COM 215: Computer Packages (Computer Graphics)

Graphics often combine text, illustration, and color. Graphic design may consist of the
deliberate selection, creation, or arrangement of typography alone, as in a brochure,
flier, poster, web site, or book without any other element.

Computer graphics are graphics created by computers and, more generally, the
representation and manipulation of pictorial data by a computer.
The term computer graphics includes almost everything on computers that is not text
or sound. Today nearly all computers use some graphics and users expect to control their
computer through icons and pictures rather than just by typing. The term
Computer Graphics has several meanings:
· the representation and manipulation of pictorial data by a computer
· the various technologies used to create and manipulate such pictorial data
· the images so produced, and
· the sub-field of computer science which studies methods for digitally
synthesizing and manipulating visual content.
There are two types of computer graphics: raster graphics, where each pixel is
separately defined (as in a digital photograph), and vector graphics, where
mathematical formulas are used to draw lines and shapes, which are then interpreted
at the viewer's end to produce the graphic. Using vectors results in infinitely sharp
graphics and often smaller files, but, when complex, vectors take time to render and
may have larger file sizes than a raster equivalent.
Today computers and computer-generated images touch many aspects of our daily
life. Computer imagery is found on television, in newspapers, in weather reports, and
during surgical procedures. A well-constructed graph can present complex statistics in
a form that is easier to understand and interpret. Such graphs are used to illustrate
papers, reports, theses, and other presentation material. A range of tools and facilities
are available to enable users to visualize their data, and computer graphics are used in
many disciplines.
Modern computer systems, dating from the 1980s and onwards, often use a graphical
user interface (GUI) to present data and information with symbols, icons and pictures,
rather than text. Graphics are one of the five key elements of multimedia technology.

Types of Computer Graphics

2D computer graphics
These are the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from twodimensional
models, such as 2D geometric models, text, and digital images, and by
techniques specific to them. The word may stand for the branch of computer science
that comprises such techniques, or for the models themselves.
2D computer graphics are mainly used in applications that were originally developed
upon traditional printing and drawing technologies, such as typography, cartography,
technical drawing, advertising, etc.. In those applications, the two-dimensional image
is not just a representation of a real-world object, but an independent artifact with
added semantic value; two-dimensional models are therefore preferred, because they
give more direct control of the image than 3D computer graphics, whose approach is
more akin to photography than to typography.
Pixel art
Pixel art is a form of digital art, created through the use of raster graphics software,
where images are edited on the pixel level. Graphics in most old (or relatively limited)
computer and video games, graphing calculator games, and many mobile phone
games are mostly pixel art.
Vector graphics
Vector graphics formats are complementary to raster graphics, which is the
representation of images as an array of pixels, as it is typically used for the
representation of photographic images. There are instances when working with vector
tools and formats is best practice and instances when working with raster tools and
formats is best practice. There are times when both formats come together. An
understanding of the advantages and limitations of each technology and the
relationship between them is most likely to result in efficient and effective use of
tools.
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics in contrast to 2D computer graphics are graphics that use a
three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for
the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images. Such images may
be for later display or for real-time viewing.
Despite these differences, 3D computer graphics rely on many of the same algorithms
as 2D computer vector graphics in the wire frame model and 2D computer raster
graphics in the final rendered display. In computer graphics software, the distinction
between 2D and 3D is occasionally blurred; 2D applications may use 3D techniques
to achieve effects such as lighting, and primarily 3D may use 2D rendering
techniques.
3D computer graphics are often referred to as 3D models. Apart from the rendered
graphic, the model is contained within the graphical data file. However, there are
differences. A 3D model is the mathematical representation of any three-dimensional
object (either inanimate or living). A model is not technically a graphic until it is
visually displayed. Due to 3D printing, 3D models are not confined to virtual space. A
model can be displayed visually as a two-dimensional image through a process called
3D rendering, or used in non-graphical computer simulations and calculations.
Computer animation
 Computer animation is the art of creating moving images via the use of computers. It
is a subfield of computer graphics and animation. Increasingly it is created by means
of 3D computer graphics, though 2D computer graphics are still widely used for
stylistic, low bandwidth, and faster real-time rendering needs. Sometimes the target of
the animation is the computer itself, but sometimes the target is another medium, such
as film. It is also referred to as CGI (Computer-generated imagery or computergenerated
imaging), especially when used in films.
To create the illusion of movement, an image is displayed on the computer screen
then quickly replaced by a new image that is similar to the previous image, but shifted
slightly. This technique is identical to the illusion of movement in television and
motion pictures.

