CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6.4 Update

While CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6.4 includes all new features and functionality, please note that this update also includes all of the features and performance/stability improvements from the previous X6.3 Update. In addition, X6.4 will update CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6.3, X6.2 or X6.1.

Please also note that the new and enhanced features found in the X6.4 Update are available only to users with a Premium Membership. Performance and stability improvements, however, are available to both CorelDRAW Standard and Premium Members. Learn more here about CorelDRAW X6 and newer versions.

X6.4 Update

NOTE: All X6.3, X6.2 and X6.1 features and performance/stability improvements are included in the X6.4 Update

The following sections describe the new features and improvements included in the X6.4 Update.

Most new and enhanced features included with Update 4 are available only to users with a Premium Membership. Performance and stability improvements are available to all CorelDRAW members.

New and enhanced features

Inserting special characters, symbols and glyphs

Now it's easier than ever to find and insert font special characters, symbols and glyphs in CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT. The revamped Insert Character Docker automatically displays all the characters, symbols and glyphs associated with a selected font. You can also now filter fonts so they show a subset of characters. It's a faster, easier way to work with OpenType and other kinds of fonts.

Choosing fonts with Font Playground

Find the perfect font for any project using the new Font Playground found in CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT. This handy docker lets you view sample text in different fonts and sizes. Preview preset text samples, or add your own lines of text. Plus, you can use Interactive OpenType to access OpenType features and apply them to any text sample. It's the easy way to experiment and find just the right font for any project.

Enhanced support for Microsoft SkyDrive

Ensure your CorelRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT work is always right where you need it. Using CONNECT, you can easily sync your trays with Microsoft SkyDrive* and get access to your content from other computers or mobile devices. Enhancements made to this feature also allow you to enable and disable Tray Sync directly from the Tray docker. You can also now view, rename and delete a file or a folder in SkyDrive directly from CONNECT. Plus, save time by copying files and folders directly to SkyDrive simply by dragging or using the Clipboard.

* A valid SkyDrive account is required to use this feature

Improved Font list

Now it's easier than ever to work with fonts in CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT. The appearance of font names, including the names of small fonts, is now clearer in the Font list box. Fonts are now grouped by family name, helping you to navigate and find fonts quickly an easily. Plus, you can change the size of the font names in the Font list box to suit your needs.

Insights from the Experts

CorelDRAW users can continue to get access to helpful tips and tricks from the pros. The latest Insights from the Experts series includes the new tutorial "Designing a Font" by Mike Adkins. This comprehensive and inspiring tutorial shows you how to create perfect letterforms, from conceptualizing and sketching, to precise node-editing and exporting your finished font.

Premium cloud-based content

The CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6.4 Update includes 500 new photos! When combined with the content offered in the X6.1, X6.2 and X6.3 Updates, that means Premium Members will get exclusive access to a total of:

  • 1500 photos
  • 95 interactive text frames
  • 95 interactive PowerClip frames
  • 65 vector patterns
  • 50 bitmap patterns
  • 23 fonts

Enhanced support for digital cameras

In both CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT, you can open and import raw camera files from a variety of new camera models, including:

  • Canon A3300 and EOS C500
  • Fuji XS50, X20, X100S, and SL1000
  • Olympus XZ-10
  • Samsung NX300

Performance and stability

The following areas feature performance and stability improvements (formerly released as service packs).

Bitmaps

  • Transparency merge modes are correctly retained in objects that are converted to bitmaps.
  • The Vignette bitmap effect works as expected on transparent bitmaps in CorelDRAW.

Color and color styles

  • Color harmonies can be edited by using harmony rules and adding spot colors.
  • CorelDRAW no longer stops responding when color styles from two documents are merged or after other operations related to color styles.
  • Color styles can be converted to spot colors, preserving the original tint.
  • When color styles are converted to grayscale and then to spot colors, the final results are no longer white spot colors.
  • Unrecognized spot colors no longer cause slow performance.

Importing and exporting files

  • Merge modes in fills and transparencies are reproduced correctly in documents that are saved as bitmaps.
  • Adobe Illustrator (AI) files that contain mesh fills with merge modes applied are now imported properly.
  • Dimension lines in imported Micrografx Designer 9 files are displayed correctly.
  • Exporting only selected objects to an Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file no longer results in a multipage file.
  • Filenames (titles) are preserved in exported PDF files.
  • CorelDRAW no longer stops responding when exporting a document that contains perspective lenses to a PDF file.
  • Bullets that use the font CommonBullets are preserved in exported PDF files.
  • When exporting to a PLT/HPGL file, the last used pen library remains selected on the Pen page of the HPGL export dialog box for future export operations.

