Outlines on text

The outline pen effect, IMHO, is kind of a kludge when it comes to applying effects to lettering. Too many things can (and do) go wrong with it. One problem is the effect is a live effect. If you apply a live outline effect to an object that has any chance of being scaled to a different size then you have to be sure to check the "scale with object" option.

The bigger problem I have with these "outline pen" effects is when they're converted into actual, editable vector objects you end up with a bunch of extraneous paths to delete and even clean up. I work in the sign industry so any effects I create with lettering I try to make "vinyl cutter ready." I don't need any paths in the artwork where they don't need to be, such as extra paths hidden within the insides of letters as well as outside the letters. A vinyl plotter blade or routing table bit will cut where ever a path is present.

With that said, the more reliable effect is the Contour tool. The Contour tool will not make a double outline both inside and outside the letter contour like the Outline Pen will do. The Contour tool has pretty much all the same capabilities as the outline pen tool, plus additional features, like being able to apply multiple outline steps. The Contour tool is also greatly improved from earlier versions of CorelDRAW. I still remember those old versions where the contour tool would create an outline just loaded with tons and tons of anchor points. Now it's more on par with the Path Offset tool in Adobe Illustrator.