The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group For the bookshelf Bernadette Houghton bernieh@iaccess.com.au

CorelDRAW 8 f/x: Inventive Techniques and Outrageous Effects

Are you a jaded CorelDRAW graphic artist looking for new and inventive ideas for your artwork? If so, the latest CorelDRAW "how to" book may be just what you need. Written by Shane Hunt, a professional graphic artist, CorelDRAW 8 f/x shows you how to create dazzling effects with a minimum of effort.

The book covers versions 7 and 8 of CorelDRAW, and shows you how to achieve the effects illustrated in full colour within its pages. The artwork is eye-catching and mostly chaotic, with an alternative bent reminiscent of bikie culture or science fiction. Don't expect too many cute images, although you can certainly use the techniques in the book to create more mainstream artwork.

CorelDRAW 8 f/x starts off with a bang - literally. After a brief overview of CorelDRAW 8, the book shows you how to achieve awesome fire and explosive effects. Each subsequent chapter is devoted to a different effect. Among the chirpy chapter titles are Tattoos and Body Art, Pools of Mysterious Fluid, Shiny Metal Objects and Speedy Things. The author acknowledges that it is easier to create certain effects using other Corel tools so, where relevant, techniques using Corel PHOTO-PAINT and CorelDREAM 3D are discussed too. However, the book is first and foremost a CorelDRAW book. Since each chapter is independent of those that have gone before, you can read it from cover to cover, or zoom in on specific sections which interest you.

The author shows you new ways to use old tools, offers alternative solutions for defunct features (e.g. PowerLine), tells you a few undocumented facts (did you know, for example, that KPT filters won't work on greyscale files?) and shows you alternative ways to create similar yet more dramatic effects. There are lots of tips and tricks, and new ways of re-working old ideas. Hunt also offers his advice on how you can use the techniques in each chapter to break out of any design rut you may happen to be in.

A companion CD-ROM contains fonts and utilities, as well as the original artwork featured in the book. The supporting files used to create the artwork are also included, and you are free to use these files (including the final artwork) however you like.

The author scoffs at people who claim to have no artistic skills (ahem, guilty, sir!). "You just have to learn how to use the tools that you have and be patient enough to work out any design problems that arise", he says. Be that as it may, the book assumes that you're already very comfortable with CorelDRAW's tools. If you think you're in a bit of a design rut, this is a book that may start your creative juices flowing again.

Reprinted from the April 1998 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

[About Melbourne PC User Group]