Computer Graphics Concepts and Principles

1. Image
In common usage, an image or picture is an artifact, usually two-dimensional, that has
a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person. Images
may be two-dimensional, such as a photograph, screen display, and as well as a
threedimensional,
such as a statue. They may be captured by optical devices—such as
cameras, mirrors, lenses, telescopes, microscopes, etc. and natural objects and
phenomena, such as the human eye or water surfaces.
A digital image is a representation of a two-dimensional image using ones and zeros
(binary). Depending on whether or not the image resolution is fixed, it may be of
vector or raster type. Without qualifications, the term "digital image" usually refers to
raster images.

2. Pixel

In the enlarged portion of the image individual pixels are rendered as squares and can
be easily seen.
In digital imaging, a pixel is the smallest piece of information in an image. Pixels are
normally arranged in a regular 2-dimensional grid, and are often represented using
dots or squares. Each pixel is a sample of an original image, where more samples
typically provide a more accurate representation of the original. The intensity of each
pixel is variable; in color systems, each pixel has typically three or four components
such as red, green, and blue, or cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
3. Rendering
Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model, by means of computer
programs. The model is a description of three dimensional objects in a strictly defined
language or data structure. It would contain geometry, viewpoint, texture, lighting,
and shading information. The image is a digital image or raster graphics image. The
term may be by analogy with an "artist's rendering" of a scene. 'Rendering' is also
used to describe the process of calculating effects in a video editing file to produce
final video output.
4. 3D projection

3D projection is a method of mapping three dimensional points to a two dimensional

plane. As most current methods for displaying graphical data are based on planar two
dimensional media, the use of this type of projection is widespread, especially in
computer graphics, engineering and drafting.
5. Ray tracing
Ray tracing is a technique for generating an image by tracing the path of light through
pixels in an image plane. The technique is capable of producing a very high degree of
photorealism; usually higher than that of typical scanline rendering methods, but at a
greater computational cost.
6. Shading
Shading refers to depicting depth in 3D models or illustrations by varying levels of
darkness. It is a process used in drawing for depicting levels of darkness on paper by
applying media more densely or with a darker shade for darker areas, and less densely
or with a lighter shade for lighter areas. There are various techniques of shading
including cross hatching where perpendicular lines of varying closeness are drawn in
a grid pattern to shade an area. The closer the lines are together, the darker the area
appears. Likewise, the farther apart the lines are, the lighter the area appears. The term
has been recently generalized to mean that shaders are applied.
Example of shading.
7. Texture mapping
Texture mapping is a method for adding detail, surface texture, or colour to a
computer-generated graphic or 3D model. Its application to 3D graphics was
pioneered by Dr Edwin Catmull in 1974. A texture map is applied (mapped) to the
surface of a shape, or polygon. This process is akin to applying patterned paper to a
plain white box. Multitexturing is the use of more than one texture at a time on a
polygon.
8. Volume rendering
Volume rendering is a technique used to display a 2D projection of a 3D discretely
sampled data set. A typical 3D data set is a group of 2D slice images acquired by a
CT or MRI scanner.

Volume rendered CT scan of a forearm with different colour schemes for muscle, fat,
bone, and blood.
Usually these are acquired in a regular pattern (e.g., one slice every millimeter) and
usually have a regular number of image pixels in a regular pattern. This is an example
of a regular volumetric grid, with each volume element, or voxel represented by a
single value that is obtained by sampling the immediate area surrounding the voxel.

