CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 Guidebook

Chapter 14: Illustration | 189

Freehand tool

CorelDRAW

With CorelDRAW, you can use the Freehand
tool to trace simple shapes manually. You can
control the smoothness of the curves and the
number of nodes that are created along the
curve.

Give it a try

1 In the toolbox, click the Freehand tool.

2 Drag to draw a curve.

To adjust the smoothness of the curves,

and the number of nodes along the curve,

click Tools ` Options. In the Workspace

list of categories, click Toolbox, and then

click Freehand/Bézier tool. Move the

Freehand smoothing slider to set the

smoothness for curved lines. Higher values

produce smoother curves.

You can use the Freehand tool to trace simple shapes.

Bézier tool and Pen tool

CorelDRAW

The Bézier tool and the Pen tool let you draw
lines one segment at a time by placing each

node with precision and controlling the shape

of each curved segment. The Bézier tool is

excellent for creating smooth transitions

between curves, and the Pen tool lets you

alternate easily between straight and curved

segments. When using the Pen tool, you can

preview the line segments before you create

them.

Give it a try

1 In the toolbox, click the Bézier tool or the

Pen tool.

2 Click where you want to place the first

node of the segment.

3 Do one of the following:

• To draw a straight segment, click
  where you want to place the next
  node.


• To draw a curved segment, click where
  you want to place the next node, and
  without releasing the mouse button or
  pen, drag to move the control handle
  and shape the curve. Release the
  mouse button or pen to finish the
  segment.

To close the curve, place the last node on

the first node of the curve. You must close

the curve on an object if you want to fill the

object with color.

To end the line of segments when you use

the Pen tool, just double-click.

To preview the curve before placing the

next node when you use the Pen tool,

enable the Preview mode button on the

property bar.

To add a node when you use the Pen tool,

click the curve where you want to place the

node. You can delete a node by clicking it.