In this tutorial, you will learn about the differences between bitmap and vector graphics, how to work with bitmaps in CorelDRAW, and how to export your drawings to Corel PHOTO-PAINT bitmap format.

Select a topic:

Learn more about bitmaps and vector graphics.

Learn more about using bitmaps in CorelDRAW.

Move files from CorelDRAW to Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

Before you begin moving files between CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT, it is important to understand the difference between vector and bitmap graphics. These two graphics formats have a set of advantages and disadvantages all their own, and must be handled in different ways.

However, CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT offer a number of features that allow you to move graphics of both kinds freely between the two applications.

Go to next page

Vector graphics represent shapes as objects defined by a series of lines and curves. These are some important vector graphic concepts:

Vector

Node

Object

To see an example of a vector graphic, click here.

Return to Welcome section

A bitmap is an image composed of grids of pixels or dots.

These are some important bitmap editing concepts:

Bits and Pixels

Bit depth

Resolution

To see an example of a bitmap graphic, click here.

Go to next Page

Although CorelDRAW is a vector-based program, you can incorporate bitmaps into your drawings.

Once imported, however, there are limitations to what you can do with bitmaps in CorelDRAW.

Since a bitmap is created as a collection of arranged pixels, you cannot manipulate its individual parts, as you can with vector objects.

If you want to manipulate the bitmap in any way, you'll first need to convert it to a vector graphic, using OCR-Trace.

Go to next page

With Corel OCR-TRACE you can automatically trace bitmaps at high speeds and save them in a vector format that is suitable for CorelDRAW

In the next few steps, you will convert a bitmap to a vector drawing using Corel OCR-TRACE. First, you need to open Corel OCR-TRACE.

Click the red Corel symbol on the toolbar and choose Corel OCR-TRACE.

Go to next page

In Corel OCR-TRACE, there are many tracing options and variables you can control. In these steps, we will show you one way to trace your image, but it is only one of many. See the online Help for more information about working with Corel OCR-TRACE.

1. In Corel OCR-TRACE, click File menu, Open.
2. Choose a bitmap of your choice, then click the Open button.
3. Click OCR-Trace, Perform Trace, By Outline. Areas of color in the image are converted to vector objects.
4. Click File menu, Save, and click Vector in the flyout.
5. Choose a folder for your file.
6. Type a name in the File Name box.
7. Select .CMX from the Save As Type list box, then click the Save button.

Return to Welcome section

To move a file from CorelDRAW, a vector-based graphics program, to Corel PHOTO-PAINT, a bitmap-based program, the file has to be exported as a bitmap.

1. Click File menu, Export.
2. Type a name in the File Name box, then choose .CPT (or another bitmap file format) from the Save As Type list box.
3. Click Export.

Go to next page

There are a number of settings that must be specified in the Bitmap Export dialog box.

1. Choose a color mode from the Color list box.
2. Enable the Dithered check box if you want to dither the colors.
3. Type image dimensions in the boxes in the Size area.
4. Type image resolution in the boxes in the Resolution area.
5. Enable an Anti-aliasing button.
6. Click OK.

Note

The Anti-aliasing options are disabled when Black-And-White is selected in the Color list box.

Return to Welcome section