Effects

  • Adjustment effects such as Brightness/Contrast/Intensity, Gamma, Color Balance, work as expected when applied to vector objects.

Text

  • Updating text in certain files from older versions no longer changes the text font attributes.
  • The Fit Text to Path feature works as expected. If a text string is longer than the path, the characters no longer fall off the path.
  • CorelDRAW no longer stops responding when trying to bring up the Edit Text dialog box for text frames that contain empty lines or when opening files that contain cloned text.

Opening and saving files

  • Arrowheads in CorelDRAW (CDR) files saved to version 12 are preserved.
  • CorelDRAW no longer stops responding when opening certain files from older versions.
  • Hyperlinks are preserved in saved files.

Printing

  • CorelDRAW no longer stops responding when printing files that contain imported EPS files.
  • Disabled colors do not appear in the final output when you print color separations.

Tools

  • CorelDRAW no longer stops responding when double clicking a control arm of a pattern fill with the Interactive Fill tool.
  • When working with a custom workspace, you can use the Alt key with the Polyline tool to draw circular arcs.
  • Selecting and deleting nodes with the Shape tool in certain files no longer causes the application to stop responding.

Corel PHOTO-PAINT

  • Mask feathering works as expected.
  • You can choose different anti-aliasing settings for text from the property bar.

CONNECT

  • Undocking the Connect docker no longer results in duplicated tray content.

X6.3 Update

The following sections describe the new features and improvements included in the X6.3 Update.

New and enhanced features

The new features found in the X6.3 Update are available only to users with a Premium Membership.

Premium cloud-based content

The X6.3 Update offers a variety of online content for CorelDRAW® and Corel PHOTO-PAINT® users, including the following exclusive cloud-based content which is available to Premium Members:

  • 20 new bitmap patterns
  • 25 new vector patterns
  • 45 new interactive text frames
  • 45 new interactive powerclip frames
  • 500 new photos

Inserting and editing QR codes

Now you can create customizable QR codes in CorelDRAW. Add text, images, colors and styles to create a unique artistic look. Plus, resize, scale and align your QR code or change the appearance of the fill, outline and other properties. When you're finished, use built-in validation to ensure your QR code is fully functional and can be read on all major smartphones and scanning apps.

Syncing trays with Microsoft SkyDrive

Using CONNECT™ you can instantly sync your working trays with SkyDrive*, Microsoft's all new cloud-based file storage service. You can then access your tray contents on other computers. It's a simple way to continue your CorelDRAW Graphics Suite experience no matter where you are!

*A valid SkyDrive account is required to use this feature

Applying new bitmap effects

In CorelDRAW you can now apply new special effects to bitmaps—including artistic effects, camera effects and texture effects:

  • Smart blur – blur images while retaining edge detail. It's the ideal way to improve detail by sharpening lines and edges, as well as letting you remove noise, artifacts and wrinkles from JPEG images and photos.
  • Colorize – replace all colors in an image with a single color to create a duotone image. You can also adjust the saturation or vividness of the color to experiment with different images.
  • Photo filter – simulate the effect of placing a colored filter in front of a camera lens. Choose the color of the filter and adjust the color density and luminosity to get the perfect look.
  • Sepia toning – simulate the look of old photos taken in a sepia tone.
  • Time machine – take your image back through history to recreate popular photographic styles from the past. Choose from seven unique visual and historic styles which range from 1839 to the 1960s.
  • Alchemy – transform images into artistic media paintings by applying brushstrokes to images. Simply create a brush and then specify color, size, angle, and transparency settings. Choose from a variety of preset brushes, or save your customized brushes for quick and easy reuse.
  • Bump map – add texture and patterns to an image by embedding its surface with a relief based on the pixel values of a bump-map image. Use a preset bump map or load a custom image. You can also specify the surface and lighting properties of the effect to create a unique visual appearance.
  • Cobblestone – make an image look as though it were created with cobblestones.
  • Elephant skin – gives an image a wrinkled look by creating an overlay of wavy lines. You can also specify the age of the skin (up to 100 years) as well as the skin color.
  • Etching – transform an image into an etching. You can control the depth of the etching, the amount of detail, the direction of the light, and the color of the metal surface.
  • Plastic – make an image look as though it were made of plastic. You can specify the image depth, as well as the color and angle of the light shining on the plastic.
  • Relief sculpture – transform an image into a relief sculpture. You can set the smoothness of the relief, the amount of detail it contains, the direction of the light and the surface color.
  • Stone – give an image a stone texture. You can specify the amount of detail, the density of the pattern and the angle of the light hitting an image.

