Why CorelDraw X4 sucks
Corel Corporation recently released a new version of its flagship product CorelDraw X4 (frankly speaking, other parts of Corel Graphics Suite have almost no value) which still have thousands of users around the world. Most Corel admirers like it partly because of mythic easier learning curve, partly because of lower price in comparison with its main competitor Adobe Illustrator. Some Corel users find invaluable multipage files and use this feature for layout purpose like InDesign (total headache for every designer, especially for people in print shops).
As for me, I actually use CorelDraw just to open and export to other file format works made with this vector editor by clients. When I used CorelDraw X3 for some time, I was shocked how many ‘unexpected errors’ and print bugs it has and how awkward this tool was in use.
Some time ago I visited CorelDraw X3 presentation. Everything went smoothly until the app closed suddenly as the Corel spokesman said about incredible stability of their products. ‘Did you install service pack 1?’ asked he earlier answering to users complaints about product instability. Does it mean that without service pack every new CorelDraw version can’t be used at all?
The worst thing is that Corel developers don’t hear user’s complaints and feature requests. They don’t fix bunch of bugs for years which could be surprise only for CorelDraw newbie. One of my friends still complaints about Corel being often too sluggish though he has most up to date hardware.
Is CorelDraw X4 new features worth to buy it?
While some reviews consider as big improvements even redesigned icons of new CorelDraw X4, there is no any new drawing tool or even improvement of drawing tools in CorelDraw X4. There is no any new docker or effect. There are only features (live text preview, mirroring text, what the font, interactive table tool, paid ConceptShare service, etc.) needed for marketing department of Corel to say how far it goes beyond the past version.
Why do I need all that new tables and text improvements while there is special software for layout purposes and main purpose of CorelDraw is to draw? Why do I need Corel’s PowerTRACE which is still no match even for Illustrator’s LiveTrace capability while there’s almost perfect online tool Vector Magic. Why do I need paid ConceptShare service to share my vector work rasterized to jpg?
Tell me, who use Corel layers (which get rid of bugs in X4 version) while this feature is total crap in comparison with Adobe products? Yeah, I know one person who even edits photos with CorelDraw saying that Photoshop is too complicated.
In conclusion, I don’t recommend CorelDraw as a vector editor at all and for amateurs as well (better have a look at free Inkscape). CorelDraw X4 brings only negative emotions as the new version of solid Corel product with almost no real improvements or new useful features except those needed for ad campaign. Yeah, I forget that some people consider that even releases of CorelDraw are worse than odd ones 
i have been using corel draw for simple design and i am trying to compare it with adobe..yes, adobe is maybe complicated but in terms of bugs, I’ve found nothing even I open and export to other file format but in corel, ooh.. too many! I hate it!
I absolutely agree with the above main review. CorelDraw X4 does suck in one respect: what possible purpose is there to pay $180 for upgrade?!? It seems to me Corel has too many products. My reconmendation is to combine Photoshop Pro and CorelDraw as a suite and it would be a killer app. As for no new drawing tools or dockers, it’s what I look forward to the most and to find Corel dropping the ball on this is beyond dissappointment. The trial version looks good on my Vista though so that’s a consideration, if nothing else. Oh what the heck, I’ll upgrade anyway…I’ve been using CorelDraw since version 3 ( ! ) and am a sucker for CorelDraw, period.
Is this an Adobe Illustrator or a Corel Draw review? Anyway, I can find many more reasons for using Draw rather than Illustrator than the ones you mentioned - and FYI I am a professional graphics designer.
And really, all you Adobe fans, tell me why should I buy and use 4 separate titles (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Acrobat) to get the same results I get with one (ok, two, but they are in the same package) title? What does Adobe offer more than Corel?
And really, can you make a single PS file for a 16-page brochure you have designed on InDesign that is ready to go on a CTP RIP, with correct bleeds and registration marks without using any other software title? (BTW CorelDraw does that since v. 9).
So, please give me a break! If you love wasting time and money with Adobe software, stick with them… Cause I do not!
I have been working for more than ten years with corel draw and i am producing fantastic work either as vector illustration or multi page brochures (and i mean MANY pages loaded with hires graphics). I am even doing basic photo editing in it saving heaps of time than going to photoshop and back. And i am talking about even version 11. Corel DRAW is a fantastic tool with some few specific points to be careful about and know what to look out and the workarounds. (like all applications i guess) In other words you need to learn about those few points from someone doing professional work with it. OR have extensive technical digital typography knowledge yourself.
