I've decided to compile a list of features and enhancements that i would like to see in an updated version, i would like to invite all users to add your suggestions as well, i would love to learn what others think of my suggestions and what suggestions you have to make CorelDRAW Graphics Suite the ultimate undisputed champ in every way. Below are ideas and enhancements i have come up with so far but i'll keep looking for more ideas and again welcome all your ideas as well.
CorelDRAWX5
1. Feather vector objects and have it remain live and be able to adjust properties interactively or through property bar and possibly docker
2. Inner Glow that applies drop shadow to inside of object and remains live
3. Fix mesh fill tool so its cleaner like illustrator
4. Be able to use distortion tools on mesh filled object
5. Graph tool (makes graphs from imputed data like illustrator)
6. Radial Graph tool, (functions like graph tool but in a circle instead)
7. Better distortion tools like illustrator ( Twist, Warp, Pucker, Bloat, Scallop, Crystallize, Wrinkle)
8. Tool to be able to select all tools with same addributes by fill, outline, fill and outline, transparency for easy modification
9. Be able to use tables to export for web and have them maintain their table structure in html
10. Be able to lock cells so that you don’t move contents already place in cell and be able to easily pick cell contents
11. Crop mark tool
12. Slices tool
13. Fix problem with extra white pixel generated when exporting bitmaps
14. Export to RIFF and have it maintain as vector or be able to choose as bitmap but retain alpha (AI is import into Painter generated in Draw is a nightmare.)
15. Preview all bitmap effects in effect browser like in Photoshop or Paint shop pro,
16. Perspective Grid like Painter or Freehand with the choice of as many points and grid spacing
17. Better perspective tool and be able to use Perspective grid with it and have standard perspectives as presets – Isometric etc. or enter degrees and rotation
18. Be able to select and manipulate nodes of more than one object possibly using a similar tool to lasso tool in illustrator
19. Be able to easily move tabs up or down in dockers or nest tabs together vertically or horozontally
20. Show bitmap info in bottom status bar
21. Improve Bevel. Make it interactive, have other options like smooth and adjust bevel curve and be able to select whether the output is a vector or raster and add a preview check box
22. Improve scrapbook (navigation, thumbnail size, save favorite locations
23. Improve colour management , add wizard that guides through setup program
24. Ghost out all object but have them remain visible during edit powerclip for placement
25. Easily select all object with same styles or fill, outline, transparency, dropshadow and easily replace with desired changes
26. Enter color values in hex when manually choosing values in the colour dialogue.
27. Add round corners and chamfer to contour options
28. Easily change overall shading of UI by using a slider or choose custom colour
29. Be able to easily extract only 1 or more selected object without using clipboard from powerclip
30. Improve dockers to show tabs when closed by icon, name or tabs.
31. Keep list of all applied effect to be able to delete any effect independently of all others like illustrator attributes as well as easily modify the parameters for each
32. Have Graphic and text styles also be able to retain glow, transparency, contour and other effects to be easily applied to other objects
33. Fix bitmap info in status bar
35. Lock toolbars in place and prevent from moving
36. Button right next to scroller button in bottom right corner that activates zoom slider
37. Vertical type tool, (Artistic, Paragraph and Along a path) (illustrator)
Corel Photo-Paint
38. Have corel draw vector tools available and within pp and be able to maintain all obejects as vectors and editable like in corel draw until user chooses to rasterize otherwise keep as a vector layer
39. Import vectors to vector layer
40. Treat vectors layers like in draw for manipulation and fill, outline etc…
41. Have effects remain live so that they can be adjusted if desired
. - Preview all bitmap effects in effect browser like in Photoshop or Paint shop pro,
Pr
Thank you for posting these types of messages. A few comments from my side. First, it would be great if these could be posted in the "Feature request" forums, which helps us keep track of things. Second, one thing that we are always very interested in getting a better understanding of the goal that you are trying to achieve, not the actual tool / implementation. This helps us better understand your needs, and also it provides us a frame of reference when it comes to new solutions that can solve multiple problems.
Gérard
Some of those features exist now, or the ability to do them is simple or there is a macro available.
I'll have a better look at your list and see if I can give you some clues. I'm sure a few others will chime in too.
Yani
Hello Gerard,
First off, i'm happy you took notice of my list. I was going to post it in a feature request forum but i didn't find one however after you've mentioned it i looked a little closer and found one, however i think it would makes sense to have it as be a little more prominent rather than at the bottom of the list. (just a suggestion)
What i did for my list was review a couple of other packages such as illustrator CS3 andXara Xtreme Pro 3.2 for features that they have that are not in CorelDRAW or that they have better tools for it and also features new features that i would like to see.