Applications Areas of Computer Graphics

Some application areas of computer graphics are the following
· Computational biology
· Computational physics
· Computer-aided design
· Computer simulation
· Digital art
· Desktop publishing
· Education
· Graphic design
· Infographics and Information visualization
· Scientific visualization
· Video Games
· Virtual reality and Web design

Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computer technology to aid in the

design and particularly the drafting (technical drawing and engineering drawing) of a
part or product, including entire buildings. It is both a visual (or drawing) and symbolbased
method of communication whose conventions are particular to a specific
technical field.

Drafting can be done in two dimensions ("2D") and three dimensions ("3D"). Drafting
is the integral communication of technical or engineering drawings and is the
industrial arts sub-discipline that underlies all that is involved in technical endeavors.
In representing complex, three-dimensional objects in two-dimensional drawings,
these objects have traditionally been represented by three projected views at right
angles.
Current CAD software packages range from 2D vector-based drafting systems to 3D
solid and surface modelers. Modern CAD packages can also frequently allow
rotations in three dimensions, allowing viewing of a designed object from any desired
angle, even from the inside looking out. Some CAD software is capable of dynamic
mathematic modeling, in which case it may be marketed as CADD — computeraided
design and drafting.
CAD is used in the design of tools and machinery used in the manufacture of
components, and in the drafting and design of all types of buildings, from small
residential types (houses) to the largest commercial and industrial structures (hospitals
and factories).
CAD is mainly used for detailed engineering of 3D models and/or 2D drawings of
physical components, but it is also used throughout the engineering process from
conceptual design and layout of products, through strength and dynamic analysis of
assemblies to definition of manufacturing methods of components.

CAD has become an especially important technology within the scope of computer aided
technologies, with benefits such as lower product development costs and a
greatly shortened design cycle. CAD enables designers to lay out and develop work
on screen, print it out and save it for future editing, saving time on their drawings.
CAD Hardware and OS technologies
Today most CAD computers are Windows based PCs. Some CAD systems also run
on one of the Unix operating systems and with Linux. Some CAD systems such as
QCad or NX provide multiplatform support including Windows, Linux, UNIX and
Mac OS X.
Generally no special basic memory is required with the exception of a high-end
OpenGL based Graphics card. However for complex product design, machines with
high speed (and possibly multiple) CPUs and large amounts of RAM are
recommended. CAD was an application that benefited from the installation of a
numeric coprocessor especially in early personal computers. The human-machine
interface is generally via a computer mouse but can also be via a pen and digitizing
graphics tablet. Manipulation of the view of the model on the screen is also
sometimes done with the use of a spacemouse/SpaceBall. Some systems also support
stereoscopic glasses for viewing the 3D model.

CorelDraw
There are many computer applications that you can use to drive a laser cutter. CorelDRAW is the
most versatile and mastery of it will allow you to achieve the outstanding results from your laser
system.
CorelDRAW is a very powerful professional vector graphics package usually sold with other
Corel products such as CorelTRACE and Corel PHOTO-PAINT. Some features will be familiar
to those provided in similar applications such as Adobe Illustrator. CorelDRAW supports
Windows shortcuts and is both configured with it's own additional shortcuts and can be
customised to have additional shortcuts added. It has a vast array of import and export filters to
allow you to work successfully with the majority of other applications you will encounter.
Another advantage to be gained from using CorelDRAW is that it can be used to great benefit for
a multitude of other tasks Teachers encounter in their day to day work.
CorelDraw (styled CorelDraw) is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Corel
Corporation of Ottawa, Canada. It is also the name of Corel's Graphics Suite, which bundles
CorelDraw with bitmap-image editor Corel Photo-Paint as well as other graphics-related
programs (see below). The latest version is designated X8 (equivalent to version 18) and
was released in March 2016. Corel Draw is designed to edit two-dimensional images such as
logos and posters.
Common features of Corel Draw packages
OBJECT: An element in a drawing such as an image, shape, line, text, curve, symbol, or layer.
DRAWING: The work you create in Corel Draw: for example, custom artwork, logos, posters,
and newsletters.
Vector graphic: An image generated from mathematical descriptions that determine the
position, length, and direction in which lines are drawn.
Bitmap: An image composed of grids of pixels or dots.
Docker: A window containing available commands and settings relevant to a specific tool or
task.
Flyout: A button that opens a group of related tools or menu items.
Artistic text: A type of text to which you can apply special effects, such as shadows.
Paragraph text: A type of text to which you can apply formatting options, and which can be
edited in large blocks.

