This tutorial shows you how to design an image. You will learn how to create a new image, use different viewing options, navigate the image, set up safety nets, work with design aids, and save your image.

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Creating a new file

Setting viewing options for your image

Navigating an image

Setting up safety nets

Learning to use rulers, guidelines, and grids as design aids

Saving an image

A fundamental part of editing images with Corel PHOTO-PAINT is creating and opening images. You can create and open images in a number of different ways.

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Creating a new file from scratch

Creating a new file using the contents of the Clipboard

Opening an existing file

Pasting elements from an existing file into another image

Acquiring a photograph using a scanner

You can create new images from scratch. Choose a color mode for the image, the size and resolution, and the color of the background.

1. Click File menu, New.
2. In the Create A New Image dialog box, choose a color mode from the Color Mode list box.
3. Click the Paper Color picker to choose a color for the background of your image.
4. In the Image Size section, choose Custom from the Size list box.
5. Type values for the dimensions of your image in the Width and Height boxes.
6. Type a value in the Resolution box, and click OK.

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You have now learned how to create a new image from scratch.

You can begin editing the image using the many tools and features available in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

You can create a new image using the contents of the Clipboard.

Begin by copying the contents of your computer screen to the Clipboard.

1. Press PRINT SCRN, on the keyboard.
2. Click File menu, New From Clipboard.

Note

To copy image data to the Clipboard, select it and click Edit menu, Copy.

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You can also create a new file containing the contents of the Clipboard by clicking Edit menu, Paste, As New Document.

You have now learned how to create a new document using the Clipboard contents.

Open an existing file to edit it.

1. Click File menu, Open.
2. In the Open An Image dialog box, choose the drive where the file is stored from the Look In list box.
3. Double-click the folder where the file is stored.
4. Choose the filename, and click Open.

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You have now learned how to open an existing image.

There are also options available when opening images that let you open sections of an image or low resolution versions of large images.

For more information on these options, refer to the Corel PHOTO-PAINT online Help.

You can paste elements from an existing file into another image.

Open the image you wish to copy the image data from, and create a new Image Window in which to copy the image data.

1. Click File menu, Open.
2. In the Open An Image dialog box, choose the drive where the file is stored from the Look In list box.
3. Double-click the folder where the file is stored.
4. Choose the filename, and click Open.
5. Click File menu, New.
6. Choose the settings you want for the new image in the Create A New Image dialog box, and click OK.

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Copy image data from the original image and paste it into the new image.

1. Click the Rectangle Mask tool from the Toolbox.
2. Click and drag to create a selection around the image data you want to copy into the other image.
3. Click Edit menu, Copy.
4. Choose the name of the other image from the Window menu to make it the active window.
5. Click Edit menu, Paste, As New Object.

You have now learned how to paste image elements from one image into another.

You can acquire photographs with your scanner using CorelSCAN.

1. Click File menu, Acquire Image, Acquire From CorelSCAN.
2. In the CorelSCAN 8 dialog box, follow the instructions provided.

Click here to learn more about designing your image.

You can set viewing options within Corel PHOTO-PAINT to make use of color correction and screen dithering. You can also increase the size of the Application Window to give yourself more room to work in.

Select a topic:

Learning how to use color correction on your images

Setting screen-dithering options

Maximizing your work area

Enable color correction to match the on-screen colors to printable colors.

Enable the color correction feature to use the chosen system profile to ensure predictable color rendering.

1. Click Tools menu, Options.
2. In the Options dialog box, double-click Color Management in the list of categories.
3. Enable the Calibrate Colors For Display check box, and click OK.

You have now learned how to have Corel PHOTO-PAINT automatically color correct your image.

If you are working with an image that contains more colors than your monitor is capable of producing, you can set screen-dithering options.

Enable screen dithering to have Corel PHOTO-PAINT average the depth of pixels in a given area to create additional colors or shades of gray.

Click View, Screen Dithering, Error Diffusion, or click View menu, Screen Dithering, Ordered.

Note

The Error Diffusion option provides the best results by spreading the dithering across a wider area and tailoring the dithering pattern to the transition being simulated.

The Ordered option approximates color blends using fixed dot patterns. Ordered dithering applies more quickly than Error Diffusion, but is less accurate.

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To turn off screen dithering, click View menu, Screen Dithering, None.

Note that the Screen Dithering options are only available if your monitor is set to display less than 16-million colors (24-bit).

You have now learned how to use screen dithering in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

Use the following instructions to make your work area as large as possible. Hide the Title Bar and Menu Bar of the Application Window using the Maximize Work Area command.

Click View menu, Maximize Work Area.

Note

To access menu commands while the work area is maximized, use keystrokes.

Tip

For best results, maximize the Image Window before maximizing the entire work area.

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You can return to a normal view by clicking the Maximize Work Area button on the Standard toolbar or by right-clicking the work area and clicking Maximize Work Area.

