Corel DRAW 11

CNET editors' review

• Reviewed by:
  Susan Glinert
• Reviewed on: 07/30/2002
• Updated on: 11/12/2009

Several years ago, the author of a book about an illustration app--not CorelDraw--created his book's graphics with CorelDraw. Why such blasphemy? Primarily because the application he was writing about was harder to use and had fewer features. To this day, we agree: CorelDraw is an easy-to-master, exceptionally powerful program with a luxuriant toolset and a lucid interface. Version 11.0 adds several new illustration tools and better import/export filters. Although CorelDraw won't set any speed records when handling complex files, its many outstanding features make it the best illustration app in its class.Several years ago, the author of a book about an illustration app--not CorelDraw--created his book's graphics with CorelDraw. Why such blasphemy? Primarily because the application he was writing about was harder to use and had fewer features. To this day, we agree: CorelDraw is an easy-to-master, exceptionally powerful program with a luxuriant toolset and a lucid interface. Version 11.0 adds several new illustration tools and better import/export filters. Although CorelDraw won't set any speed records when handling complex files, its many outstanding features make it the best illustration app in its class.

Smooth-as-butter interface
CorelDraw's completely configurable interface helps solidify its supremacy over the competition. The program makes it easy to create your own toolbars, menus, and macros as you work, then save that customized work space for specific tasks. For example, if you build lots of flowcharts, you can design an interface that puts all the most important flowchart tools right at your fingertips.

We also love CorelDraw's cross-platform support and vast range of import/export filters. The filters let you port files to and from other design programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Visio. To wit, when we exported a multilayer CorelDraw file to a Photoshop file, the layer arrangement remained intact. And since CorelDraw 11.0 is optimized for Windows XP and carbonized for Apple OS X, the program can take advantage of pertinent operating system features, such as XP themes and security settings.

A new bag of tricks
Graphics pros get some good news, too: CorelDraw 11.0 finally supports symbols, so you can save artwork (a symbol) to a central library, then drag and drop it into any document as many times as you want. In the past, if you wanted to reuse objects such as arrows or call-out boxes, you had to save each image to a new file, then copy and paste this file into your illustration--a time- and resource-consuming process. Symbols are faster, easier, and don't significantly bloat file size.

Version 11.0 also introduces a few new tools, including pressure-sensitive smudge and roughen brushes that respectively blur and texturize object outlines. These brushes, unfortunately, aren't as responsive as similar tools in Adobe Illustrator, but we give a big thumbs-up to a major enhancement that lets you convert paragraph text to curves, then apply artistic effects, such as drop shadows, without losing paragraph formatting.

Fortunately, even with all these fancy new features, CorelDraw remains easy to use for novices and pros alike, thanks to its self-explanatory tools and intuitive, customizable interface. Anyone who can print a Word doc can figure out CorelDraw in an hour or two. However, we recommend this program primarily for midrange and professional designers. Continue reading

Compare prices for Corel DRAW 11

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Email me when this product is available

Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 28 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 28 user reviews

• 1.0 stars

  "Better than an Etch-a-sketch"

  by solitare_pax on June 10, 2008

• 4.5 stars

  0 out of 1 people found this helpful

  "darioreyes6tu5rduj"

  by darinm on June 8, 2008

• 1.0 stars

  "11 is really bad news"

  on November 17, 2003

• See all 28 user reviews Write review