[MR.NEED ANSWERS]

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COREL DRAW VERSIONS AND (PACKAGES OF COREL DRAW) ...


i've never worked with corel draw or any design type of programs before in my life ...complete newbie! i need help deciding and understanding...how to choose which corel draw? why are there so many how do i decide which one to get....of corel draw how many different versions do they have ...and packages of that same exact version?


whats kind of confusing to me is
why are prices so different seems like for the (same versions) of corel draw or what seems to me to be the same exact version of corel draw ...from different retail online stores...some are so much higher some are so much lower buy hundreds of dollars for the same thing the same exact version...i dont get it.. or are they different some how...or are they not the same is it that some have more feature then the lower price version of the same exact version ?like example some corel x4 are price from $98 and some are $400 and also some are between those two prices...Its kind confusing when i see the same thing price very differently

.EXAMPLE....HERE =


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=corel+draw&aq=f&oq=


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012KW3KM


http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=206803695&listingid=22928305&dcaid=17902


http://www.buy.com/prod/coreldraw-graphics-suite-x4-upgrade/q/loc/105/206803689.html


http://www.amazon.com/CorelDRAW-Graphics-Suite-Home-Student/dp/B001CEXR94/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t



http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=buy+corel+draw



QUESTIONs.....


1.) which coral draw version is the best to buy for t-shirt, designs, graphics etc


2.) which corel draw PACKAGE should i be looking for & which kind of corel draw features do i look for?


3.) what should i be looking for what version ,programs ,features ,functions ,titles of dvd package...etc
how do you all people decide what to buy ...


4.) which CorelDraw Graphics Suite ( x3 or X4 ) is better ...and does x4 have all the same features that x3 has and more being that the version number is higher ...meaning its the latest newest version?...so if i purchase the highest version number of coral draw does that mean that i have every number version features before that included into mine ....so which one do i buy?



5.) Also do i have to buy anything else once i buy my corel draw program any other software or exterior stuff to go with it so that it works better or that goes with it that's needed to go with it to make it work or to help it do more things etc?



6.) can you all tell me what corel draw did you buy when you purchased your coreldraw and where did you buy it from and how much?...and also have you purchased any upgrades if so which ones exactly...

 

[mattschoch]

i use illustrator.
but i have graphics suite x3. i don't like it. from what i've heard though its easier to learn on than illustrator. so i suggest you download yourself a free 30 day trial and see what features you need, then buy whatever you need....that is unless you can somehow get a key without paying?

 

[splathead]

There are academic versions out there that are super cheap. But you have to qualify as a teacher or student to purchase at that price.

Corel comes out with a new version once a year, without fail. Needless to say, there are few earth shattering differences between the versions from year to year.

I only upgrade every 4 versions or so. I have 13 now, my last one was 9. Everything i have done on 13, I could have done with 9, so use that as your guide.

Since you are buying new, I would say stick with 12 or above, whichever version gives you the best price.

 

[gerry]

I also use x3 and upgraded from 9.I use it for the sign/screening biz. If you can find a used 9 it would probably work for you. The only feature I like about x4 is that you can upload to "what the font" easily. X3 is about 400.00 You might of been looking at an academic version for those low prices(didnt look at you links) Academic I believe doesnt have all the features of a full version. Also x3 x4 has a nice trace feature that can save time when replicating other artwork.
.02

 

[moment]

I just upgraded from Corel 8 to X4 cost was $199 full version was 400+ (if you own a previous licensed version you can upgrade for cheaper), but there was a student teacher version for $129 only thing I could tell that it didn't have was all the fonts and templates, and your not suppose to use it for commercial purposes. x4 is the newest version so in theory it should be the best. I upgraded because of the power trace function too. lot more advanced than in C8. Should be able to do everything you need to do for shirts with just this program

 

[veedub3]

Just want to add that the Student & Teacher Edition is very limited as it is not loaded with several features for example the VBA Editor which you will need if you will be using the free Comp Gen plug-in that AdvancedArtist so graciously gave us. Also you can get it without proving you are a student or a teacher as they are sold on Amazon and if you buy they will ship it. I had this version and it was a complete waste of money.

Also be careful not to get a version that is OEM as that means that it can only be installed on one computer. If your computer crashes then you will be stuck buying another one.

If you are buying online from one of the many vendors, before purchasing ask them flat out "is this the Student/teacher version or the full version". They will tell you what version it is and this will weed out most of the very low prices.

I have X3 after buying both versions above. I got it for a very low price as the X4 version had hit the shelves and they needed to get rid of the X3 versions so if i remember correctly i only paid like $109 for this version. It does not come with a manual but hey anything you need to no just ask on the forum as many here can help you through it very quickly.

I opted not to upgrade to the X4 because I am still trying to get my brain wrapped around X3. The learning curve is hell. I broke down and invested in the cd's from Advanced artist and things are finally looking brighter.

veedub3

Just want to add that if i had the funds when it was tiime to purchase my software i would have just bought it from Corel because i wasted time and money trying to find it cheap, but when you are on a budget you have to make it work so thouroughly research it before you make a decision.

 

[Animal_inside]

Also be careful not to get a version that is OEM as that means that it can only be installed on one computer. If your computer crashes then you will be stuck buying another one.

Well, I guess when the full non-OEM version is 4 times more expensive, you can affort taking a risk and in case of computer problems just buy another OEM still paying only a quarter of what you would have to pay for non-OEM
Just two things about OEMs I'm curious about: Can you upgrade it as regular version? and did anyone suffer lack of Visual Basic in the OEMs (I've read that OEM versions dont have it). What I want to know is, is it that necessary?

