A professional suite full of drawing, illustration, image editing and graphic-design tools
A professional suite full of drawing, illustration, image editing and graphic-design tools
Alternatives to CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
Popular programs in Graphics Editors
What is CorelDRAW Graphics Suite
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a deluxe graphic-design tool set containing software programs for design, drawing, image editing and layout.
This free version of the installation package includes CorelDRAW, for vector-based illustration, and Corel PHOTO-PAINT, for image editing. These are the two main applications in this trial version of the software, and they are accompanied by several additional tools. PowerTrace is a bitmap converter, and the Website Creator tool, as its name implies, is a website builder. Capture is a screen-capture tool, Connect is a browsing program and the PhotoZoom Pro 2 utility allows you to export photos and images.
This version of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite has been updated to work on 64-bit machines and has added a number of new in-program apps to assist your workflow. Also included in this version is an image-storage tray that allows you to keep track of images in your workspace and search popular image websites for photos to use in your work. The suite has also been spruced up with tools and apps that make website design easier whether you know code or not.
While this suite may not have the same range and functionality as the Adobe Creative Suite, it is more lightweight and arguably more intuitive. The programs contain extensive documentation, and the Corel website includes a library of videos that introduce you to new features. It is professional-grade software, yet non-professionals who may need this software can learn to use it. The paid version, should you decide to upgrade, is also much less expensive than the Adobe packages.
Some hardcore designers, artists and photo editors may miss certain features and compatibility issues present in the Adobe Creative Suite. However, this program set is suitable for professional quality work, and it is free, so if you are looking to try out a high-quality design and image editing toolbox, CorelDRAW is worth exploring.
Pros:
Professional quality graphic-design suite
Includes new and improved tools for graphic and web designers
Extensive documentation and online resources
More intuitive interface than Adobe
Cons:
Fewer functions than the Adobe Suite
Occasional stability issues
Only available in Windows