In this lesson, you learn how to import files and objects, create shapes, manipulate objects, and use the Spiral and Free Skew tools.

This lesson teaches you how to

import files

use guidelines

add objects

change colors

rotate and mirror objects

draw simple objects

use the Spiral tool

use the Free Skew tool

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If you are starting with this lesson, click here to open the sample file:


Otherwise, continue working on your current file.

You can import files with graphics, and incorporate objects into a drawing.

  1. Click File menu, Import.
  2. From the Files Of Type list box, choose CDR - CorelDRAW.
  3. From the Look In list box, choose the drive on which you installed CorelDRAW, choose COREL \GRAPHICS9 \TUTORS \DRAW \HTMLDOCS \HTMLPICS folder, choose MAP.CDR, and click the Import button.
  4. Position the Import Placement Start Cursor in the upper left corner of the Drawing Page, and click to place the graphic.

You can place guidelines on the page borders so that you can place the map outline precisely in the upper left corner.

  1. Click View menu, Guidelines Setup.
  2. In the list of categories, click Presets.
  3. Enable the Page Borders check box.
  4. Click the Apply Presets button.
  5. Click OK.
  6. On the Property Bar, click the Snap To Guidelines button.
  7. Click the Pick tool.
  8. Select the object map outline, and drag it into the top left corner of the Drawing Page until it snaps to the guidelines.

Next, you can import the graphic MAP.TIF.

  1. Click File menu, Import.
  2. From the Files Of Type list box, choose TIF - TIFF Bitmap.
  3. From the Look In list box, choose the drive on which you installed CorelDRAW, choose COREL \GRAPHICS9 \TUTORS \DRAW \HTMLDOCS \HTMLPICS folder, choose MAP.TIF, and click the Import button.
  4. Position the Import Placement Start cursor in the middle of the Drawing Page, and click once to place the graphic.

You can use the PowerClip feature to combine the map outline and the map background.

  1. Click the Pick tool.
  2. Select the map background (MAP.TIF).
  3. Click Effects menu, PowerClip, Place Inside Container.
  4. Using the horizontal pointer that appears, select the map outline (MAP.CDR).

You can remove the guidelines to make it easier to view the brochure.

  1. Click View menu, Guidelines Setup.
  2. In the list of categories, click Presets.
  3. Disable the Page Borders check box.
  4. Click OK.

You can import and position a compass in the lower left corner of the brochure.

  1. Click File menu, Import.
  2. From the Files Of Type list box, choose CDR - CorelDRAW.
  3. From the Look In list box, choose the drive on which you installed CorelDRAW, choose COREL \GRAPHICS9 \TUTORS \DRAW \HTMLDOCS \HTMLPICS folder, choose NORTH POINTER.CDR and click the Import button.
  4. Position the Import Placement Start cursor in the lower left corner of the Drawing Page, and click once to place the graphic.
  5. Click the Pick tool.
  6. Drag the compass to adjust its position.

You can open the file BOOKS.CDR and use the elements to create the image of two books. The books will be copied to the brochure after you modify them.

  1. Click File menu, Open.
  2. From the Files Of Type list box, choose CDR - CorelDRAW.
  3. From the Look In list box, choose the drive on which you installed CorelDRAW, choose COREL \GRAPHICS9 \TUTORS \DRAW \HTMLDOCS \HTMLPICS folder, choose BOOKS.CDR.
  4. Click Open.
  5. Open the Zoom tool flyout, and click the Zoom tool.
  6. Click the blue book to zoom in.
  7. Click the Pick tool.
  8. Marquee-select the blue book.
  9. On the Property Bar, click the Ungroup button.
  10. Click a blank area of the Drawing Page to deselect all objects.
  11. Click the blue background of the blue book.
  12. On the on-screen Color Palette, click the red color swatch.
  13. Drag the cursor to marquee-select the entire red book.
  14. On the Property Bar, click the Group button.

Next, you can change the background and outline colors of the yellow book.

  1. Click the Pick tool.
  2. Marquee-select the yellow book.
  3. On the Property Bar, click the Ungroup button.
  4. Click a blank area of the Drawing Page to deselect all objects.
  5. Click the yellow background of the yellow book.
  6. On the on-screen Color Palette, click the white color swatch.
  7. Click a blank area of the Drawing Page to deselect all objects.
  8. Click the brown outline.
  9. On the on-screen Color Palette, click the black color swatch.
  10. Marquee-select the entire white book.
  11. On the Property Bar, click the Group button.


You can mirror and rotate the white book, so that it matches the red book. Then you can copy the books into the brochure.

Click here to preview how the books should look.

  1. Click the Pick tool.
  2. Marquee-select the white book.
  3. On the Property Bar, click the Horizontal Mirror button.
  4. Click the white book so that the rotation and skewing handles appear.
  5. Drag the rotation handles until the white book opens in the same direction as the red book.
  6. Drag the white book next to the red book.
  7. Marquee-select the books, and click the Group button on the Property Bar.
  8. Click Edit menu, Copy.
  9. Click Window menu, and choose the window that contains the brochure.
  10. Click Edit menu, Paste.
  11. Drag the books to adjust their position in the brochure.


You can use the Spiral tool to create a symmetrical spiral that resembles stylized waves.

  1. Open the Object Flyout, and click the Spiral tool.
  2. In the Spiral Revolutions box on the Property Bar, type 4.
  3. On the Property Bar, click the Symmetrical Spiral button.
  4. Position the cursor at the top right of the drawing, on the black background.
  5. Drag diagonally to draw the spiral.

You can increase the width and change the color of the outline of the spiral.

  1. Open the Outline tool flyout, and click the Outline Pen Dialog.
  2. In the Width box, type 2.
  3. From the Units list box, choose Points.
  4. Click the Color Picker, and click the Other button.
  5. From the Model list box, choose CMYK.
  6. In the C box, type 3.
  7. In the M box, type 52.
  8. In the Y box, type 89.
  9. In the K box, type 0.
  10. Click OK.
  11. In the Outline Pen dialog box, click OK.

Now, you can change the size of the spiral and place a duplicate of it at the bottom of the brochure.

Click here to preview where the spiral should be placed.

  1. Click the Pick tool.
  2. Click the spiral object to select it.
  3. In the top Object(s) Size box on the Property Bar, type 0.621.
  4. In the bottom Object(s) Size box on the Property Bar, type 0.53, and press ENTER.
  5. Click Edit menu, Duplicate.
  6. Drag the new spiral to the bottom right corner of the drawing.


You can use the Free Skew tool to skew the spirals.

  1. Open the Shape Edit flyout, and click the Free Transform tool.
  2. On the Property Bar, click the Free Skew tool.
  3. Click one of the spirals to select it, and drag to skew it.

You can save the file to safeguard your drawing.

  1. Click File menu, Save As.
  2. From the Save In list box, choose the drive where you want to save the file.
  3. Double-click the folder in which you want to save the file.
  4. In the File Name box, type a filename.
  5. Click Save.


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