Drawing arcs with the Polyline tool

In addition to drawing freehand lines and straight segments, in CorelDRAW you can now use the Polyline tool to draw circular arcs, saving you both time and effort.

Smoothing Objects

In CorelDRAW, you can now smooth curved objects to remove jagged edges and reduce the number of nodes. You can also smooth shapes, such as rectangles or polygons, to give them an organic, hand-drawn look. To control the smoothing effect, simply vary the size of the brush nib and the speed at which the effect is applied. For added effect, experiment using the pressure of your digital pen.

Enhanced support for digital cameras

In both CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT, you can open and import raw camera files from new camera models, including:

  • Canon EOS 6D, 1DX, SX50
  • Casio EX-ZR100
  • Fuji X-E1 & XF1
  • Pentax K-5 II (s)
  • Samsung EX2F

Applying new special effects in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

In Corel PHOTO-PAINT, you can now apply several new camera effects to adjust the color and tone of your photos.

  • Boken blur – control the amount of blur applied to the outside of an editable area and adjust the transition between the area in focus and the blurred area. Choose between circular and hexagonal aperture shapes to create unique light patterns in out-of-focus areas.
  • Colorize – replace all colors in an image with a single color to create a duotone image. You can also adjust the saturation or vividness of the color to experiment with different images.
  • Sepia toning – simulate the look of old photos taken in a sepia tone.
  • Time machine – take your image back through history to recreate popular photographic styles from the past. Choose from seven unique visual and historic styles which range from 1839 to the 1960s.

Using the Planar Mask tool in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

The new Planar Mask tool lets you define a feathered editable area along parallel lines. The lines can be moved or rotated to adjust the position and degree of the effect. In combination with a blur effect, it's the perfect way to focus on a particular object in a photograph while blurring the areas outside the lines.

Creating an Unsharp Mask lens in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

The new Unsharp Mask lens lets you sharpen your photos by increasing the contrast of adjacent pixels. It preserves both high-frequency details, such as edges, and low frequency details, such as large structures, gradients, and background colors.

Adjusting brushstroke transparency and feathering interactively in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

You can now interactively adjust the transparency and feathering of brushstrokes as you paint with any of the brush tools.

Performance and stability

The following areas feature performance and stability improvements (formerly released as service packs).

Application workspace

  • The File > Send to > Mail feature works as expected.
  • Options set for alignment guides and dimension lines in the Options dialog box are preserved.
  • The Page Sorter View is always available.
  • The Font list box has normal width.

Color styles

  • The original tint of spot colors applied to objects is preserved when the color style is removed from a color harmony or the link between the object and the color style is broken.
  • Hint view works as expected.

Viewing and navigating documents

  • You can zoom out of very large documents.
  • Working with facing pages in multipage documents no longer interferes with aligning and distributing objects correctly.
  • You can use the Quick Pan mode when editing text.

Object properties and effects

  • You can copy properties from objects that have a contour effect applied.
  • Clone objects are updated properly when the master object changes.
  • Marquee-selecting objects no longer causes a rotation transformation error.
  • When you copy objects from a CorelDRAW X6 document into a Word 2010 document, the objects do not appear cut off.
  • It is easier to edit drop shadows that are applied to compound objects.

Printing

  • Spot colors with the same definition but different names are no longer merged when printing or exporting a document to an EPS file.

Text

  • Text fit to a path in a file saved to an earlier version of CorelDRAW is displayed correctly.
  • Text that you type by using an Urdu keyboard appears correctly.
  • The font that you choose as a substitute for a missing font can now be saved with the document for all languages supported by the product.
  • Changes that you make to the default text properties of a document are now preserved.
  • Applying a full-color pattern fill to the background of text that contains swashes fills the text bounding box.
  • When you move or resize a text frame that contains placeholder text and is fit to an open path, the application no longer stops responding.

