AllFreelanceWork.com is an 8 year old Freelance Projects Board offering freelancers Freelance Jobs Search, Free Portfolios,& articles. AllFreelanceWork is also a great small business resource for starting a home business & looking for home business opportunities (no scams). AllFreelanceWork is filled with freelance resources, including small business startup tips, self-employment articles, how to start a freelance or small home business, articles about self-employed health insurance offers, promoting & marketing your small business, finding small business & freelance business opportunites for graphic designers, web designers, writers, screenwriters, programmers,artists, editors, & other careers & professions.

"; $resulty=mysql_query("SELECT * FROM spotlight WHERE member_id!=$myrow[member_id] ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1", $SESS_DBH); $myrow=mysql_fetch_array($resulty); $result2 = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM freelancers WHERE id=\"$myrow[member_id]\"",$SESS_DBH); $myrow2 = mysql_fetch_array($result2); echo "
"; ?>

	Search Career Schools Zip Code: Subject: Digital & Media Arts Fashion Design Interior Design Photography Graphic Design Animation Web Design Business Culinary Arts Education Healthcare Law & Justice Psychology Technology Technicians Degree: - Select All Degrees - Associate's Bachelor's Master's Doctoral Certificates Diplomas Coursework Online Campus Both

Home > Articles > Corel >COREL SERIES PART 4 - BEATING GRAPHICS INTO SUBMISSION

Beating Graphics Into Submission

Corel Series Part 4
By: Steve Chittenden

If you ever have a graphic that plagues you with file sharing problems, this article will lay out some strategies for combating the situation. As a bonus, you will learn successful design principles that work well for many reproduction techniques; sign production would be a good example, and that is one often overlooked in graphic design.

In Part 3 of this series, we looked at  very common problems in file sharing and I promised we would continue with that and look at more ways that Wireframe will make your life easier. Wireframe is still an integral part of determining a good design from one that will merely get you by. It allows you to troubleshoot a junk file that you inherited the responsibility to fix. At the same time, you can use it to reduce the chance of being haunted later by files you should have done right the in first place.

The Wretchedness of  Outlines

I have dedicated plenty of emphasis to principles, probably more so than mechanics, and this subject will be no different. Last time I mentioned that the more a graphic looks the same in Wireframe as it does in Normal view, the better off you will be. We are going to build on that principle.

If a graphic is properly designed from the start, it may take slightly longer to produce. The benefit however is that each variation, each version, will be easier to manage. Changes will be easier, and troubleshooting will be more efficient.

A problem that I find to be relatively common is outlines. In keeping with the continuity with previous articles, I will use an ellipse to illustrate this principle. This was not deliberate until now, it just occurred to me that I have been doing everything with ellipses. Somewhere there is probably some psychological explanation for that.

 

Normal View

Wireframe 1

Wireframe 2

The Normal view above shows the ellipse the way it should look. In Wireframe 1, it has only a thin outline, while in Wireframe 2 it looks like the Normal view without the color. So what is the difference here? They are all the same graphic, but produced two different ways.

The usual procedure to create a graphic like this is to merely add an outline and choose your thickness and color. That is exactly what the first example is. In Wireframe view, you do not see this outline. If you had to produce a sign with this graphic, the sign cutting equipment would not see the outline either (oops). I have seen enough designs mistranslate outlines to say that they pose a definite problem.

In Wireframe 2, a different technique was used. It is called a Contour. Here is how to do it:

1. Select the object, choose a fill color if it does not already have one, and make sure your graphic has no outlines. There is an icon in your default toolbar for this that looks like the tip of a fountain pen. When you hold the mouse button on it for a second or two, your flyout will look like this:
   
   
   
   

2. After eliminating the outline, deselect the object. You will need to use the techniques described in my first article to access the Contour command icon. Select Tools, then Options, or use the icon if you added it.
   
   
   
   Under Customize, Toolbars, look for the Effects folder and select it. You should be seeing same thing I have above. I would suggest placing the icons on your Standard toolbar at the top of the screen. While in this Options box, I also recommend placing the icons for Envelope and Extrude on your Standard toolbar. Click OK to close the Options box.
   
   

3. Now with your graphic selected, click on the Contour icon. The Contour Docker will appear on the right side and the fun begins. Your Property Bar will automatically display the tools you need to simplify your work. Play around with this. I don't think you need my help here, it is easy to figure out. You can control color, contour thickness (offset), number of steps, and more. The Apply button will give you a preview, and you can make changes until the desired look is achieved.
   
