If you have been around the graphics business for even a short time, you already know the benefit of vector artwork is that it can be resized and reused. The number of outlets for artwork is constantly growing, making it increasingly important to create designs that can be adapted easily. The following tips will make it easier for you to create reusable artwork in CorelDRAW.

Did you know there is an easy way to open a tuna can without a can opener? Did you know that you can break open a padlock with a pair of wrenches? Have you ever wondered how many uses there are for an empty roll of toilet paper?

I discussed the pros and cons of JPG and PNG files in the November 2014 and January 2015 issues of Recognition Review. Now that you know the two major bitmap file formats to consider and when each is best, we’re going to look at the best sizes to use when posting bitmaps online in a variety of scenarios.

Members of the Awards and Personalization Association— or really anyone in the industry—who do engraving for industrial clients know that very often you’ll be sent .DXF (drawing exchange file) files from AutoCAD (or other CAD [computer-aided design] programs) containing shapes that appear to be fillable but accept no fill in CorelDRAW.

Recently I received a call from Ken and Sue, a husband-and-wife team from Tennessee who were facing a unique challenge. They needed to modify a black and white illustration of a vintage aircraft so that it could be lasered on whiskey bottles destined for a museum fundraiser. The challenge? The aircraft in the foreground of the image was in shades of gray similar to the background, making it difficult to visually separate some parts of the airplane from the background. To compound the issue, the image needed to be converted to a halftone, which further reduced the definition between the plane and the background.

In the November issue of Recognition Review, I discussed the process for saving JPEG files from either CorelDRAW or Corel PHOTO-PAINT. If you got the impression that I’m not a big fan of JPEG, you are correct. While it is typically the best way to put a photograph on the web, it’s pretty lousy for most everything else. Sadly, it is popular, and most users don’t realize there is a better format.

Recently I was contacted by a CorelDRAW user who wanted to create a unique picture frame with the name of a person at the bottom. FIGURE 1 is a picture of what was desired. I’ll go through the steps required to create this type of artwork in CorelDRAW so that it can be cut/etched on a laser engraver. Even if you don’t have to create this type of project or even use a laser engraver, the process can be transferred to a wide variety of projects.

When it comes to fashion, my age and Midwestern roots keep me behind the trends. I rely on my wife’s sense of style to help keep me in current clothing—within a decade or so. It is difficult, however, not to notice the ever-increasing trend for customized accessories. Personalized items are becoming more the rule than the exception. And when the weather turns cold, there are still sublimation options for customization!

About 14 years ago, my brother-in-law paid more than $100 to have his handwriting converted into a typeface or “font.” At that time, the concept was fairly new and there were few services available. I wish I knew then what I know now.

As a CorelDRAW expert, I teach users the ins and outs of the program through websites, one-on-one training, live seminars, and more. I led seminars at January’s International Awards Market which let me interact with a lot of CorelDRAW users. One of the great things about being at a trade show is helping to solve the problems these users are having. Some of the solutions require a detailed explanation while others are quite simple.