Illustrator is multitudes more unstable than corel. Either in Mac or PC. And is by no means as loaded and multifaceted as Corel. (i wont recomend using corel in mac though) Actually with careful setup of system and CorelDRAW itself (knowing what you are doing) i doubt it would even crash at all, cause thats my case, i have been treating it right, and know what i am doing, and it doesn’t crash no matter what. And if it does ever, it does have TWO kind of backup files of your currently working file. I had NEVER lost work with CorelDRAW unlike my mac colleagues where i work. Who are struggling to set up brochures in …. Photoshop and in the best case in indesign, and struggling with various technical end print issues.
CorelDRAW is the most powerful DTP tool with endless capabilities in both the creative and the production end. Corel is a really productive tool making your life easier , but you need to know tech and THINK tech ……….
One rule in general is that all tools are good to the extend of your experience size with them, your determination to learn them in depth, know their faults , what to be careful about and the solutions and workarounds.
The other rule is that habbit, what you have get used to using is a major factor. I have tried countless times to learn indesign and illustrator but always giving up cause i couldnt resist the feeling that i already knew a way how to do that or this and i would do it faster in the way i already know plus i would do almost everything (including 50% photoshop work) in one application and save me valuable time.
I am 100% certain that a good designer will thrive no matter what tool he learn to use. A dedicated professional with an attraction to troubleshooting and tech will do also. Either would that be Corel DRAW or illustrator or inDesign.
And i do agree that after Photoshop 7 adobe has taken a very disturbing path in many many aspects … At least the Photoshop CS3 sets things a bit right for them. (and the pdf file format)
The rest of the Corel Package arent bat at all either.Quite powerful. Its just a matter of compatibility (who to share corelPaint files with out there?) For example the tracer is indeed POWERFULL …..
as far as vector editing, i can say that corel is far more simple than illustrator. it is by far more user friendly and everything is done with far less clicks.
Illustator doesnt even support its AI files…what the heck….many clients send their files in AI format and illustrator CS denies open it…total crap
Now concerning photo editing, i can say that i have seen works of many professionals on photoshop and i’m impressed…however, although i have much less experience in photo editing, corel photopaint is also much more easy to use and uses logic instead of fantasy in order to do various tasks…
Adobe products are just a headache for those not familiar with that way of working…
Hi Everyone,
The only thing that matters with any software is the results. Go to http://coreldraw.com/photos/
and make up your own mind. If CorelDRAW wasn’t professional, you wouldn’t see results like this.
Working in CorelDRAW is about twice as fast as illustrator. Anyone who knows both programs will admit it.
What’s hard to admit is this: being ripped off enormous amounts of money for a bloated and overall worse set of products - with zero content. The creative content that comes with X4 is worth the price of the package by itself.
I have used CorelDRAW since 5.0, and today I deliver professional posters an brochures in 11.0. I also use Photoshop CS2, QuarkXpress 6.5 and Indesign CS2, depending on the nature of the project. I’ll always be a fan of CorelDRAW, simply because Illustrator is quite basic and hogs the limelight as its bundled with the CS. I did use Illustrator 7.0 and found these: Node-editing is complex, only 1 page for a ducument and slower than CorelDRAW. Do agree that Illustrator has improved over the years, but I have never felt a need to update my Illustrator skills. I’m from India and CorelDRAW has a huge market and nobody asks you if you know Illustrator. Personally, I’ll continue to use CorelDRAW, even if my employer wants me to handle Illustrator in office. Adobe is what its today only because of Photoshop. Instead of two packages, Indesign and Illustrator, its better if the two are combined into one. Adobe wants us to spend money on 2 packages, when they can have 1 for layouts and illustrations.
CorelDRAW does have bugs, but the autobackup feature takes care of all my files that sometimes get corrupted. On the Print front, CorelDRAW is not that professional, the colors can go haywire and Illustrator beats it in this aspect.
With Adobe having bought Macromedia, and no further development of Freehand, CorelDRAW and QuarkXpress need our support. Its sick having a monopoly in the industry and making us pay through our noses for every upgrade. I love Adobe, but I also love Corel and Quark.
you should read the manual of Corel Draw X4 before to discuss…
As a designer I have used Corel Draw since version 1.2. It is, and always has been, a very intuitive program. I would recommend it to any one starting out in graphic design.
I remember using Pagemaker but not since version 4 … that was also easy to learn/use. Quark is not an intuitive program.
I get work sent to me by one of my printers that has been created by other “designers” but is not suitable “as is” for CTP or digtal print. I see Mac jobs done in Quark that should have been just created in Illustrator … or better still in Corel Draw! Talk about putting a sports car in the back of a furniture removal lorry and driving round in that. Keep it simple!