OK, found out that OEMs are not eligible for updates
http://coreldraw.com/forums/p/12653/54662.aspx

 

[ole Jobe]

I am for saving money if I ever get any, but in this case, as a beginner, I would to to Corel.com and pay their price for X4. This way you know you get the full program as well as support from Corel. I know of some who have bought from Amazon or E-bay and did not get the full program. The problem with Corel is the last version to come with a manual was 9. I didn't use it anyway, just read the forums and asked a few question. I'm still learning.

 

[Catbox]

Corel is great for tshirts... you could use from 9 up and be ok... X3 is what i have used and it's great.
It will take awhile to learn any graphics program...so stick with and have fun... advancedartist.com
has great tutorials for Corel also... CB

 

[AdvancedArtist]

I would suggest as a minimum of X3 as that upgrade is the biggest in several versions.

The primary reason is X3 support many types of effects as spot colors if you are doing screen printing.

Also moving files between applications with the upgraded import and export filters will be easier then in earlier versions.

You want to get the retail verision if at all possible as some of the educational and OEM versions do not come with VBA which not allow you to run plugins or macros.

 

[revboyjames]

Whatever you get, don't buy Coreldraw 12, it has a lot of bugs and issues. Any other version 9-x$ is decent. The academic/educational or OEM versions don't have the visual basic program language that some companies artwrok templates work with (like Action Illustrated or digital art solutions)

 

[ProSeparatorNJ]

I would advise anyone starting out to take the Illustrator/Photoshop route. They are just far superior products in every way. I've been a Draw user since version 4 back in the early 90's. Somewhere around early 2000 I began the transition from Draw to Illustrator. I didn't realize just how buggy and unreliable Draw was until I started using Illustrator and had something to make a direct comparison. And Photopaint is far worse than Draw with bugs and crashes. Go with Adobe and have peace of mind. It costs more for sure, but this is a situation where you do get what you pay for.

 

[AdvancedArtist]

I would advise anyone starting out to take the Illustrator/Photoshop route. They are just far superior products in every way. I've been a Draw user since version 4 back in the early 90's. Somewhere around early 2000 I began the transition from Draw to Illustrator. I didn't realize just how buggy and unreliable Draw was until I started using Illustrator and had something to make a direct comparison. And Photopaint is far worse than Draw with bugs and crashes. Go with Adobe and have peace of mind. It costs more for sure, but this is a situation where you do get what you pay for.

I would competely and utterly disagree with you. While I like, respect and use Adobe products I have found bugs in them too.. and the fact is that for screen printers Illustrator can not touch CorelDRAW. I have converted countless Illustrator users again and again in the screen printing market to CorelDRAW. Now PhotoPaint VS PhotoShop no doubt for high end work there are advantages to PhotoShop but for 95% of the work you will do in this industry DRAW is clearly the right tool for the job. Unless of course your time is little value to you!

 

[ProSeparatorNJ]

Well, we must respectfully agree to disagree.

 

[AdvancedArtist]

Well, we must respectfully agree to disagree.

I completely agree with that

 

[ProSeparatorNJ]

Of course you do If someone would be kind enough to upload us a good test file are you able to back up your strong comment, "Illustrator can't touch Corel Draw for screen printing"? I am prepared to demonstrate just how little water that comment actually holds.

For the test file, use your imagination. How about 10 or 15 color vector art for dark shirts for full processing in Draw and Illustrator. And if anyone really thinks Photopaint needs to be compared with Photoshop, we can do the same there.

I will upload and explain my result, and you could do the same. We could still disagree afterward, but at least people can make up their own minds based on the "seeing is believing" principle.

 

[AdvancedArtist]

Of course you do If someone would be kind enough to upload us a good test file are you able to back up your strong comment, "Illustrator can't touch Corel Draw for screen printing"? I am prepared to demonstrate just how little water that comment actually holds.

For the test file, use your imagination. How about 10 or 15 color vector art for dark shirts for full processing in Draw and Illustrator. And if anyone really thinks Photopaint needs to be compared with Photoshop, we can do the same there.

I will upload and explain my result, and you could do the same. We could still disagree afterward, but at least people can make up their own minds based on the "seeing is believing" principle.

What is the objective of challenge? Time? Workflow? Design Quality? Enlighten me...

 

[AdvancedArtist]

In my opinion a video recording of the work involved would serve as a better vehicle for comparison. Looking at a file is not going to tell the story by any means. Also one project will not be suitable to tell the whole story.

I believe this is something that should be run by Rodney also as it is his forum.

 

[ProSeparatorNJ]

Unnecessary complications. Looks like stall tactics. My suggestion is dead simple. I will process an existing file to completion and explain in writing the key steps. All that's left will be to press print. What more does an art dept in a print shop need? Actually, an art dept wouldn't need the explanation, just the file and press print. However, this is to explain to everyone that your idea of Illustrator is merely based on a surprising lack of knowledge of the program.

 

[AdvancedArtist]

Unnecessary complications. Looks like stall tactics. My suggestion is dead simple. I will process an existing file to completion and explain in writing the key steps. All that's left will be to press print. What more does an art dept in a print shop need? Actually, an art dept wouldn't need the explanation, just the file and press print. However, this is to explain to everyone that your idea of Illustrator is merely based on a surprising lack of knowledge of the program.

Interesting.. Stalling by no means but time and ease of use are critical and nothing will demonstrate these differences more clearly then video. Obviously you can create comparable graphics in both applications but speed and simplicity are critical work flow factors. Especially in screen printing as the typical screen printing shop creates graphics for clients that dont have large artwork budgets.

I resently gutted Illustrator in my development of a plugin I developed for Corel wanting to develop the same plugin for Illustrator which I am still researching. Therefore I have some good insight in the differences in the applications at this time.