You have now learned how to make the work area as large as possible to give yourself more room to work in.

Click here to learn more about designing your image.

There are many tools available that let you navigate around your image. You can zoom in or out of an image, pan around the zoomed-in image, and view your image using a full-screen view.

Select a topic:

Learning how to use the Zoom tool

Learning how to use the Hand tool to pan around an image

Seeing your image using a full-screen view

Often, it is useful to view your image at a precise magnification level when performing certain editing tasks. Zoom in and out of your image using the Zoom tool.

1. Click the Zoom tool from the Toolbox.
2. Click in the Image Window to zoom into your image. Each time you click, the zoom level increases to the next preset level.
3. Right-click in the Image Window to zoom out. Each time you click, the zoom level decreases to the next preset level.

You can also zoom in on a portion of an image by clicking and dragging diagonally in the Image Window to create a marquee around the area that you want to magnify.

You have now learned how to view your image at different zoom levels using the Zoom tool.

You can move the image within the Image Window using the Hand tool. This is particularly useful when you are zoomed into an image, or when parts of your image fall outside the Image Window,

Use the Hand tool as you would use your hand to move a piece of paper around on the top of a desk.

1. Open the Zoom Tools flyout, and click the Hand tool.
2. Drag the image with the Hand tool until the area you want to see is visible in the Image Window.

You have now learned how to move the image using the Hand tool.

Note

You can also use the Navigator pop-up to view areas of your image that fall outside the Image Window.

Enable the Full-Screen Preview command to temporarily view your image as large as possible.

1. Click View menu, Full-Screen Preview.
2. To return to a normal view, press any key on the keyboard.

Click here to learn more about designing your image.

You can experiment with Corel PHOTO-PAINT without having to worry about making a change that will ruin your image. The safety nets available allow you to undo the change, undo a series of changes, revert to the last saved version of the image, or return to a checkpoint you have set.

Select a topic:

Learning how to undo and redo changes

Reverting to a previously saved version of an image

Setting options to automatically save your image at certain time intervals

Learning how to restore an image to a checkpoint

You can undo (and redo) changes you've made to an image.

Create a new image, edit it, and then undo the changes one at a time, starting with the most recent change, using the Undo command.

1. Click File menu, New.
2. Set the properties for your new image in the Create A New Image dialog box, and click OK.
3. Click the Paint tool on the Toolbox.
4. Edit your image using the Paint tool by clicking and dragging in the Image Window.
5. Click Edit menu, Undo Brush Stroke.

Note

The command name will change depending on the command you're undoing.

Tips

You can specify the number of operations you can undo in a row by changing the Undo value under Tools menu, Options.

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Once you have undone an operation using the Undo command, you can redo it using the Redo command. This allows you to undo what you have undone.

Click Edit menu, Redo Brush Stroke.

Tip

You can undo (and redo) multiple changes at a time by using the Undo List (and Redo List) command in the Edit menu under Undo Special.

You have now learned how to quickly undo and redo commands in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

You can undo all of the changes you've made to your image since your last save using the Revert command.

Open an image, apply changes, and then revert your image back to the way it looked when you first opened it.

1. Click File menu, Open, and open an existing file.
2. Edit the image using any of the tools and features of Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
3. Click File menu, Revert.

It is important to save your images frequently as you edit them to safeguard your work against unexpected mistakes. Set up Corel PHOTO-PAINT to automatically save your image at certain time intervals.

1. Click Tools menu, Options.
2. In the Options dialog box, click Workspace, Save.
3. Enable the Auto-Save Every check box in the Auto-Save section.
4. Type a value in the Minutes box. This number represents the time interval between auto-saves.
5. Enable the Save To File button to overwrite the last version of the file you saved to disk, and click OK.

Use the Checkpoint command so you can restore the image to a checkpoint using the Restore To Checkpoint command.

Create a new image, edit it, and set a checkpoint.

1. Click File menu, New.
2. Set the properties for your image in the Create A New Image dialog box, and click OK.
3. Edit the image using any of the tools and features of Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
4. When you are happy with the way the image looks, click Edit, Undo Special, Checkpoint.

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As you continue to edit your image, if you are unhappy with the changes, you can return your image to the state it was in when you last used the Checkpoint command.

1. Continue editing your image using the tools and features of Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
2. Click Edit menu, Undo Special, Restore To Checkpoint.

Click here to learn more about designing your image.

Included with Corel PHOTO-PAINT are many visual aids which help you design your image. You can set up rulers, guidelines and grids.

Select a topic:

Learning how to use Rulers

Learning how to use Guidelines

Learning how to use Grids

Use rulers to help you keep track of the actual size and location of the parts of your image.

Display the rulers on your image and move them to any position you want.