Corel PHOTO-PAINT

  • Pressing Alt+Shift while using the Clone tool works as expected.
  • The last used values are now preserved in the following dialog boxes: Custom Rotate, Grayscale, Vibrance and Boken Blur.
  • You can load custom frames from the Frame dialog box (Effects > Creative > Frame) in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.
  • Separating a drop shadow from an object that has a lens applied no longer causes the application to stop responding.
  • Resizing editable areas by using the size handles no longer results in errors.
  • You can create editable areas that have the shape of a character even when the foreground color is white.

CONNECT

  • Shortcut paths to local files are displayed correctly in the tray.

Stability

  • Instability issues were addressed in areas such as editing b-spline curves, font substitution, and using QuickCorrect.

Subscriptions

  • When you purchase a 30-day subscription after trying the product, your account page and the subscription expiration reminder show the same number of remaining days.

X6.2 Update

The following sections describe the new features and improvements included in the X6.2 Update.

New and enhanced features

Please note: most new and enhanced features included with the X6.2 Update are available only to users with a Premium Membership. Performance and stability improvements, however, are available to both Premium and Standard Members.

Viewing color styles

View options are now available in the Color styles docker to help you work with color styles more easily:

  • Page Sorter view — displays thumbnails of all pages in a document. When you edit a color style in Page Sorter view, you can see how all objects that use the color style are changed. You can easily change the size of the page thumbnails to suit your needs.
  • Hint view — shows what objects are associated with color styles. When you point to a color style in the Color styles docker, an indicator now marks the object that uses the color style in the document window.

Premium cloud-based content

The X6.2 Update offers a variety of online content for CorelDRAW® and Corel PHOTO-PAINT® users, including the following exclusive cloud-based content which is available to Premium Members:

  • 30 new bitmap patterns
  • 23 new fonts
  • 40 new vector patterns
  • 50 new interactive text frames
  • 50 new interactive powerclip frames
  • 500 new photos

Alignment and dynamic guides

The new Alignment and dynamic guides docker lets you view, set up, and modify alignment guides and dynamic guides more easily. In addition, the docker offers the following new features and enhancements:

  • The new Intelligent Spacing feature lets you precisely arrange and position an object in relation to other onscreen objects.
  • The new Intelligent Dimensioning feature lets you intuitively scale and rotate an object in relation to other onscreen objects.
  • Margin alignment guides have been enhanced, giving you the flexibility to use offset margins, inset margins, or both. There are also separate controls for horizontal and vertical margin alignment guides so you can modify settings for one without affecting the other.
  • You can modify the color and line style of alignment guides, margin alignment guides, and dynamic guides.
  • As you make adjustments, the custom Dynamic Guides update in real time on the preview.

Color styles and harmonies

The Color Styles docker now features enhancements to help you create and edit color harmonies and color styles. You can apply a rule to a color harmony to shift all colors according to predetermined logic and create various color combinations. You can also use a harmony rule to create a color harmony from scratch. The following harmony rules are available:

  • Analogous — includes colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, creating clear and smooth color schemes.
  • Analogous (Accented) — similar to the Analogous rule, but includes a complementary color in addition to the adjacent colors.
  • Complementary — balances the base color with the opposite color on the color wheel. Warm and cold colors are created for vibrant and energetic color schemes.
  • Monochromatic — includes variations of a single color, creating soothing color schemes.
  • Tetrad — based on a pair of colors and their complements on the color wheel. This rule usually creates bold color harmonies.
  • Triad — balances the base color with colors that are situated close to the opposite end of the color wheel, forming a triangle. This harmony rule creates color schemes of soft contrast.

Setting up guidelines in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

The new Guidelines docker in Corel PHOTO-PAINT makes it easier to add, manage, and modify guidelines. You can now position guidelines with precision, change their line style and color, have objects and editable areas snap to them, and lock them into place to avoid unwanted changes. For additional functionality, you can now add angled guidelines and rotate existing guidelines.

Displaying rulers in Corel PHOTO-PAINT

You can now choose to have rulers displayed by default on new documents in Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

Corel PHOTO-PAINT Alignment guides

Alignment guides are temporary guidelines that help you align objects as you create, resize, or move them in relation to other nearby objects. The new Alignment guides docker in Corel PHOTO-PAINT lets you view, set up, and modify alignment guides. In addition, you can now use margin alignment guides which give you the ability to inset and offset an object relative to another object.

Guidelines Setup

The new Guidelines docker makes it easier to add, manage, and modify guidelines, letting you precisely position, rotate and edit guidelines.