Components of CorelDraw
Title bar
The title bar is the bar that displays the name of the CorelDraw file on which you are working
on. It is also used to reposition the CorelDraw window on the screen
The Rulers
Rulers serve as a positioning and sizing aid. The can be turned off optionally. In addition, one
can drag guidelines off the ruler to serve as drawing aids.
The scroll Bars
The scroll bars is used to move the page up and down. Horizontally and vertically.
Drawing window
That is the white large portion of the screen is the drawing window. The rectangle with a drop
shadow is the printable page.
Roll up windows
This is shown on the left, they are not always permanent in appearance in the interface but can
appear if needed. Roll up windows are nicely packed persistent dialog boxes that remains on the
screen as long as it is needed.
Status bar
Status bar shows the fill pattern, outline, location, movement and absolute coordinates of a
selected object. The status bar changes dynamically depending on the action being performed. It
can be customized to show different kinds of information.

The Coreldraw Workspace

If you are entirely new to CorelDRAW or maybe you haven’t had much opportunity to use it in
the past he first thing to do is to familiarise yourself with the workspace.
At the top of the screen you will find the Menu Bar. The Menus contain a wide variety of
commands to modify the characteristics of your workspace and the entities within it.
Beneath the Menu Bar you will find the property bar. This is adaptive dependent on the object
you select or the tool you are using and you should note the various options you can control with
each tool you use or shape you create.
On the left-hand side of the screen is the toolbox you use to create shapes and text with. At the
bottom of the screen is the Status bar. This will tell you important details about the objects you
select and is an invaluable guide to resolving problems.
A number of Dockers are available to allow you to manage your drawings and modify the
components you create. A Docker is a toolbar that can be opened and closed as you wish and
either kept floating or docked at the side of your workspace and collapsed to allow you greater
screen space. I always have the following dockers open: Object properties, Transformations,
Shaping. I frequently open the Object Manager and Undo Docker for advanced control of my
drawing.
The Toolbox
Take a tour of the Toolbox. By default this resides on the left hand side of the screen but it can
be moved anywhere else, sometimes inadvertently, particularly if you use a laptop computer with
a touch mousepad!
Drawing Basics
Drawing with CorelDRAW is best achieved by breaking the items you are creating down into a
series of discrete components that are then sized using the Transformation Docker and shaped
with the shape tool and the Weld and Trim tools in the Shaping Docker.
There are 4 basic tools used to create shapes:
Freehand Tool
Rectangle Tool
Ellipse Tool
Polygon Tool
Select any one of these tools and click and drag your mouse to draw.
The rectangle and polygon objects you draw can be modified in these ways: You can radius the
corners of a rectangle and you can turn a polygon into a star shape. If you select the shape you
will see control points where the lines connect and at the mid point of the polygon lines. Using
the Shape Tool, click and drag these.
Dockers
A Docker is a type of dialogue box that can reside on the screen to allow you quick access to
commands, provide information about your work, to allow you to modify your work, to control
your drawing in many ways.
There are a number of dockers that you may choose to keep open at all times. They can be
minimized to keep your workspace as large as possible but are readily accessible, and can be
closed down if you don't use them very frequently.
Dockers that are particularly useful and worth keeping open all the time are: the Object
Properties Docker; the Transformation Docker; the Shaping Docker; the Undo Docker and the
Object Manager Docker.
Dockers are opened through the Window drop-down menu.
The Transformation Docker
The Transformation Docker enables us to modify the objects we create or import in a precision
way. We can move objects to a precise location, rotate, mirror, size and skew accurately.
The Shaping Docker
The Shaping Docker lets you achieve the following things;
Weld, Trim and Intersect. Late versions of CorelDRAW have added more functions to the
shaping Docker that advanced users may find useful but of all the functions Weld and Trim will
be found to be powerful tools that are the most useful.
In each function you are given the option to leave the original Source object and/or Target
object. Checking these tick-boxes when you use these functions will create duplicate objects.
This is useful for advanced users with good planning skills and enables better productivity.
It is advised that you leave these tick-boxes unchecked until you are fluent with using the
Shaping tools.
The Source Object is the object you originally select to weld or trim.
The Target Object is the object you subsequently act upon.
It is important to understand that using these tools will affect the properties of the objects you are
working with. The source object will take on the properties of the target object.
The best way to understand how these tools are used is by example.