1. Click View menu, Rulers. A check mark appears beside the command name in the View menu to indicate that they are displayed.
2. Hold down SHIFT, and drag the ruler to a new position.

Tip

You can return a ruler to its original position by holding SHIFT and double-clicking the ruler.

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You can also change the ruler's settings by clicking Tools menu, Options, and then in the list of categories, clicking Document, Ruler.

Tip

A shortcut for accessing the Options dialog box is to double-click one of the rulers.

You have now learned how to set up rulers as a visual aid for your image.

You can use guidelines as an accurate way of measuring and aligning objects in your image. You will learn how to view guidelines on your image and how to align objects to them.

Click here to open a sample image.

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Display the guidelines and align the object to them.

1. If rulers are not already displayed on your image, click View menu, Rulers.
2. Click one of the rulers, and drag a guideline onto the image.
3. Click View menu, Guidelines. If a check mark appears beside the command name in the View menu, the guidelines are displayed, otherwise they are hidden.
4. Click View menu, Snap To Guidelines.
5. Click the Object Picker tool from the Toolbox.
6. Click and drag the object to the guideline.

The object automatically snaps to the guideline.

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You can change the guideline settings by clicking Tools menu, Options, double-clicking Guidelines, and clicking Horizontal or Vertical from the list of categories. You can then specify values on the Horizontal and Vertical pages.

Tip

A shortcut for accessing the Options dialog box is to double-click a guideline when the Object Picker tool is active.

You have now learned how to use guidelines as a visual aid for aligning objects.

Grids allow you to align objects accurately in your image. You can set up a grid on your image and make it magnetic so that objects will snap to it automatically.

Click here to open a sample image containing an object.

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Display a grid and align the object to it.

1. Click View menu, Grid. A check mark appears beside the command name in the View menu to indicate that it is displayed.
2. Click View menu, Snap To Grid.
3. Click the Object Picker tool from the Toolbox.
4. Drag the object near the grid lines, and notice how it snaps automatically to align with the grid lines.

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You can change the grid settings by clicking Tools menu, Options, and then clicking Document, Grid from the list of categories. Then you can specify values on the Grid page.

Tip

If the rulers are displayed, double-click a ruler to access the Grid page in the Options dialog box.

You have now learned how to use a Grid as a visual aid to accurately align objects in your image.

Click here to learn more about designing your image.

To preserve the changes made to images, use the Save, Save As, or Export command.

Select a topic:

Learning how to use the Save command

Learning how to use the Save As command

Learning how to use the Export command

Use the Save command to preserve changes made to your images.

Create a new image, edit it, and save the changes using the Save command.

1. Click File menu, New.
2. In the Create A New Image dialog box, choose the settings you want for your image, and click OK.
3. Edit your image using any of the tools and features of Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
4. Click File menu, Save.
5. In the Save An Image To Disk dialog box, choose the drive where you want to save the file.
6. Double-click the folder where you want to save the file.
7. Type a filename in the File Name box.
8. Choose a file type from the Save As Type list box, and click Save.

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If your image contains elements not supported by a certain file format, it will not appear in the Save As Type list box. For example, if your image contains objects, the .JPG file format will not be available using the Save command because .JPGs do not support objects.

Use the Export command in the File menu to save an image to a certain file format that does not appear in the Save As Type list box.

You have now learned how to use the Save command to preserve changes to your images.

You can save your image to a different file format or save a copy of your current image using the Save As command.

Click here to open a sample image.

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The name of the file, SAVEAS.CPT, appears in the Title Bar of the Application Window. The file extension .CPT indicates that the file has been saved to the native Corel PHOTO-PAINT file format.

If you want to save your image to a different file format without overwriting the original file, or if you want to save a copy of your current image, use the Save As command.

1. Click File menu, Save As.
2. In the Save An Image To Disk dialog box, choose the drive where you want to save the file.
3. Double-click the folder where you want to save the file.
4. Type a filename in the File Name box.
5. Choose a file type from the Save As Type list box, and click Save.

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If your image contains elements not supported by a certain file format, it will not appear in the Save As Type list box. For example, if your image contains objects, the .JPG file format will not be available using the Save As command because JPGs do not support objects.

Use the Export command in the File menu to save an image to a certain file format that does not appear in the Save As Type list box.

You have now learned how to save a copy of your image.

Save your image to any file format you want, using the Export command.

To export your image to any file format:

1. Click File menu, Export.
2. In the Export An Image To Disk dialog box, choose the drive where you want to save the file.
3. Double-click the folder where you want to save the file.
4. Type a filename in the File Name box.
5. Choose a file type from the Save As Type list box, and click Save.

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If you export your image to a file format that does not support certain elements that exist in your image, these elements are lost. For example, if your image contains objects, and you export your image to the .JPG file format, the objects will automatically be merged with the background.

You have now learned how to save your image to any file format you want using the Export command.

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