quality page layout and illustration tools, throw in Corel Photo-Paint, and you have one package that does it all. CorelDraw 10.0 is a must-have app for intermediate and advanced users. Beginners won't find CorelDraw 10.0 a breeze to learn, but it's simpler than other illustration apps, such as Adobe Illustrator 10.0. You won't find another app with the flexibility and power of CorelDraw 10.0. Add the new and improved Web graphics creation and optimization tools (including Corel's Flash movie creator) to CorelDraw's already high-quality page layout and illustration tools, throw in Corel Photo-Paint, and you have one package that does it all. CorelDraw 10.0 is a must-have app for intermediate and advanced users. Beginners won't find CorelDraw 10.0 a breeze to learn, but it's simpler than other illustration apps, such as Adobe Illustrator 10.0.

Raves About CorelRAVE
While CorelDraw has always featured strong page layout and illustration tools, Web design features beyond simple image map creation were largely ignored in previous releases. Version 10 corrects this oversight and makes creating rollover button effects a snap. You simply create a button shape, select Effects • Rollover, and click Create Rollover on the Internet toolbar. CorelDraw even puts in the necessary HTML code for you. You can edit and preview your button's actions in CorelDraw or let the app launch your default browser to view the effects in their actual position. CorelDraw's new Image Optimizer condenses the size of your files for bandwidth-friendly Web images.

In a nod to Macromedia's popular Flash application, CorelDraw 10 introduces CorelRAVE (Real Animated Vector Effects), which is a separate app that uses CorelDraw's tools and special effects to create Flash still and movie files. While RAVE is not as sophisticated as Flash, it is a lot easier to use. You can convert blends to individual animation frames and add key frames (frames in which an action takes place) by simply double-clicking an object's timeline. To extend a scene, just click and drag the end of its timeline.

Unfortunately, RAVE's vector animation files are larger than Flash files. A simple RAVE animation with sound weighed in at a hefty 149K. When imported into Flash and then exported, the size dropped to 79K. New users should be aware that many of CorelDraw's effects, such as conical fountain fills or gradient transparencies, do not translate into the Flash SWF file format. In short, it's best for simple animation only.

New and Improved
CorelDraw 10's new Page Sorter view is a welcome addition for managing multipage documents. You can now view pages within the same document in different sizes and orientations (portrait or landscape) as opposed to creating separate documents for each orientation. Rearranging pages is as easy as dragging a page icon from the Page Sorter view and dropping it in the new location.

CorelDraw's color management, which was right up there with rocket science, has now been simplified. You can access all color management options on one easy-to-use page found in the Color Management dialog box in the Options menu. You can specify color in one of three output styles: Web, Desktop Printing, or Professional Output. You can also create and save your own personal output styles.

Bottom Line
The list of features goes on and on. If you want the best set of tools with the greatest amount of control, look no further. CorelDraw 10 is for you.