Weld.
Draw a rectangle. Now draw a second rectangle that overlaps the first.
Apply a colour fill to the second rectangle.
With the second rectangle selected, click Weld and with the arrow cursor that appears click on
the first rectangle.
You will find the two rectangles have combined into a single object without a fill.
Try this again, this time selecting the first object and welding this to the second.
You will achieve the same shape but this time the new object has a fill.

Trim
Draw 2 rectangles as before. Select one and trim this to the other.
You will find that the target object has a piece missing where the source object overlapped.
Using the shaping tools automatically converts objects to curves

The Weld Command

Try this again, this time selecting the first object and welding this to the second.
You will achieve the same shape but this time the new object has a fill.
The Weld command creates a single curve from 2 or more components.
The components may overlap, sit next to each other or be some distance apart.
You are given the option to leave the original
Source object and/or Target object. Checking these tick-boxes will create duplicate originals.
This is useful for advanced users with good planning skills and enables better productivity. It is
advised that you leave these tick-boxes unchecked until you are fluent with using the Shaping
tools. The Source Object is the object you originally select to weld or trim. The Target Object is
the object you subsequently act upon.
It is important to understand that using these tools will affect the properties of the objects you are
working with. The source object will take on the properties of the target object. The best way to
understand how these tools are used is by example.
Draw a rectangle. Now draw a second rectangle that overlaps the first. Apply a colour fill to the
second rectangle. With the second rectangle selected, click Weld and with the arrow cursor that
appears click on the first rectangle. You will find the two rectangles have combined into a single
object without a fill.

The Trim Command

The Trim command creates a single curve from 2 or more components.
The components must overlap. Trim forms the shape of the selected object (Source Object) into
the object you trim to where it overlaps.
(Target Object).
You are given the option to leave the original
Source object and/or Target object. Checking these tick-boxes will create duplicate originals.
This is useful for advanced users with good planning skills and enables better productivity. It is
advised that you leave these tick-boxes unchecked until you are fluent with using the Shaping
tools. The Source Object is the object you originally select to weld or trim. The Target Object is
the object you subsequently act upon.
It is important to understand that using these tools will affect the properties of the objects you are
working with. The source object will take on the properties of the target object. The best way to
understand how these tools are used is by example.
Draw a rectangle. Now draw a second rectangle that overlaps the first. With the second rectangle
selected, click Trim and with the arrow cursor that appears click on the first rectangle.

The Intersect Command

Intersect creates the shape that is formed by the overlap of 2 components.
You are given the option to leave the original
Source object and/or Target object. Checking these tick-boxes will create duplicate originals.
Draw a rectangle. Now draw a second rectangle that overlaps the first. With the second rectangle
selected, click Intersect With and with the arrow cursor that appears click on the first rectangle.