My list is a little vague in order to understand what i'm talking about so i will take some time to review my list and give more specific examples of each request. I love CorelDRAW and have been using it since version 4 but i think with your expert help we can make corel draw the best in all areas once again and ending the debate in which program is better once and for all.
I'll post the updated description and/or example as soon as i get a change and once again thank you for all your work in providing us with the best design tools.
Thank you for posting these types of messages. A few comments from my side. First, it would be great if these could be posted in the "Feature request" forums, which helps us keep track of things. Second, one thing that we are always very interested in getting a better understanding of the goal that you are trying to achieve, not the actual tool / implementation. This helps us better understand your needs, and also it provides us a frame of reference when it comes to new solutions that can solve multiple problems. Gérard CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite 12 - Service Pack 2OS: Windows Vista Enterprise / CPU: Intel Core2 Duo / Memory: 2 Gb RAM / Graphics card: nVidia Quadro NVS140M http://community.coreldraw.com/forums/p/3584/13093.aspx#13093
It seems you use other S/W more than CorelDraw. Some of your feature requests sound good. I am adding my comments on those. I have skipped some where either I am not much concerned or I personally do not require such changes in CorelDraw. Any Way these are my personal opinions. As Yani has posted, more & more Corel users will and should definately peep in to this. It's nice of Gerard to notice your post.
Hope to see better & better CorelDraw Suites. X5 .................Xn.
My opinions :
Tool to be able to select all tools with same addributes by fill, outline, fill and outline, transparency for easy modification I think you are saying objects & not tools. Right ? I take it as : Tool to be able to select all OBJECTS with same addributes ............ Find objects under Edit does some of your task easy. You can also save your search. Preview all bitmap effects in effect browser like in Photoshop or Paint shop pro, Sounds good but I feel, this could be a better solution for beginers. In my case, the bitmap effect or the entire design to that matter, is pre-decided / pre thought. Just few options to be tried out with the effect & its done. Preview window for the selected effect & its result is already in Corel. Show bitmap info in bottom status bar This was there in previous Corel Versions. The same is already discussed in the Beta forum. This must must come back. Improve colour management , add wizard that guides through setup program A photo print was shipped with my version 8 box. A calibrated reference picture supplied by Corel to adjust the monitor colours & scanners settings for WYSIWYG. Hope it is back. Ghost out all object but have them remain visible during edit powerclip for placement Did not get you. Can you elaborate ? Easily select all object with same styles or fill, outline, transparency, dropshadow and easily replace with desired changesThis seems to be repeated. Find & replace works fine with such requirements. I agree, this can be further improved by Corel. Enter color values in hex when manually choosing values in the colour dialogue. Hmmm. The primary use of Corel (Print Media) does not require such feature. However may be added for those who need. Web designers I suppose. Add round corners and chamfer to contour options Has got an easy workaround with some additional clicks & commands.
Easily change overall shading of UI by using a slider or choose custom colour Cannot take it as a value addition to CorelDraw Be able to easily extract only 1 or more selected object without using clipboard from powerclip That's it. Must be there. Keep list of all applied effect to be able to delete any effect independently of all others like illustrator attributes as well as easily modify the parameters for eachMay be another UNDO/REDO list that keeps object wise record of transformations/effects. That too till the list is deleted by the user. In fact the normal (existing) UNDO/REDO list also should be saved with the file till the user wants to delete it. Could be a nightmare for the programmers at Corel as they may have to consider lots of issues like the file size, memory and ................ Have Graphic and text styles also be able to retain glow, transparency, contour and other effects to be easily applied to other objects Copy effect or Clone Effect works fine and can be a workaround for some of your requirements. Text styles can be improved. May be, the text styles can be used for extracting table of content or indexing in bookwork in CorelDraw. This may require a VBA macro.
Fix bitmap info in status bar Again a repeated request Lock toolbars in place and prevent from moving I have no problems even if the toolbars are not locked. May be I am used to it. Button right next to scroller button in bottom right corner that activates zoom slider Have you observed a icon with a lens(X4) below the scroll bar at bottom right. It is there in several previous Corel versions. I know, it isn't a zoom slider, but is a tool that navigates or takes you to the desired area in the artwork. Best tool to work with over size artworks. I feel, its a matter of practice. For zoom in & zoom out - F2, F3 & F4 keys are doing well in Corel. Vertical type tool, (Artistic, Paragraph and Along a path) (illustrator) You can type along the path whether verticle, horizontal or any angle by just clicking within the hot zone of the path in CorelDraw. For the rest, don't you feel its a bit odd task to type vertically. In fact I always type horizontally then rotate the text object as desired. Making corrections in vertical text or especially the text rotated in 180 Degrees is the funniest task. Thanks to Corel for providing Text Edit box (Accessed with Shift+Control+T)