   

4. When finished, go to Wireframe view and it should look like the Wireframe 2 above.

If you need to work with the original object and the Contour separately, there should be an icon that looks like a half torn sheet of paper on your Property Bar. Click on this icon to "separate" the objects. If the icon is not there, you can access the command from Arrange on the Menu bar, then choose Separate.

Once the object and the Contour are Separated, you can let your creativity go wild. With Node editing, you can distort either object so it is no longer a perfect contour. You can use commands like Combine (discussed in the previous article), which in the case of the ellipse example here, would create a hollow center in the larger ellipse. It is a good idea to "duplicate" your objects before doing this. See below for time time saving techniques in working with duplicates.

The real value of Contours shows up when you have more complex graphics. Let's say you have a group of 50 objects and 10 of them have outlines. I hope you remembered to use the "Scale to Image" command on every one of them. If not, every time you resize the graphic, it will look different. This is a time consuming problem to fix, and Contouring not only solves that problem, it is much friendlier when it comes to file sharing .

Cool Time Saving Secrets

If you are not already aware of these shortcuts, they can streamline your work:

• When you duplicate a graphic, you can use the Plus (+) key from your Numeric keypad, or you can use the Ctrl+D keys (same as using the Edit, then Duplicate command from the Menu bar).
  
  

• Suppose you want to create a series of duplicates all equally spaced. Use the Ctrl+D and drag the first duplicate into the position you want. Now each time you use the Ctrl+D keys together, a duplicate will be created the same distance and offset as the first one.
  
  

• If you use the + key to duplicate, it will create the duplicate on top of the original and you can place it wherever you want. If you use the the + key to create another duplicate, it will again be on top of the object you are duplicating so you can drag it to any desired position. NOTE: This only works from the + key on the Numeric keypad.
  
  

• If you use the Ctrl key while dragging an object, it will constrain the dragging to a straight line. You can only drag in one direction so the duplicate stays in line with the original.
  
  

• You can use the arrow keys to Nudge an object. This is useful if you will want to move it back into its original position again.
  
  

• With no objects selected, your Property Bar should have settings to control your offsets. The Duplicate Offset controls whether a duplicate sits perfectly on top of the original (both x and y set to 0), or whether it shifts off of the original. The Nudge Offset controls the distance an object moves each time you hit an arrow key.
  
  

• If these Offset controls are not already on the Property Bar, then make sure you have no objects selected, and use the techniques from my first article to put them there. The Offset controls are in Options folder inside the Tools folder. This might sound a little confusing, but there is a Tools folder, then Options folder inside the Tools Options dialog box. See below:
  
  
  

Consider These Guys Your Friends 

To avoid having this article too long, I am only going to introduce you to these "friends" right now, but in the future, we will be getting better acquainted with them.

With two or more objects selected (the Separated ellipse objects created earlier will do, or you can just create a couple random objects), open the Tools Options dialog box. Look for the Arrange folder and click the + next to it. Now click on the Grouping/Combining folder. If the following icons are not already on your Property Bar, put them there. Note that it should say "Multiple Objects" in the Property Bars window.

These are the icons you will want to drag to your Property Bar:

Combine. This was discussed in my previous article. You may also want to include the Group, Ungroup, and Ungroup All icons. Personally, I recommend them.

Break Apart. Basically the opposite of Combine.

Separate. This one was described above.

Convert to Curves. Converts text to curves and allows standard objects, such as rectangles, to be altered.

Intersect. Creates a new object out of the intersection between objects.

Weld. Converts multiple objects into one and eliminates seams.

Trim. Uses one object to knock out its shape into another.

After placing these icons on your Property bar, click the OK button in the Options dialog box.

Until Next Time, Just Play

In the next article, I will be providing some examples of how these commands will help you master good file creation. In the meantime, the introduction to having them will provide you with enough information to brainstorm some of their usefulness.

In your experimentation, remember to use Wireframe view. Use the Duplicate and Nudge features to see how each of these work. Create different objects, overlap them slightly, select each object one at a time and use the new command icons. Change the order you select the objects in and see how it effects the way the command works.

Here is a specific exercise. Type a few words, or a sentence, using a connecting script such as Brush Script. Now zoom in on the text. Looks great, right? Try Wireframe. See how the letters are overlapping? Now, while still in Wireframe, and with the text selected, click on the Weld command. See the difference? If you are only looking at it on a computer screen, you might say, "No big deal." But to a sign company, this is a very big deal!

