Corel updates its Graphics Suite

50 new tools and major enhancements promised

23 January 2008 11:58 GMT / By Katie Scott

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 is available from today.

This latest version of the Corel suite delivers better workflow, new tools for putting work online and improved user guides.

In face, overall, Corel says it has added 50 new and "significantly enhanced" features for graphics projects ranging from creating logos and web graphics, to multi-page brochures, to signage and digital displays.

New facilities include a Live text formatting option, which allows users to preview text formatting options before applying them to a document.

Next up is an update to the package's font identification abilities. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 now integrates with WhatTheFont, the online font identification service from MyFonts.com.

In addition to this, Corel has added new fonts in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 including single-line engraving fonts and OpenType cross-platform fonts, which offer enhanced language support for Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic outputs in
WGL4 format.

Corel adds that users can now control and edit layers independently for each page of a document. Users can also add independent guidelines for individual pages and master guidelines for an entire document.

And new interactive tables has been included to let users create and import tables to provide layout for text and graphics. Users can align, resize, or edit tables and table cells to suit their designs.

Windows Vista integration has also been added including integration with the platform's search facilities allowing Corel users to look for files by author, subject, file type, date, keywords, or other file properties.

Additional file support is another key update and the package now supports Microsoft Office Publisher, Microsoft Word 2007, Adobe Illustrator Creative Suite 3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, PDF 1.7 (Adobe Acrobat 8), AutoCAD DXF and AutoCAD DWG, and Corel Painter X.

Corel adds that CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 now includes 80 customisable templates that are accompanied by Designer Notes that provide information on the design choices made for the template, tips for outputting a design based on the template, and instructions for customising the template while still adhering to design principles.

For Corel PHOTO-PAINT, which is part of the suite, Corel has added RAW camera file support, a new straighten image tool, enhanced tone curve adjustments, and an integrated histogram.

The CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 includes CorelDRAW X4, Corel PHOTO-PAINT X4, Corel PowerTRACE X4 (for converting bitmaps into editable vector graphics), Corel CAPTURE X4 the one-click screen-capture utility, and the CorelDRAW Handbook.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 also includes two hours of training videos on the DVD.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X4 will be available across Europe for a suggested retail price of £329 +VAT for the full version and £149 +VAT for the upgrade.