Previewing styles and style sets

Now you can preview styles and style sets by pointing to them in the Object styles docker. This feature helps you choose what style or style set to apply to an object. In addition, when you create a style or a style set from objects, a preview shows you what object attributes will be included in the new style or style set.

Enhanced support for digital cameras*

In both CorelDRAW® and Corel PHOTO-PAINT® you can open and import raw camera files from new camera models. The X6.2 Update offers support for the latest models of digital cameras, such as:

  • Canon EOS-1D X, Canon EOS 650D, Canon 5D Mark III, Canon G1-X, Canon ID-X
  • Samsung NX1000, Samsung NX20
  • Sony RX100
  • Sigma SD1, Sigma SD15, Sigma DP cameras
  • Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji X-S1

In addition, the Adobe lossy Digital Negative (DNG) file format and the Imacon Flexframe 3f format are now supported.

Performance and stability

The following areas feature performance and stability improvements (formerly released as service packs).

Application workspace

  • The Uniform Fill dialog box now opens with the Models tab selected.
  • User interface issues in the Envelope docker were fixed in the Russian version of the program.
  • In Corel PHOTO-PAINT, you can snap to guidelines more easily when working at a small zoom level or with high-resolution images.

Bitmaps

  • When an object is converted to a grayscale bitmap, the final image no longer appears with jagged edges.
  • Bitmaps with lenses are displayed and printed correctly in CorelDRAW X6.

Object attributes, color, and fills

  • The Object Properties docker displays accurate outline values.
  • The tooltips for the color swatches on the color palettes and status bar now display the color names instead of the CMYK and RGB values.
  • The appearance of custom spot colors in legacy files is now maintained when you open the files in CorelDRAW X6.
  • You can now access bitmap and full-color pattern fills of various file formats.

Opening and saving files

  • Hyperlinks are preserved when saving CorelDRAW (CDR) files.

Importing and exporting files

  • When exporting a bitmap from CorelDRAW by using the Save Bitmap As command, the program no longer stops responding.
  • During export to JPEG or PNG, the selected control no longer loses focus when you point to the image preview.
  • Exporting to CGM
    • Compression works as expected when you are exporting to ACGM version 4.
    • The properties of lines with arrowheads are preserved in the exported file.
    • Embedded bitmaps (PNG, GIF) preserve their colors in files exported ACGM to version 4.
  • Importing certain CGM files will no longer cause the program to stop responding.
  • Importing PDF files
    • Importing PDF files created in Adobe Photoshop with the Text as Curves option enabled no longer causes the program to stop responding.
    • Importing PDF files created in Adobe InDesign no longer causes the application to stop responding.
    • Text issues are addressed in imported PDF files that were created in 3rd-party PDF software and contain embedded fonts.
    • Kozuka fonts are imported correctly.
  • Hyperlinks are preserved in exported PDF files.
  • Importing PLT files: The Override pen colors control in the HPGL Options dialog box now works as expected.
  • Dashed lines in symbols are displayed correctly in exported SVG files.
  • Exporting to an SVG file by using the Corel DESIGNER 10 preset generates accurate representation of polygons.
  • Importing Micrografx Designer (DSF) files: Vertical alignment of graphic text objects and line spacing in multiline text are now maintained. Also, fonts are substituted as expected.
  • Exporting DWG/DXF files: Visibility and printing properties of layers are maintained, and right-aligned text no longer appears left-aligned.

Printing

  • Colors in EPS files created in CorelDRAW now separate correctly when printed from Adobe FrameMaker.

Text

  • Paragraph text properties such as bullets, drop caps, and columns can now be correctly copied from one paragraph text object to another by using the Edit > Copy Properties From command or the Attributes Eyedropper tool.
  • Bitstream Font Navigator no longer shows regular and italic versions of the same font as duplicates.
  • Applying an OpenType feature to selected text by using the Interactive OpenType indicator produces a result that matches the preview.
  • Missing fonts are not substituted without warning.
  • You can now edit mirrored text fit to a path.
  • After you delete text that you just formatted and then type new text, the font attributes of the deleted text are preserved.

Tables

  • You can type text in new rows or columns added to a table without any spacing issues.
  • Centered text in tables no longer appears mirrored in the saved file when the Automatically resize cells while typing check box on the property bar is enabled.

Stability

  • Instability issues were addressed in areas such as opening native legacy files, importing files created in other programs, and creating movies.