Between your creative experimentation and the information in these articles, you will be able to solve problems with nuisance clip art and junk files that someone gives you, but most importantly, you will be able design files that are not prone to problems. With a little planning, you can make your job easier whenever you need to modify or share a graphic.

© 2002 Steve Chittenden

---------------------------------

Steve Chittenden owns and operates Creative Business Services which is dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes save money through strategic contracting. Services include:
       .  Graphic and web design
       .  Computer consulting
       .  Computer optimization
       .  Business writing
For more information visit the website at:
www.cbservices.onestop.net

Please suggest a site here

Freelance Billing Help

Graphic Design Portal

Adobe Photoshop Tutorials

sister sites :

Freelance Self-Employed Jobs Directory

Graphics Software Information

All Work At Home Ideas

Tutorials Directory

All Freelance Work is a freelance jobboard, small business community, consulting business article base, and freelance self-employment business information zone (and also great for people who have home-based businesses). All Freelance Work has been around since 2000 and is the home to over 170,000 freelancers. With 100s of freelance articles and 30,000 registered employers of freelancers, we have helped 1000 of contracted independent professionals find the perfect consulting jobs. Spend some time on this freelance site and see why so many freelancers keep coming back to All Freelance Work day after day. We welcome all self-employed professionals and we welcome all employers looking to hire our independent professionals. (Employers Can Search or Browse for Portfolios from the bottom or top of this page).

CONTACT US ------ ADVERTISERS ------ FAQ ------ ABOUT US ------ PRIVACY POLICY ------ TERMS OF USELinks -----> folios--Adobe Photoshop Tutorials--All Work At Home Ideas--Freelance Jobs --Graphic Designers Resources--All Advertising Online--Artists Helping Children--Blue Sfear--ContractedWork--Family Travel Destinations -- Schools and Learning -- Find Dentists --Web Design Resources -- Graphics Software & Photoshop Tutorials -- Web Design -- Web Designers -- Web Design Portfolio

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A FREELANCER - BROWSE THROUGH OUR FREELANCER'S PORTFOLIOS BELOW:

Freelance Graphic Designers Portfolios -- Freelance Animators Portfolios -- Freelance Multimedia Artists Portfolios -- Flash Artists Portfolios -- CAD Professionals Portfolios -- Freelance Copyeditors Portfolios -- Proofreaders Portfolios -- Creative Direction Portfolios -- Freelance Creative Directors Portfolios -- Fashion Designers Portfolios -- Film / Video / Audio Artists Portfolios -- Game Artists Portfolios -- Freelance Desktop Publishers DTP Galleries -- Illustrator and Illustration Galleries -- Free-lance Cartoonists Galleries -- Free-lance Industrial Designers Galleries -- Free-lance Interior Designers Galleries -- Marketing and Promotional Designers Galleries -- Muralists Galleries -- Faux Finishers Galleries -- Free-lance Photographers Galleries -- Powerpoint Artists Galleries -- Free-lance Presentation Artists Galleries -- Free-lance Translators Galleries -- Free-lance Web Designers Galleries -- Writers Galleries -- Journalists Galleries -- Contracted Web Developers Galleries -- Database Developers Galleries -- Contracted Web Copywriters -- Web Animators Portfolios -- Contracted IT Testers -- Contracted Tech Trainers -- Programmers Portfolios -- Contracted IT Networkers --Database Programmers -- Contracted Tech Writers -- System Administrators and Admins --Engineers -- Contracted Data Processors -- Contracted CPAs -- Contracted Accountants -- Financial Planners -- Contracted Bookkeepers -- Contracted Lawyers and Attorneys -- Financial Analyzers -- Investors -- Contracted Legal Assistants -- Contracted Paralegals -- Contracted Managers and Strategists -- Contracted Analysts -- Contracted Brand Strategists -- Contracted Customer Service Agents -- Contracted Business Development -- Self-Employed Advertisement Managers -- Self-Employed Marketers -- Self-Employed Sales -- Media Buyers -- Self-Employed Web Promoters -- Self-Employed Public Relations Agents -- Self-Employed Architects -- Self-Employed Engineers -- Event Planners -- Self-Employed Musicians -- Self-Employed Politics Advisors -- Recruiters -- Self-Employed Scientists -- Self-Employed Coaches and Trainers -- Entertainers -- Self-Employed Fitness -- HR Human Resources -- Self-Employed Real Estate Agents -- Self-Employed Retailers -- Self-Employed Trainers -- Self-Employed Data Administrators -- Self-Employed Transcriptionists -- Virtual Assistants