posted
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
-------------------- Mark Kottwitz Kottwitz Graphics Ridgely, MD www.SeeMySignWork.com -------------------------- Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein Posts: 746 | From: Ridgely, MD | Registered: Oct 2000
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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
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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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
-------------------- Stevo Design Illustration Logos Sign Design Clip Art www.stevo-design.com Posts: 1680 | From: Edmonton Ab Canada EH! | Registered: May 2001
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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 ]
-------------------- Mike O'Neill
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value. - Arthur C. Clarke
posted
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.
-------------------- Tracie Johnson Signovations Ventura, California Posts: 444 | From: Ventura, California | Registered: Nov 2005
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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
-------------------- "It is never too late to be what you might have been." -George Eliot
Suelynn Sedor Sedor Signs Carnduff, SK Canada Posts: 2863 | From: Carnduff, SK Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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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)
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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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.
-------------------- Tim Whitcher Adrian, MI Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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casemate...corel....almost alike....casmate has more features, but alot of the commands are similar....
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
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
![[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.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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