The Object Manager Docker

Advanced CorelDRAW users make much use of the Object Manager Docker. Each item you
have created can be identified, accessed and modified in the Object Manager.
New layers can be created in your drawing in the Object Manager and it allows you to move
objects between layers and pages. You can do this by dragging the item to another layer or page.
Dragging objects within the layer they are on will change the order within the drawing.
Each page you create within your drawing will appear in the Object
Manager and selecting objects within these pages will automatically switch the view to the page
they are on. You can give names to the layers and pages here too. Right-click on the layer or
page and click on rename.
Layers
Layers allow you to manage your pages efficiently and productively.
You can turn on viewing, printing and editing of individual layers. An example would be in the
production of a printed carton. Images that are to be printed on the carton will be created on one
layer. A second layer is used for the creation of the vector cutting and scoring part of the file.
Turn off printing of the cutting layer when you are printing the images, reverse this when
printing to the laser cutter.
Master Page
Each new file has one Master Page that contains and controls three default layers: the Grid,
Guides, and Desktop layers. The Grid, Guides, and Desktop layers contain the grid, guidelines,
and objects outside the borders of the drawing page. The Desktop layer lets you create drawings
you might want to use later. You can specify settings for the grid and guidelines on the Master
Page.
You can specify settings, for example colour, for each layer on the Master Page.
You can add one or more master layers to a Master Page. This layer contains information that
you want to display on every page of a multipage document. For example, you can use a master
layer to place a header, footer, or static background on every page.
The Undo Docker
The Undo Docker
This lists the sequence of events that you have made in your drawing and allows you to get back
to a specific point without losing the work you have done. It is particularly useful for teachers as
it will let you see how your students have constructed their drawings. You can use this to go
back to a point in your drawing where you constructed an item and copy this item to the
clipboard. Then go to the last event and paste the item from the clipboard into your drawing
again.
If you go back to a previous point and then change something you will lose the other work
you did from that point on.
It is important to remember that the number of undo steps available has to be configured in the
CorelDRAW setup. The default is around 20 steps but you will find this limiting at times.
If you have a reasonable amount of RAM on your computer I would suggest you increase this to
around 50 steps or more.
Outlines and Fills
When you create drawings to be cut or engraved on the laser you have to ensure the following
criteria are applied:
Outlines need to have a line weight of hairline.
They need to have a colour that the laser driver recognises as a command, i.e the precise colour
as defined in your laser manual.
Filled areas of your drawing can only be engraved.
We can set the outline colour by using the Outline Tool in the Object Properties Docker.
We can set the fill colour by sing the Fill Tool in the Object Properties Docker. You will only be
able to see and print a fill in a closed path however the object will own fill properties if these
were applied. Once the path is closed the fill will be visible and can be printed. For information
about closing paths refer to the section on curve editting. simply right-clicking on a colour in the
colour pallette. It can also be set simply left-clicking on a colour in the colour pallette. It can
also be set u
You will have received a CorelDRAW colour pallette with your laser driver. The colours in this
pallette are the specific colours that the driver recognises and which you can assign tasks for the
laser to do. This palette needs to be copied to the CorelDRAW palettes folder and opened using
Window - Colour Palettes - Open Palette then locating the palette from its location.
In the Universal Laser Systems colour pallette there are 8 primary colours and 19 shades of grey.
The grey colours will apply a percentage of the power you set the black colour to corresponding
to the percentage of grey you use, i.e. 50% grey applies 50% of the power you set for black.

Aligning Objects
As you build your drawing you will find it necessary to arrange components so that they align
with other components. There is a variety of ways to do this and CorelDRAW has some quick
methods.
Select the objects you wish to align then go to the Arrange dropdown menu Align and Distribute
then select the method of alignment you need. Note the shortcuts listed to the right of the
options:
L aligns the objects to the left of their bounding box
R aligns the objects to the right of their bounding box
T aligns the objects to the top of their bounding box
B aligns the objects to the bottom of their bounding box
E aligns the objects to the to their centres Vertically
C aligns the objects to the to their centres Horizontally
P aligns the objects to the centre of the page
Remembering these shortcuts will speed up the production of your drawing. Just select the
objects and press the keyboard character corresponding to the alignment mode.
A few things to note:
All the components you select will be aligned in the same way and this may not be quite what
you intended. Imagine the example below for a simple keyring. The keyring shape has been
drawn, a hole for the ring has been drawn and you are ready to place the text to be engraved.

About Curves
A curve is a series of line segments, each line segment have a node at each end. Line segments
can be straight or curved and they need not be connected to each other within a single curve.
Curve objects can be modified in different ways to the other objects you create. Each simple
shape you draw using the tools in the toolbox can be modified in its own particular way.
Rectangles can have their corners radiused, ellipses can be converted to arcs or pies, polygons to
stars etc and text can be edited.
Converting any of these to curves loses that ability but gives you the ability to infinitely modify
the shape of the object.
Certain commands automatically convert objects to curves. An example is when using the
Shaping Docker tools. Converting to curves is a one-way street so make sure your object is
exactly as you want it to be before you do this. You will not be able to correct a spelling mistake
once you convert text to curves and the process of changing the radius on a rectangle is much
more complicated.
One of the great assets CorelDRAW has is the powerful curve editing capability. This is
provided by the Shape tool in the Toolbox (Not to be confused with the Shaping Docker tools).

Curve Editing
We have almost infinite ability to change the shape of the curves we create. The position and
type of nodes can be controlled, whether the line relating to the node is straight or curved,
whether adjoining nodes are connected, whether nodes exist at all.
Node editing is achieved with the Shape tool in the Toolbox. You can use this to select the curve
you are editing, pick up individual nodes and move them around, drag the line segment to change
its form, move the node control points to alter the form of line segments, add and remove nodes.
There are four node types: cusp, smooth, symmetrical, or line. Nodes can be changed from one
type to another.
Cusp nodes make the node's intersecting line take on the shape of a corner or point when you
adjust the position of the node's control points.
Smooth nodes make the node's intersecting line take on the shape of a curve. Each control point
can be shortened or lengthened independently, giving you smaller or larger angles to work with.
Symmetrical nodes make the node's intersecting line take on the shape of a curve as well as
intersect the node at exactly the same angle.
Line nodes let you shape objects by changing the shape of their segments. You can make a curve
segment straight or a straight segment curved.
The more nodes there are in a curve, the greater degree of control is possible with its shape
however beware of adding too many as this will increase the work your laser has to do and may
slow down its operation.
Nodes can be added by clicking on the point of the curve you wish to add the node then clicking
on the + icon on the Property Bar. They can be removed by selecting them and pressing delete,
clicking on the icon on the property bar or by double-clicking on the node.
Selecting a node and clicking on the Break Curve icon separates adjoining nodes. You can also
use the shape tool to click on a line segment then click on the Break Curve icon to break the
curve at that point.
If the path has 2 separations it is possible to break the curve apart using the Break Curve Apart
command in the Arrange dropdown menu. This will produce 2 separate curves.
Selecting 2 adjoining nodes and clicking on the Join 2 nodes icon connects them.
You do not have the ability to define an absolute position for nodes directly but you can get them
to snap to guidelines or to a grid to achieve this. You can also get their control points to snap to
guidelines.

Shortcuts
Many of you will be familiar with Windows shortcut keys. CorelDRAW supports all the usual
shortcuts and has a number of its own to speed up production. You can also assign your own
shortcuts to suit your particular working methods. The common shortcuts you are likely to find
useful with producing drawings for your laser cutter are listed below. As you become familiar
with the program you are likely to use it for other purposes. A comprehensive list of
CorelDRAW shortcuts can be found in Tools Customisation Commands Shortcut Keys View
All. You can save these to a comma separated text file or print them out.

Ctrl + Z Undo
Shift + Ctrl + Z Redo
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + G Group
Ctrl + U Ungroup
Shift + PgDn To Back
Shift + PgUp To Front
B Align Bottom
E Horizontally aligns centres
C Verically aligns centre
L Aligns left
R Aligns right
P Aligns to centre of page
Ctrl + L Combine
Ctrl + K Break apart